SHAWNEE – Oklahoma Baptist boasts a conference-leading 63 athletes on the Great American Conference All-Academic Team for Winter and Spring Sports, the league announced Friday.
OBU led the way in the GAC for the sports of women's tennis (7), women's golf (7) and men's golf (6). The Lady Bison track team was second with 15 and the men's basketball team also was second with five honorees. OBU also placed seven baseball players, six softball players, five men's track athletes and four women's basketball players on the squad.
"We are delighted to set the standard for academic excellence in the GAC. This, paired with our No. 50 showing in the Learfield Directors' Cup, helps define the overall excellence of OBU Athletics," said OBU Director of Athletics
Robert Davenport.
Making the list from baseball are
Brock Carter,
Austin Cooper,
Bryan Geurkink,
Jake Gozzo,
Chris Kovach,
Garrett McKee and
Caleb Stull.
From men's basketball,
Adnan Jahic,
Tyler Lester,
Vladimir Nemcok,
Caleb Norris and
Zach Norris were included.
Men's golf team members included are
Shane Black,
Lucas Coapman, David Farnell,
Hudson Hoover,
Mason Nutt, and
Dalton Rhoden.
Bison track and field athletes on the list include
Hayden Ashley,
Nathan Crowson,
Garrett Elmore,
Dakota Kappelle and
Andrew Worley.
Softball players making the team are
Hannah Danielson,
Miranda Garza,
Aspen Grimes,
Katie Reyes,
Hailey Seago and Sam Wolf.
Making the grade from women's basketball are
Haley Ballard,
Tasha Edge,
Alexa Richards and
Lexi Williams.
Women's golf placed
Elly Baze,
Sydney Bowman,
Michelle Carr,
Grace Johnson,
Paige Neidy,
Shannen Stewart and
Sidney Stover on the team.
Included from women's tennis are
Caroline Abbe,
Madeleine Boepple,
Alex Bowers,
Megan Bowlin,
Jacqueline Charvat,
Kim Moosbacher and
Tahlia Walsh.
From women's track and field, the list includes
Shariah Anderson,
Shimoya Currie,
Julianna Horner,
Mya Hudgins,
Breanna Hurlbut,
Kaylee Large Crowson,
Sydney Lawrence,
JoziRose Mayfield,
McKae Mitchell,
Leah Molter, Miranda Nelson,
Brittany Poe,
Emily Sechrist,
Raigan Servati and
Zoya Timoshenko.
For student-athletes to be recognized on the Academic All-Conference team, they must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing (true freshmen and redshirt freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at the nominating institution. In addition, their grade-point average must be a minimum of 3.30 based on the 4.0 system. The GPA shall be cumulative for the athlete's entire collegiate career.
"I am perpetually amazed by the achievements of the student-athletes within the league," GAC Commissioner Will Prewitt said. "They continue to raise their academic standard in the classroom all while performing at championship levels on the field of play."
A record 471 student-athletes from across the GAC were included on the list.
Following OBU's 63, was Harding with 61 and Southern Nazarene with 45.
