ARKADELPHIA- Ouachita Baptist placed eight members on the 2010 Gulf South Conference All-Academic Team, while leading the entire conference with 64 total selections to the GSC All-Academic Honor Roll, officials announced on Tuesday.
Among the selections to the 2010 GSC All-Academic Team were: senior Eli Cranor (3.58 GPA; English/Political Science) in football, sophomore
Connor Burke (3.66; Accounting), sophomore
Rizvan Ceka (3.37; Accounting) and sophomore
Payam Pourjavad (3.93; Pre-Engineering) for men's soccer, senior
Taylor Gay (4.0; Dietetics), junior
Whitley Hoppe (3.9; Biology) and
Mary Whisenhunt (3.67; Communication Disorders) for women's soccer, with
Allison Frizzell (3.52; Mathematics) representing volleyball. Cranor was one of eight unanimous selections and was a returning 2009 GSC All-Academic Team member.
Ouachita led the 14-member conference with 64 selections to the All-GSC Honor Roll of 519 players represented in the five fall sports. Harding was right behind with 62 selections, followed by West Florida (50), Christian Brothers (44) and North Alabama (43) in the top five overall. To be considered for the GSC All-Academic Team, nominees must have a 3.20 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), while GSC All-Academic Honor Roll members are automatic selections if their cumulative GPA is a 3.0 or above.
In women's cross country, Ouachita was represented with three runners all with a 4.0 GPA in junior Aubree Fry (Christian Studies/Nutrition), freshman
Johanna Casey (Kinesiology) and
Rebekah Ward (Biology).
For football, the Tigers placed 18 members on the Honor Roll, including 11 upperclassman members. Among the upperclassman was Cranor, senior David DeYoung (3.12; Computer Science), juniors Quint Ashburn (3.06; History), Adam Cooper (2.71; Christian Studies),
Chad Emmons (3.57; Kinesiology), Cory Godbolt (3.01; Athletic Training); Andrew Myers (3.03; Business Administration) and Taurus Williams (3.09; Athletic Training) and sophomores
Casey Cooper (3.25; History),
Landon Freeman (3.32; Kinesiology/Leisure Studies) and
Brett Reece (3.04; Kinesiology). A total of seven freshman were also selected to the Honor Roll, including
Clark Gaddis (3.0; Business Administration), Nathan Hohulin (3.9; Christian Studies),
Benson Jordan (3.35; Christian Studies),
Jake Kraus (3.0; Kinesiology/Fitness),
Antwion Patterson (3.0; Mass Communications),
Tyler Robinson (3.46; History) and Ryan Tibbetts (3.61; Mathematics).
In women's soccer, the Lady Tigers tied with West Florida for the most selections with 17. Among the members placed on the Honor Roll were juniors
Whitley Hoppe (3.90; Biology),
Miranda Lytle (3.32; Dietetics),
Jody Persson (3.95; English),
Beth Wendl (3.40; Biology) and Haley Whisenhunt (3.77; Communication Disorders), with sophomores Becca Cochrum (3.14; Education),
Taylor Gay (4.0; Dietetics),
Lauren Hatch (3.19; Psychology),
Carrie Lieblong (3.82; Biology),
Sarah McKimmey (3.83; History), Becca Shupe (3.32; Kinesiology) and
Mary Whisenhunt (3.67; Communication Disorders) and freshman
Jessica Allen (3.57; Political Science),
Sarah Broyles (3.24; Athletic Training),
Kelsey Frink (3.35; Education),
Lauren Hatch (3.19; Psychology),
Morgan Pitchford (4.0; Athletic Training) and
Cara Smith (3.19; Biology).
Ouachita led the volleyball ranks with 14 selections to the Honor Roll, with seniors Lizzy Bauman (3.24; Christian Studies), Ryleigh Lay (3.64; Accounting), Kaitlyn Mitcham (3.10; Kinesiology) and Lauren Stuart (3.80; Art/Studio Art), juniors
Lexie Hegi (3.02; Dietetics/Nutrition),
Kristyn Howk (3.37; Pre-Pharmacy), Libby Merritt (3.62; Kinesiology/Dietetics) and Kate Strom (3.15; Kinesiology), sophomores
Megan Askew (3.0; Mathematics),
Allison Frizzell (3.5; Mathematics),
Jillian Jeffcoat (3.89; Kinesiology) and Sarah Waresback (3.59; Early Childhood Education) and freshman
Stephanie Bayne (3.47; Music/Choral Education) and
Kelsi Bodine (3.8; History).
Academic All-GSC Teams are selected by the Gulf South Conference Sports Information Directors (SIDs) and Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) in a joint vote. Nominees must have an overall grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.20 or better on a 4.00 scale for their entire academic career and may not be freshmen or first-semester or quarter transfers. The student-athlete must be a significant contributor to the squad. Other factors include leadership, community service and extra-curricular activities. SIDs and FARs are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. The number of student-athletes selected in each sport is determined by the number of positions normally involved in the playing of that sport. Ties are not broken.
-By Alan Greenwood, OBU Sports Information Director
