Student-Athletes Honored For Academic Success by Sun Belt

MIDDLE TENNESSEE - Over 150 Middle Tennessee student-athletes were recognized for academic excellence during the 2005-06 academic year, the Sun Belt Conference office announced this week.

The Sun Belt Conference released its Commissioner's List and Academic Honor Roll for the 2005-06 season and 157 Blue Raider student-athletes were included for having achieved a grade point average of 3.0 or better. Among the 157 honored, 63 student-athletes earned a spot on the Commissioner's List by recording a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Middle Tennessee teams received accolades both nationally and through the conference last season. The Blue Raider soccer team was awarded the prestigious National Soccer Coaches of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for the fourth consecutive year under the direction of head coach Aston Rhoden. Middle Tennessee softball won the Sun Belt Academic Team award for the second year in a row.

Three student-athletes were honored for their academic achievements by ESPN The Magazine and the College Sports Information Directors of America. Women's basketball player Chrissy Givens was named second-team All-America, while Krystle Horton (women's basketball) and Muriel Ledbetter (softball) received academic all-district honors.

Additionally, there will be 13 student-athletes participating in Middle Tennessee commencement ceremonies on Saturday in the Murphy Center. The list includes: Raymond Chaney (football), Kyle Turnbow (football), J.P. Shelly (football), Eric Blevins (baseball), Tim Crunk (baseball - master's degree), Jerry Knox (baseball), Josh Nelms (golf), Steve Safstrom (track), Muriel Ledbetter (softball), former Blue Raider Kristi Brown (women's basketball), Lamunika Eberhart (track), Claire Ward (soccer) and former women's tennis player and All-American Carien Venter, who is receiving her master's degree.

2005-2006 Commissioner's List 3.50 and Above

Baseball: Grant Box, Taylor Dennis, Myles Ervin, Todd Martin, Michael McKenry, Brett Smalley, Allan Woodward

Football: Walter Bell, Jonathan Callahan, Adam Clark, James DeGeorge, John Jernigan, Thomas Osteen, Rapheal Ousley, Brandon Roberts, Devarick Scandrett, Kyle Turnbow, Paul Wheeler

Men's Basketball: Kyle Young, Kevin Kanaskie

Men's CC/Track: Willie Parker

Men's Golf: Jonathan Burns

Men's Tennis: Joao Paoliello, Kai Schledorn, Andreas Siljestrom, Anant Sitaram

Softball: Jennifer Dorais, Leah Grothause, Jennifer Grybash

Volleyball: Ashley Adams, Katie Brush, Evi Gargalianos, Victoria Monasterolo

Women's Basketball: Johnna Abney, Chrissy Givens, Krystle Horton, Ditte Jacobsen, LaCondra Mason

Women's CC/Track: Meaghan Byrd, Catherine Chester, Sierra Douglas, TraMayne Gillyard, Marjorie Gombert, Kaitlyn Hammond, Katie Mirgliotta, Tiffany Sawyer

Women's Golf: Taryn Durham, Amanda Wilkins

Women's Soccer: Deborah Brereton, Nenita Burgess, Ingrid Christensen, Courtney Fortner, Rachel Holmes, Elizabeth Hutter, Laura Miguez, Jessica Northcutt, Melissa Wellman, Sara Wohlhueter

Women's Tennis: Ana Maria Cibils, Jennifer Klaschka, Britini Short, Claudia Szabo

2005-2006 Academic Honor Roll 3.0-3.49

Baseball: Doug Birkofer, Rawley Bishop, Brandon Brokaw, Matt Campbell, Ben Darlington, Dillon Heath, Justin Humphrey, Justin Jones, Jimmy Kelly, Wayne Kendrick, Tommy Sterritt, Chase Swing, Marcus Taylor, Will Underland, Adam Warren, John Williams

Football: Derek Brown, Michael Cannon, Leon Cesar, Clinton Corder, Joshua Dutton, Germayle Franklin, Josh Harris, Michael Himes, Patrick Honeycutt, Trevor Jenkins, Brodey Mann, Gabble Mitchell, Shawn Mitchell, Bradley Nix, Jonathan Parks, Lucas Paschall, David Price, Brice Reed, Christopher Sapp, Anthony Smith, Ronald Steed, Vejin Tahir, Michael Varick, David West

Men's Basketball: Theryn Hudson, Adam Vogelsberg, Desmond Yates

Men's CC/Track: Julius Defour, Derek Dell, Steve Safstrom, JJ Sturm, James Thomas, Matthew Young

Men's Golf: Nicholas Balies, Benjamin Barnes, Derrick Bright, George Cochran, Jacob Lee, Spencer Provow

Men's Tennis: Greg Pollock

Softball: Martha Davis, Ashley Katinas, Muriel Ledbetter, Katie Mielke, Kristine Reed, Shelby Stiner, Melissa Weiland, Trish White, Michelle Wilkes

Volleyball: Andressa Lyra, Hannah Randolph, Jessica Robinson, Theresa Slowik

Women's Basketball: Latoya Barclay, Starr Orr, Tia Stovall

Women's CC/Track: Jessica Anderson, Ashley Comstock, Kishara George, Sara Lunning, Tiffany Owens, Candice Robertson, Carlissa Shaw

Women's Golf: Jamey Dillard, Grace Holmes

Women's Soccer: Jenna Capitena, Kaley Forrest, Holly Grogan, Kala Morgan, Katy Rayburn, Clair Ward

Women's Tennis: Kelly Adams, Pooja Kommireddi, Ann-Kristen Siljestrom, Elvira Yusupova

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