MONTGOMERY, Ala. - As the spring 2024 semester begins, Faulkner Athletics wants to celebrate some of the incredible academic achievements of the fall 2023 semester for the student-athletes.
For the fall sports, the Eagles earned 82 academic exclusive awards. Faulkner placed 34 student-athletes on the Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete team. This award requires a minimum of a 3.5 cumulative GPA, one year at the institution and be on the eligibility certificate.
Women's Cross Country
Courtney Hill and
Mary Alice Murner
Men's Cross Country
Ethan Thomas and Nathaniel Schumacher
Football
Ben Anderson,
Caden Davis,
Drake McCutchen,
Emanual Gilley, Ethan Walker,
Garrett Orr,
Hunter Burke,
Joshua Booker,
Judson Hogeland,
Kaden Roberson,
Raequan Beal,
Shaun Vincent
Women's Soccer
Ainsley Lockwood,
Alessia Confalonieri,
Corinne Weissinger,
Courtney Hill,
Laura Mendez,
Laura Vaughn and
Sofia de la Torre
Men's Soccer
Antoine Marques,
Anton Matanovic,
Caio Pereira,
Gabriel Dias,
Gabriel Rokbrand,
Matheus Rodrigues,
Michalis Jackson and
Stephen Richards
Volleyball
Charlee Jordan,
Hannah Bryan,
Kendall Rice
48 student-athletes earned SSAC Barnes & Noble College or MSC All-Academic team honors. These awards require a 3.25 cumulative GPA in at least their third semester.
Women's Cross Country (SSAC)
Mary Alice Murner and
Courtney Hill
Men's Cross Country (SSAC)
Ethan Thomas and Nathaniel Schumacher
Football (MSC)
Ben Anderson,
Raequan Beal, Josh Booker,
Myles Boyd, Tyler Brown,
Hunter Burke, Zander Cook-Harris,
Caden Davis,
Emanual Gilley,
Riley Hall,
Judson Hogeland,
Drake McCutchen,
Garrett Orr,
Kaden Roberson,
Santos Sanchez,
Brody Smith,
Shaun Vincent, Ethan Walker,
Samaj Washington
Women's Soccer (SSAC)
Kelsey Cameron,
Sofia de la Torre,
Laura Vaughn,
Ainsley Lockwood,
Laura Mendez,
Courtney Hill,
Alessia Confalonieri,
Corinne Weissinger,
Ellie Alexander,
Jessica Jaimes,
Reagan Embry and
Brittany Wilkinson
Men's Soccer (SSAC)
Gabriel Rokbrand,
Michalis Jackson,
Gabriel Dias,
Stephen Richards,
Anton Matanovic,
Antoine Marques,
Caio Pereira,
Matheus Rodrigues
Volleyball
Hannah Bryan,
Kendall Rice,
Charlee Jordan,
Haven Owings,
Macy Kemper
The Eagles also placed 11 members on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team.
Antoine Marques also earned CSC Academic Second Team All-America honors.
Football
Garrett Orr,
Tucker Marsh,
Brody Smith
Women's Soccer
Sofia de la Torre,
Ainsley Lockwood,
Corinne Weissinger
Men's Soccer
Antoine Marques,
Matheus Rodrigues,
Gabriel Rokbrand
Volleyball
Hannah Bryan,
Charlee Jordan
"Academics has always been a very important part of our athletic program. We always strive to have our student-athletes work as hard in the classroom as they do out on the field and in the weight room," Athletic Director
Hal Wynn said.
This semester was an outstanding term for student-athlete success in the classroom with the athletic department compiling a GPA of 3.135. The championship sports edged out the non-championship sports 3.137 to 3.126. The varsity teams of championship sports had an eye-popping 3.278 GPA in Fall 2023. The women's championship sports totaled a 3.421 GPA while the men's varsity championship sports composited a 3.114.
The teams saw incredible academic success this semester with 12 programs finishing with 3.0 or higher total program GPAs; 13 of the 14 championship sport varsity programs finished above that mark. Women's Golf led the field with a 3.745 team GPA. Softball's 3.714 finished in a close second ahead of Women's Cross Country's 3.696 and Volleyball's 3.404. Women's Soccer rounded out the top five with a 3.309. Men's Basketball paced the men's sports with a 3.23 in seventh just behind Women's Basketball's 3.232. Cheer and eSports finished right behind the basketball programs with 3.2 and 3.196 GPAs, respectively. Women's Soccer's JV squad finished with a 3.618 GPA for the highest JV GPA. Men's Soccer's varsity team totaled a 3.486 clip.
Wynn was very proud of the efforts and results from the student-athletes. "This semester you can see where our student-athletes did an outstanding job across the board with keeping a high GPA. That goes to tell you a lot about the programs we have at the institution to help them, the coaches pushing their kids to make the grades and the students themselves in that they really push themselves in the classroom."
Faculty Athletic Representative, Cindy Walker, praised the student-athletes for their phenomenal work. "Our students buy into the campus culture. Faulkner's initiatives through the Eagles Soar 1 grant and the Quality Enhancement Plan provide students with a foundation for success. Our student-athletes utilized their academic coaches, attended non-mandatory study halls and supplemental instruction classes, and visited the Academic Support Lab throughout the semester. The athletes' use of these voluntary services is exemplary, and it shows in their academic success."
Individually, there were 136 student-athletes who finished the fall with a 3.5 semester GPA or higher.
Softball - 18
Football - 16
Men's Soccer - 15
Baseball - 14
eSports - 13
Women's Basketball - 11
Men's Basketball - 9
Women's Soccer - 9
Volleyball - 9
Cheer - 6
Women's Cross Country - 5
Women's Golf - 4
Bass Fishing - 3
Men's Cross Country - 3
Men's Golf - 1
Softball, women's basketball, men's basketball, volleyball and women's cross country all had half or more of its student-athletes earn a 3.5 or higher.
39 student-athletes finished with a 4.0 with softball with nearly half the team compiling a perfect semester.
Softball - 11
Men's Basketball - 6
Men's Soccer - 5
Women's Basketball - 5
Women's Soccer - 5
Baseball - 2
Women's Golf - 2
Football - 1
eSports - 1
"We hope this continues through their careers and the careers of the future student-athletes we'll have," Wynn concluded.
