By TTU Sports Information & OVC
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a record-breaking season for Tennessee Tech's student-athletes in the classroom and it was reflected with 149 of them named to the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll for the 2019-20 academic year.
The most honored Tech team was football, boasting a whopping 32 student-athletes on the list, the most of any team in the OVC in 2019-20. Following closely were the baseball and soccer teams with 17 each, softball with 15, and track & field with 14.
To be selected for the honor, the student-athlete must have achieved at least a 3.25 grade point average and have been eligible and on the team throughout the competitive season in their chosen NCAA-sponsored sport(s) and used a season of competition.
"I am elated with the success of our student-athletes this past year," Tech Director of Athletics Mark Wilson expressed. "This past semester, in particular, presented unchartered territory and a number of challenges, and our student-athletes never blinked. To achieve what they did during this pandemic speaks to their character and dedication to the classroom. It is simply remarkable that they not only made the semester a success, but also did it at a historical level. I am extremely proud of each and every one of them and congratulate them on this amazing achievement."
Across the league, 1,625 student-athletes were recognized for their efforts in the classroom. Overall it marks the highest total in league history, surpassing the mark of 1,384 honorees set just a year ago, and marks the fourth time in five years the league has established a new record.
The Tech student-athletes on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll list included:
BASEBALL (17) – Connor Adams, Theo Bryant IV, JD Funk, Christian Herberholz, Jason Hinchman, Gavin Johns, Luke Jones, Cody Littlejohn, Will Long, Jacob Manaska, Nathan McMeans, Jacob Parham, Brett Roberts, Thomas Saliba, Paul Steffensen, Tyler Sylvester, Trey Wright;
MEN'S BASKETBALL (6) – Keishawn Davidson, Larry Kuimi, Michael Lolio, Caden Mills, Jared Sherfield, Tyler Thompson;
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (11) – Jordan Brock, Abby Buckner, Megan Clark, Mackenzie Coleman, Jada Guinn, Akia Harris, Windee Johnson, Mackenzie Keelin, Taylor Lamb, Grace Pelphrey, Anacia Wilkinson;
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (3) – Dennis Kipkorir, Ababu Mohamed, Hannes Vohn;
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (6) – Alexa Brugere*, Sharon Chepkemboi*, Courtney McCowan*, Tieara Norman*, Rahab Sawe*, Madeline Watts*;
FOOTBALL (32) – Ben Baugh, Quintavious Boyd, Adam Browner, Seth Carlisle, Brad Clark, Daly Cull, Kail Dava, Shannon Fayne, Bailey Fisher, Metrius Fleming, R.D. Ford, David Gist, Norman Hand, Seth Huner, Jarrett Key, Tavin Kilpatrick, Luke Maynard, Matthew McClurg, Mitchell McClurg, Aderick Moore, Sam Oldham, Josh Reliford, Michael Rhoades, Xavier Schlueter, Myles Spurling, Spencer Stachyra, Trevor Stephens, Jamaal Thompson, Jack Warwick, Christian Watson, D.J. Worthy, Haidar Zaidan;
MEN'S GOLF (5) – Sean Anderson, Bryce Beeler, Nick Sutton, Bracton Womack, Cameron Yeary;
WOMEN'S GOLF (8) – Hannah Bratton, Arianna Clemmer, Kate Mashburn, Makenzie Morton, Gittle Sciolis, Elisabeth Toennessen, Katrine Toennessen, Isabel York;
WOMEN'S SOCCER (17) – Isabelle Austin, Katie Bain, Sarah Block, Rachel Blow, Emily Carlevato, Macy Carter, Anna Croxall, Ashley Grimes, Taylor Hornback, Carme Peirau, Kendall Powell, Natalie Rolen, Kaitie Shipley, Chloe Smith, Kaylee Sunders, Nora Vicsek, Kendall Webb;
SOFTBALL (15) – Emily Bartholomew, Haeli Bryson, Chandler Caldwell, Paxton Grimes, Kayla Hughes, Raleigh Lewis, Jessie Lowery, Beth McCulley, Nicolle Nysted, Shelby Penning, Amanda Phy, Callie Piper, Emma Seagrave, Raegan Sparks, KaDedra Temple;
MEN'S TENNIS (5) – Fanis Kontopoulos, Riku Kubota, Caio Reuter, Lucca Silva, Rafael Tosetto;
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD (14) – Anya Akili, Teauna Anderson, Chanel Bishop, Bryana Brown, Alexa Brugere*, Sharon Chepkemboi*, Jalena Curbeam, Courtney McCowan*, Tieara Norman*, Jamellia Potts, Rahab Sawe*, Ceirra Tate, Madeline Watts*, Lisa Wickham;
VOLLEYBALL (10) – Skylar Boom, Emily Brooks, Abigail Duncan, Ashley Hand, Dallas Oatis, Aynsley Stier, Rachel Thomas, Lauren Toledo, Ali Verzani, Julia Wheeler.
* Student-athlete was a winner in multiple sports
Due to the extraordinary circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, spring sport athletes who were eligible and met the GPA requirements, but saw their seasons canceled (therefore not using a season of competition) received the award. Additionally, student-athletes who had pass/fail courses listed on their transcript were also made eligible so long as the institutional GPAs are calculated according to institutional policy.
Over the past 10 years, the OVC has honored over 12,000 student-athletes with the Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Yesterday the league announced that a record 286 student-athletes earned the OVC Academic Medal of Honor for having perfect 4.0 grade point averages last academic year. The OVC will announce the winner of the Academic Achievement Award and Team Academic Achievement Awards on Thursday.
