BLINN ATHLETES EARN ACADEMIC HONORS
The Blinn College baseball, softball and volleyball teams earned NJCAA all-academic recognition and six Buccaneer athletes earned academic student-athlete awards, the NJCAA announced today.
Baseball player Jacob Sarabia received a superior academic achievement award after posting a 3.86 grade-point average (GPA). Fellow baseball players Weston Wick and Cullen Gassaway and softball players Allison Artz, Sydney Wellmann and Mackinsey Yoes each received exemplary academic achievement awards for posting GPAs of 3.60 or higher.
Blinn baseball posted a 3.25 team GPA, softball recorded a 3.15 and volleyball posted a 3.01. This marks the baseball team’s fifth consecutive year to earn all-academic recognition and the sixth time the team has been honored in the last six years. It marks the fourth time the softball program has earned academic honors in the past five years.
“Blinn College has a well-deserved academic reputation,” Athletic Director Scott Schumacher said. “For our student-athletes to balance their athletic commitments while thriving in a challenging academic environment speaks to their character and dedication. We couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.”
Earlier this month, Blinn named 90 athletes to the Spring 2014 Don Wilhelm Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. To be eligible, student-athletes must complete 12 transferable credit hours with at least a 3.0 GPA.
The awards cap off a successful year for the Buccaneer athletic department, which won national championships in volleyball, cheer and dance. Baseball placed fifth at the Junior College World Series, and the women’s basketball team finished in the top eight at the national tournament.
Blinn athletes were also active in the community throughout the year. As part of its adopt-a-charity program, Blinn donated more than $1,200 collected at sporting events throughout the year to Adam’s Angels, a non-profit organization that assists families battling childhood cancer.
During the 2013-14 academic year, the NJCAA saw 58,446 student-athletes compete on 3,705 teams in 28 different sports. Of those competitors, 3.08 percent – or 1,799 student-athletes – were recognized with academic awards for their achievements in the classroom.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 29 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information on Blinn athletics, visit www.buccaneersports.com. Story and photos courtesy of Blinn College.