Annville, PA – Eleven Falcons were honored by the Middle Atlantic Conference on Thursday in their release of the inaugural Academic All-Conference Teams for the fall of 2013. The award is in its first season of existence for the MAC and seeks to recognize the top student-athletes in each sport across a combination of the Commonwealth and Freedom divisions.
Recipients of the award must carry at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and must be top performers in their respective sports. Unlike the conference's Academic Honor Roll,
which recognizes all student-athletes with at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, the Academic All-Conference teams are voted upon by sports information directors from across all member schools.
"Over the years we have named top students to the academic honor roll and superior athletes to all-conference teams," said MAC Executive Director Ken Andrews, commenting on both the current awards and the new academic honor. "This recognition, modeled after the national All-America Academic program, combines the two components of student-athlete into one conference honor."
As such, the Academic All-Conference Teams give special attention to student-athletes that have most impressively combined athletic proficiency and outstanding classroom performance. Each team is also, like the All-America Academic program, limited in number to reflect the sport's customary field.
The Falcons' 11 recipients include both
Alicia Frey and
Joshua Wood, two student-athletes were
just named the MAC Scholar-Athletes of the Year for women's and men's soccer, respectively.
All 11 of Messiah's honorees for the fall season are listed below, with a small snapshot of their career achievements. (GPA and major listed in parentheses.)
Women's Cross Country (maximum of seven members)Jessica Visneski (3.57, Nutrition and Dietetics) – Two-time First Team All-MAC; Finished in top five scoring for Messiah in all seven of her races (top two in five of those seven races).
Volleyball (maximum of seven members)Jessica Geib (3.73, Christian Ministries) – Four-time All-Commonwealth; Second in conference with 10.12 assists per set; finished Messiah career with 3,918 assists.
Women's Soccer (maximum of 11 members)Alicia Frey (3.73, Mathematics and Secondary Education) – Two-time All-American and All-Region; four-time All-Commonwealth; two-time Capital One Academic All-American; 2013 MAC Scholar-Athlete for women's soccer.
Ali Rogers (3.82, Psychology) – 2013 First Team All-Commonwealth; 2013 Capital One Academic All-District.
Corinne Wulf (3.93, Nursing)– Four-time All-Commonwealth; three-time All-Region; 2011 Capital One Academic All-District.
Men's Soccer (maximum of 11 members)Jeremy Payne (3.24, Marketing) – Two-time All-Commonwealth; 2013 Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year; two-time All-American; 2012 National Player of the Year.
Carter Robbins (3.21, Christian Ministries) – Two-time All- Commonwealth; 2013 Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year; 2013 All-American.
Jack Thompson (3.23, Christian Ministries) – Three-time All-Commonwealth and All-Region; Fourth in nation this season with 17 assists; 2013 Most Outstanding Offensive Player for NCAA Tournament.
Joshua Wood (3.71, Cross Cultural Christian Ministries) – 2013 National Player of the Year; 2013 Capital One Academic All-American; two-time Capital One Academic All-District.
Field Hockey (maximum of 11 members)Becky Ely (3.70, Mathematics with Teaching Certification) – Two-time All-Commonwealth and former Rookie of the Year; a leading defender for Messiah's standout defensive unit.
Gina Kellett (3.22, Communications) – Four-time All-Commonwealth; two-time All-American; 2013 Commonwealth Defensive Player of the Year.
