SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Cal State San Marcos Athletics placed a school-record 125 student-athletes on the 2019-20 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) All-Academic Team, the conference announced on Wednesday.
“I continue to marvel at the new heights our student-athletes are taking us to academically,” CSUSM Director of Athletics Jennifer Milo said. “Despite the challenges in front of them, they never let down. I am so proud of their hard work and dedication.”
To qualify for CCAA All-Academic honors, student-athletes must be a varsity letter winner who competed in one of the 13 CCAA-sponsored sports (men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, baseball and softball) during the 2019-20 academic year.
In addition, student-athletes must achieve a grade-point average of 3.40 or higher in a minimum of 24 units.
“In order to stay on track, I create schedules and to-do lists where I cross off tasks after completing them,” CSUSM softball student-athlete and Student-Athlete Advisory Committee member Carly Slack said of her study habits. “This helps keep me motivated and organized, especially during the season. Keeping up my academics is a top priority for me.”
CSUSM beat out a previous school record of 96 set in the 2016-17 academic year. The Cougars also finished second in the CCAA for the third consecutive year behind NCAA Division I-bound UC San Diego, who finished with 131.
“This is just another example of how our Cal State San Marcos student-athletes are distinguishing themselves as leaders on our campus and in our conference,” CSUSM Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Bennett Cherry said. “With more than a third of our student athletes being recognized as All-Academic winners, the CCAA is acknowledging the stellar students we have competing in Cougar Blue. I have no doubt that our student-athletes will be at the top of the list in 2020-21.”
Since joining the league in the 2015-16 academic year, CSUSM has tallied the most CCAA All-Academic honorees with a combined total of 454, beating out UC San Diego (444) and Chico State (410) in that same period.
2019-20 CCAA ALL-ACADEMIC HONOREES BY SCHOOL
1. UC San Diego – 131
2. Cal State San Marcos – 125
3. Chico State – 119
4. Cal State Monterey Bay – 100
5. Sonoma State – 96
6. Cal State East Bay – 95
7. Humboldt State – 86
8. San Francisco State – 84
9. Cal State San Bernardino – 82
10. Cal Poly Pomona – 80
11. Stanislaus State – 72
12. Cal State LA – 55
13. Cal State Dominguez Hills – 44
CSUSM 2019-20 CCAA ALL-ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS
* – Competed in Track & Field only
^ – Competed in Cross Country only
Baseball (16): Vinnie Alfino, Elijah Davis, Niko Diaz, Ethan Ellis, Tommy Fermin, Demetrius Freeman, Andrew Garcia, Preston Kelly, Adam Lovato, Dominic Meza, Nate Robinson, Luc Stuka, Griffin Teisher, Will Van Duren, Dylan Wannamaker, Aiden Yarwood
Men’s Basketball (6): Sean Dunn, Khalil Fuller, Jayce McCain, Tre Morgan, Blake Seits, Bryce Sloan
Women’s Basketball (8): Stephanie Custodio, Emma Forel, Kelsey Forrester, Kaila Gower, Akayla Hackson, Dominique Hernandez, Sophia Jacobsson, Kayden Korst
Men’s Cross Country/Track & Field (13): Trevor Boaz, David Bonds, Casey Cruz*, Austin Edwards, Nick Leeds*, Joshua Litwiller, Robert Marin, Louis McNair*, Trevor Nakata*, Kyle Rossman*, Isaiah Thomas*, Shea Vavra, Walker Welch*
Women’s Cross Country/Track & Field (26): Lauren Allison Aipa, Haley Bartolaba*, Aylin Beltran-Picos^, Daria Bonds, Bri Chavira, Shareen Estremera*, Serena Farrell, Clarissa Garcia, Grace Handler^, Jax Heckers, Makayla Jones, Sierra Julian*, Nyha Kidd*, Erin MacNeil, Julie Mariano*, Kat McConville*, Marina McDonough, Ana Mercado, Luz Mercado, Jasmine Porter*, Jenna Portis*, Sierra Roberson, Kylene Shuler*, Rachel Sjolie*, Morgan Taylor*, Morgann Wilson*
Men’s Golf (5): Ben Hume, Tommy Jernigan, Daniel Kim, Connor Nelson, Sam Theijs
Women’s Golf (5): Claire Hogle, Breann Horn, Jaime Jacob, Emily Lichty, Savannah Magallon
Men’s Soccer (8): Daniel Alexander, Marco Burgueno, Brian Chung, Jacob Cuccia, Jacob Johnston, Juan Camilo Salazar, Justin Tesar, Corbin Thaete
Women’s Soccer (16): Hannah Arcala, Yesenia Betancourt, Madisen Bivens, Madyson Brown, Bailey Cockrill, Katie Connor, Meredith Curran, Briana Daoust, Adria Jamieson, Devyn Kelley, Gabi Manno, Sierra Moore, Emma Moses, Lauren Perry, Alyssa Sanchez, Danielle Wiens
Softball (13): Nikki Andelin, Zoe Ballen, Mayca Brown, Abby Callais, Melody Forstie, Kaylie Hoskins, Jenny Lafayette, Klarissa Munoz, Jaqlyn Newhouser, Brittney Scardina, Carly Slack, Ryann Steiner, Sara Whelehon
Volleyball (9): Olivia Aguilar, Kayla de los Reyes, Nicole Diggs, Micah Hébert, Mackenzie Jennings, Fayth Rascon-Ryn, Kiora Ridgeway, Madison Turner, Eliana Williams
