By TTU Sports Information & OVC
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A whopping 141 Tennessee Tech student-athletes were recognized for their prowess in the classroom Wednesday, as the Ohio Valley Conference released its Commissioner's Honor Roll for the 2020-21 academic year.
The 141 honorees backed an incredible effort from Golden Eagle student-athletes during the 2019-20 academic year, which yielded a record-breaking 149 OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll accolades for the purple and gold.
The most honored Tech team was football, boasting a whopping 26 student-athletes on the list. Following closely were the baseball team with 20, the soccer team with 16, softball with 15, and track & field with 14.
To be selected for the honor, recipients must have achieved at least a 3.25 grade point average, have been eligible and on the team throughout the competitive season in their chosen NCAA-sponsored sport(s), and used a season of competition.
"Once again I am impressed and so proud of the achievement in the classroom by our Tennessee Tech student-athletes," Tech Director of Athletics Mark Wilson expressed. "The number of challenges that these young adults have had to face over the past two years has been incredibly daunting, but I'm inspired by their character and dedication to their studies, their training, and their involvement in the community. They have answered every obstacle head-on and continue to thrive during these uncertain times. I am grateful for each and every one of them and want to express my congratulations to them for their achievements. I know this is just the beginning and can't wait to see them continue their development into future leaders."
Across the league, 1,711 student-athletes were recognized for their efforts in the classroom. Overall it marks the highest total in league history, surpassing the mark of 1,627 honorees set just a year ago, and marks the fifth time in six years the league has established a new record.
The Tech student-athletes on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll list included:
BASEBALL (20) – Connor Adams, Jackson Berry, Theo Bryant IV, John Dyer, Golston Gillespie, Jason Hinchman, Daniel Holley, Alex Hursey, Gavin Johns, Ed Johnson, Luke Jones, Gabe Lacy, Mark Leonard, Cody Littlejohn, Nathan McMeans, Steven Medrano, Jacob Parham, Grant Phillips, Brett Roberts, Tyler Sylvester;
MEN'S BASKETBALL (4) – CJ Gettelfinger, Shandon Goldman, Maverick Smith, Jamaal Thompson*;
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL (10) – Jordan Brock, Peyton Carter, Megan Clark, Mackenzie Coleman, Jada Guinn, Ansley Hall, Anna Jones, DJ McFarlane, Maaliya Owens, Grace Pelphrey;
MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (3) – Chase Faudi, Rylee Hertter, Ababu Mohamed;
WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY (6) – Nyla Armand*, Emma Bradford, Tina Cesnik*, Amanda Laboy*, Courtney McCowan*, Rahab Sawe*;
FOOTBALL (26) – Jacob Anderson, Hunter Barnhart, Seth Carlisle, Bradley Clark, Nathan Counts, Isaac Cross, Bailey Fisher, Jyron Gilmore, David Gist, Nathan Hodnett, Slater Howard, Jake Huner, Jarrett Key, Josh Lee, Ashton Maples, Clay Massengille, Hayden Olsen, Devin Parker, Mike Rhoades, Tanner Shiver, Spencer Stachyra, Kurt Taylor Jr., Mackenan Thompson, Jamaal Thompson*, Christian Watson, Jacorrian Wrenn;
MEN'S GOLF (5) – Sean Anderson, Bryce Beeler, Mark McDearman, Chance Taylor, Bracton Womack;
WOMEN'S GOLF (6) – Hannah Bratton, Arianna Clemmer, Gittle Sciolis, Elisabeth Toennessen, Katrine Toennessen, Isabel York;
WOMEN'S SOCCER (16) – Selma Askildsen, Isabelle Austin, Katie Bain Lancaster, Cassidy Bereda, Sarah Block, Emily Carlevato, Macy Carter, Anna Croxall, Katelyn Farmer, Gabby Garcia, Ashley Grimes, Taylor Hornback, Meredith Nye, Natalie Rolen, Chloe Smith, Yao Giada Zhou;
SOFTBALL (15) – Carmen Betts, Haeli Bryson, Chandler Caldwell, Kendall Durard, Mackenzie Fitzgerald, Paxton Grimes, Raleigh Lewis, Sydney Love-Baker, Jessie Lowery, Beth McCulley, Nicolle Nysted, Shelby Penning, Amanda Phy, Brooklin Richardson, Alexis Trimiar;
MEN'S TENNIS (5) – Elias Grubert, Evzen Holis, Andre Rodeia, Jun Sasagawa, Carlos Vicente;
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD (14) – Anya Akili, Samaria Allen, Teauna Anderson, Nyla Armand*, Tina Cesnik*, Cayla Johnson, Jadae Joseph, Amanda Laboy*, Courtney McCowan*, Tieara Norman, Rahab Sawe*, Trenia Stephens, Ceirra Tate, Lyn'Nikka Vance;
VOLLEYBALL (11) – Katie DiRaimondo, Madeline Furtado, Morgan Gish, Ashley Hand, Madolyn Isringhausen, Dallas Oatis, Aynsley Stier, Olivia Taylor, Lauren Toledo, Ali Verzani, McKenna Young.
* Student-athlete was a winner in multiple sports
Over the past 10 years the OVC has honored over 13,300 student-athletes with the Commissioner's Honor Roll award.
Yesterday the League announced that a record 354 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.
