Annville, PA – Eleven Falcons were honored by the Middle Atlantic Conference on Thursday in their release of the 2015 Winter Academic All-Conference Teams. The award is in its second year 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 3.20 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, sports information directors from across all member schools vote on the Academic All-Conference Teams.
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' winter recipients are listed below, with a small snapshot of their career achievements. (GPA and major listed in parentheses.)
Men's Basketball (10 Members)David Fernandez-Bravo (3.33, Business Administration) – Second Team All-Commonwealth after First Team honors in 2012 and 2014. Set career-best numbers in field goal percentage, rebounds, and assists. Just the fourth player ever to collect 1,000+ points, 500+ rebounds and 250+ assists in a career. He finishes his career at 7th on the all-time scoring list for the Falcons with 1,402 career points.
Zac Hoy (3.66, Sport Management) – Honorable Mention All-Commonwealth after amassing 322 assists (3.25 per game) against just 205 turnovers. Joined the 1,000-point club and currently sits in 20th place on the all-time Messiah scoring list with 1,063 points.
Women's Basketball (11 Members)Gillian Glackin (3.28, Human Development & Family Science) – First Team All-Commonwealth after averaging a double-double with career-highs in both points (13.5) and rebounds (10.2). Added 1.7 blocks per game with 1.5 assists per game against consistent double-teams.
Men's Indoor Track & Field (10 Members)Drew Engle (3.54, Marketing) – MAC Champion in the heptathlon with a MAC and Messiah record 4,694 points.
Tim Moses (3.34, Biology) – National Runner-Up in pole vault with Messiah record 17'2.75". Won MAC Championship in same event with conference jump. Now a three-time All-American in the pole vault across Indoor and Outdoor seasons.
Trevor Stutzman (3.69, Nutrition & Dietetics) – All-American (5th) in the shot put after a MAC Championship in the same event. Now a three-time All-American in the shot put across Indoor and Outdoor seasons.
Women's Indoor Track & Field (12 Members)Marie Johnson (3.26, Nutrition & Dietetics) – MAC Champion in both the high jump and triple jump, fifth place in the long jump.
Alyssa Mills (3.41, Applied Health Science) – MAC Champion in the pentathlon with a personal record 2,705 points.
Women's Swimming (10 Members)Tara Freeman (3.39, Applied Health Science) – MAC Champion in 50 freestyle for second-straight season. Also gold medal swimmer for the Falcons' 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, and 800 freestyle relay.
Emily Reale (4.00, Biochemistry) – MAC Champion in 1650 freestyle. Also gold medal swimmer for the Falcons' 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay, and 800 freestyle relay.
Wrestling (10 Members)Kaleb Loht (3.37, Health & Phys. Ed: K-12 Teach) – MAC Champion and NCAA Mideast Regional Champion at 141, and All-American (3rd) after National Championship in 2014. Broke Messiah's all-time career wins record (159). His only loss this season came in the National Semifinal bout.
