GSC Announces Fall All-Academic Team

Magnolia, AR—Three football and one women’s cross country players at Southern Arkansas University have been named to the 2000 Gulf South Conference All All-Academic Team.

SAU center Ty Ford and linebacker Eddie Key returned to the All-Academic Team lineup for football after being named in 1999. Eddie Key also garnered first team All-GSC accolades this season as center Tim Hopkins makes his first appearance to the All-Academic Team in 2000.

Ford, a senior, had a 3.50 GPA in Exercise Science; Hopkins, a junior, had a 3.69 in Mathematics; and Key, a junior, had a 3.80 in Criminal Justice.

Women’s cross country runner Beth Augenstein made her inaugural appearance on the All-Academic Team after receiving second team All-GSC honors this season.

The Fall All-Academic Teams are selected by the Gulf South Conference Sports Information Directors (SIDs) and Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) in a joint vote. Student-athletes nominated must have an overall grade point average (G.P.A.) of 3.20 or better on a 4.00 scale for their entire academic career and may not be freshmen or first-semester or quarter transfers. The student-athlete must be a significant contributor to the squad. Other factors include leadership, community service and extra-curricular activities. SIDs and FARs are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes. The number of student-athletes selected in each sport is determined by the number of positions normally involved in the playing of that sport. Ties are not broken.

Southern Arkansas held ground in the top third of the academic honor roll as the two new GSC member institutions, Ouachita Baptist University and Harding University, led the conference with 42 and 37, respectively, of the 405 members who qualified. Qualification for this particular honor is automatic, based on a 3.00 G.P.A. and nomination (there is no vote).

GSC Fall Academic Honor Roll members, their GPA’s and majors from the football team are: Michael Christian, a freshman Exercise Science major with a 3.50; Adam Creek, a senior with a 3.19 in Criminal Justice; Andrekus Dixon, a freshman with a 3.76 in Business Administration/Management; Rodney Evans, a freshman in Pre-Physical Therapy with a 3.41; Kris Freeland, a sophomore with a 3.12 in Biological Science; Rory Green, a junior with a 3.06 in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation; Nik Lewis, a freshman who is undecided with a 3.12; Mario Olvera, a freshman with a 3.00 and undecided; Ernest Pressley, a senior with a 3.08 in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation; Larnell Sinegal, a freshman with a 3.60 in Business Administration/Management; and Austin Taylor, who is undecided with a 3.15.

Men’s Cross Country: Spencer Ackenback, a freshman with a 3.62 in Pre-Law; Matt Albertson, a freshman in Business Administration/Management with a 3.80; Shawn Beidler, a freshman with a 3.81 in Computer Science; Jason Carroll, a Psychology major with a 3.00; Michael Hunt, a freshman with a 3.53 and undecided; Tyler Johnson, a freshman Business Administration/Management major with a 3.46; and Matt Quinn, a freshman with a 3.00 in Business Administration/Management.

Women’s Cross Country: Amy Gorman, a sophomore Exercise Science major with a 3.02; Lindy Stevens, a sophomore with a 3.43 who is undecided; and Veronica Villagran, a freshman with a 3.37 and is undecided.

Volleyball: Brooke Bowling, a junior with a 3.32 in Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation; Kimberly Gray, a freshman with a 3.60 in Business Administration/Management; Holland Hall, a sophomore with a 3.60 in Accounting; Tanya Singleton, a junior with a 3.05 in Business Administration/Management; and Brittany Wright, a freshman with a 3.57 in English Education.