Annville, PA – Eleven Falcons were honored by the Middle Atlantic Conference on Tuesday in their release of the 2014 Fall 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 3.2 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, 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' fall recipients are listed below, with a small snapshot of their career achievements. (GPA and major listed in parentheses.)
Men's Cross Country (11 Members because of tie)Tyler Sensenig (3.54, Health & Exercise Science) – First Team All-MAC.
Women's Cross Country (10 Members)Tasha Becker (3.59, Social Work) – Three-time All-MAC.
Field Hockey (11 Members)Becky Ely (3.77, Math w/ Teaching Cert.) – Three-Time All-Commonwealth; two-time All-Region.
Men's Soccer (11 Members)Danny Brandt (3.62, Sport Management) – Capital One Academic All-District; First Team All-Commonwealth.
Benji Kennel (3.90, Spanish Business) – Capital One Academic All-District.
Jeremy Payne (3.22, Business Administration) – Three-time Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year; 2012 National Player of the Year; Three-time All-Region and All-American.
Women's Soccer (11 Members)Kayla Deckert (3.97, Education: PreK-4 & Special Ed.) – Capital One Academic All-American.
Nikki Elsaesser (3.25, Athletic Training) – Two-time defending Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year; Two-time NSCAA All-Region and All-American.
Marisa Weaver (3.96, Nursing) – Capital One Academic All-District; First Team All-Commonwealth.
Women's Volleyball (10 Members)Kristen Douglas (3.38, Nursing) – First Team All-Commonwealth.
Jane Underman (3.23, Health & Exercise Science) – Honorable Mention All-American; First Team All-Region; First Team All-Commonwealth.
