By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Having recently put the finishing touches on an outstanding four-year career for the Tennessee Tech soccer team, senior Kaitie Shipley added another award to an already overflowing trophy case.
The Barrie, Ontario native reserved a spot on the Academic All-District Team for the second-consecutive season, securing a place on the District 3 second team for the area that encompasses North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The honor, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.
Shipley's impressive distinction should come as no surprise after wrapping up a stellar on-field Tech tenure that featured her second-straight All-OVC first-team honor, captured at the beginning of the month. The 5-foot-5 defender did not leave the pitch for the second-consecutive year, playing in all 1,817 minutes on TTU's back line for a Golden Eagle defensive unit that finished top five in the OVC in goals allowed and goals against average during league play.
Offensively, the Tech senior ended her final year with a career-best two goals, highlighted by a game-tying score in the 83rd minute of an eventual 2-1 win over Austin Peay on Senior Day that started a season-high four-match unbeaten streak for the Golden Eagles.
Off the field, the accolades were just as, if not more captivating as evidenced the league honoring Shipley with the OVC Scholar-Athlete Award. The accolade, which is the most prestigious individual honor bestowed by the conference, is given annually to only three men and three women student-athletes for their accomplishments in both the classroom and athletic arena, and because of their leadership qualities.
Shipley owns a 4.0 grade point average in exercise science and physical education with a concentration in fitness and a minor in science. She has earned multiple OVC Academic Medal of Honor awards and has been named to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll at the conclusion of all three years at Tech, as well as securing a spot on the TTU Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of her six semesters as a Golden Eagle.
Shipley is one of only two out of 10 student-athletes in the District 3 second team with a 4.0 cumulative GPA.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
