MCC student-athletes, teams picked for All-Academic teams

Forty-two McCook Community College student-athletes have been recognized by the National Junior College Athletic Association for their efforts in the classroom. They were selected for one of three 2023-24 NJCAA All-Academic teams.

“The main goal we have here at McCook is to help our student-athletes better themselves through education. Succeeding in the classroom is one of the ways that we feel they can make a huge step into their future,” said MCC Athletic Director Jon Olsen, “We feel extremely proud of all of the students who excelled at the level to be recognized by the NJCAA, both those as individuals as well as the teams that qualified.”

Seven MCC student-athletes were named to the all-academic first team, 20 were named to the second team and 15 received third-team status.

In addition to individual honors, four of MCC’s six athletic teams had team grade-point averages higher than 3.0 earning the NJCAA designations as Academic Teams of the Year honors.

Women’s Basketball had a composite team GPA of 3.64 which was seventh best among 162 Division 1 junior college teams. Volleyball also compiled a 3.64 team GPA. The MCC Baseball team achieved a 3.34 team GPA and Softball had a 3.29 team GPA.

“All of this wouldn’t be possible without the help of everyone on campus, obviously the coaches who put such an emphasis on academic success but also both faculty and student services on campus,” said Olsen. “It is great to be able to work with such great people in both departments, the faculty who obviously do a tremendous job educating our student-athletes and working with them when we can be gone a lot. Also, student services who help guide our students through the other parts of college that is instrumental in them being successful as well.”

In addition to the NJCAA academic designations 49 MCC student-athletes were named to the 2023-2024Academic All-Region IX men’s and women’s teams. For this designation student athletes must have completed a minimum of 24 semester hours and earn GPA’s greater than 3.25.

Those named to a 2023-24 All-Academic Team for achieving a GPA of 3.6 or higher are:

NJCAA All-Academic First Team: 4.0 GPA

• Carlota Alonso, freshman, women’s basketball
• Greta Bolognini, sophomore, volleyball
• Jackson Finder, sophomore, baseball
• Nathan Hutchison, freshman, baseball
• Kalyn Jackson, sophomore, softball
• Michael Quick, sophomore, baseball
• Hanne Verdaguer, freshman, women’s basketball 

NJCAA All-Academic Second Team: 3.8-3.99 GPA

• Angela Banzet, freshman, softball
• Andrew Brown, freshman, golf
• Kyler Cox, freshman, baseball
• Rebecca Dunn, sophomore, women’s basketball
• Jordan Duzenack, sophomore, volleyball
• Anna Elliott, freshman, softball
• Leif Friedrich, freshman, baseball
• Natalie Harmata, sophomore, women’s basketball
• Aiden Johnson, sophomore, baseball
• Lachlan Jones, freshman, baseball
• Sadie Kahl, freshman, softball
• Jake Quinlivan, sophomore, baseball
• Eli Schaeffer, sophomore, baseball
• Jason Serafinchon, sophomore, baseball
• Maddox Shaver, freshman, baseball
• Kaylee Smith, freshman, softball
• Rowen Tribelhorn, freshman, volleyball
• Audra Vine, sophomore, women’s basketball
• Jackson Yeager, sophomore, baseball
• Ebba Zalamans, sophomore, women’s basketball

NJCAA All-Academic Third Team: 3.6-3.79 GPA

• Caylin Barnett, freshman, volleyball
• Blake Benallo, sophomore, baseball
• Luke Bies, sophomore, baseball
• Romina Castro, freshman, volleyball
• Blake Dale, sophomore, baseball
• Will Edwards, sophomore, baseball
• Ayana Goodwin, freshman, softball
• Noa Iglesias Chorda, sophomore, women’s basketball
• Josh Jedretich, sophomore, baseball
• Jesse Jerome, sophomore, volleyball
• Fernanda Merancio, sophomore, volleyball
• Graci Nelson, sophomore, softball
• Emerie Rios, sophomore, volleyball
• Suzan Sisman, sophomore, women’s basketball
• Gracen Tuttle, sophomore, volleyball

To view a full list of all student-athlete award winners, visit: NJCAA All-Academic Awards

2023-2024 ACADEMIC ALL-REGION IX MEN’S TEAM:

• Men’s Basketball: Thabo Manyere, Bryan Akanmu
• Men’s Golf: Andrew Brown
• Baseball: Aiden Johnson, Blake Benallo, Blake Dale, Cory Wouters, Eli Schaeffer, Jackson Finder, Jackson Yeager, Jake Quinlivan, Jason Serafinchon, Josh Jedretich, Lachlan Jones, Michael Quick, Nathan Hutchison, Will Edwards, Zeke Minic, Kyler Cox, Leif Friedrich, Luke Bies, Maddox Shaver and Wrigley Strong.

2023-2024 ACADEMIC ALL-REGION IX WOMEN’S TEAM:

• Women’s Basketball: Audra Vine, Carlota Alonso, Ebba Zalamans, Hanne Verdaguer, Natalie Harmata, Noa Iglesias Chorda, Rebecca Dunn, Suzan Sisman
• Volleyball: Caylin Barnett, Emerie Rios, Fernanda Merancio, Greta Bolognini, Jordan Duzenack, Romina Castro, Rowen Tribelhorn
• Softball: Haylee Anguiano, Angela Banzet, Brylee Dean, Ayana Goodwin, Kalyn Jackson, Sadie Kahl, Alexis Knapp, Kaylee Smith, Andie Suhai, Graci Nelson, Anna Elliott.