RICHARDSON, Texas –– McMurry University senior cross country runner Kenneth Wheeler, Louisiana College sophomore cross country runner Stephanie Baer, East Texas Baptist University senior football player Kyle Pope, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor senior soccer player Daniel Green, University of the Ozarks senior soccer player Emalee Pearson, and Hardin-Simmons University senior volleyball player Kaela Parnell have all earned the title of Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in their respective American Southwest Conference 2009 fall sports, the ASC office announced on Friday (Dec. 11).

Overall, 61 student-athletes from ASC men's cross country, women's cross country, football, men's soccer, women's soccer and volleyball were named to the Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Team.

The honor, in its third academic year, recognizes student-athletes that achieve a higher level of academic achievement (a 3.20 grade-point average or better) while competing as a starter or important reserve on their team. From that list – limited to one nominee per school in each ASC championship sport – the Sports Information Directors from the conference's 15 member institutions vote on a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete from each sport.

Wheeler (Fort Worth, TX), who is majoring in exercise science with a 3.77 GPA, earned an all-region selection for the fourth-straight year. He will be named academic all-America for the fourth-straight time in February. Wheeler finished third overall at ASC Championships and made nationals as a junior in 2008. He is a three-time academic all-ASC award winner.

Baer (Monroe, LA), who is majoring is a triple major in English, journalism and marketing and management with a perfect 4.0 GPA, is active in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the 2009 Louisiana College Honor Court and holds a Top 30 scholarship at Louisiana College. She is the winner of 2009 rising star award on Louisiana College debate team. She also won the debate completion and placed second in public speaking at the IDPA national tournament. Baer was named most improved runner on LC women's cross country team and appeared two semesters on the dean's list.

Pope (Longview, TX), who is majoring in accounting with a 3.89 GPA, is a two-sport athlete at ETBU. He has been an ASC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in both football and baseball and is a three-time member of the ASC All-Academic team for football and twice for baseball. Pope set an ETBU career record for field goals made with 25 and also notched a school-record of 12 field goals in 2007. He hit .386 and was ASC East Newcomer of the Year in baseball in 2008. Pope was the back-to-back winner of ETBU's Top Tiger Award, given annually to the top student-athlete on campus.

Green (Abilene, TX), who is majoring in chemistry with a 3.797 GPA, is a two-time ASC Academic All-Conference selection and also earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VI First Team honors this season. Green is also a First Team All-ASC selection as he helped lead the Cru men to their first ASC regular season title and the first NCAA tournament bid in the program's history this season. He led a Cru defense that gave up just 11 regular season goals and posted 12 total shutouts. Green also scored two goals and serves as the men's soccer team's representative on the UMHB Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Pearson (Salt lake City, UT), who received a degree in health and kinesiology with a 3.81, took 19 hours this semester in order to graduate early. On the field, she was the clear team leader, serving as team captain. She was among the top defenders in the conference, earning All-Conference honors twice during her career. This season she recorded two assists. She ends her career as the program's career leader in starts (70). She is a three-time ASC All-Academic Team member and was a 2008 NSCAA Scholar All-American. Additionally, she has worked in the Sports Information Office for two years, earning ASC SID All-Academic status. Pearson is the editor the Communique, a bi-weekly campus newsletter, and helps produce Ozarks' award-winning media guides. Pearson has done community service at the Needy Paws Animal Shelter, Salvation Army and is a campus tutor.

Parnell (Carrollton, TX), who is majoring in pre-med biology with a 4.0 GPA, was the ASC West Division Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. She was also an academic All-American as voted on by CoSIDA. Parnell led the Cowgirls to the ASC West Division title and an appearance in the ASC title match.

All honorees were also named to the Fall 2009 ASC Academic All-Conference Team.

 

 

ASC FALL 2008 DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAM

(+Sport's Distinguished Scholar-Athlete)

 

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

Name	School	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Ken Wheeler	McMurry	Sr.	Exercise Science	Fort Worth, TX
Mark Giardinelli	Concordia Texas	So.	Communication	Boerne, TX
Brian Verrett	Louisiana College	Sr.	Biblical Studies	Denham Springs, LA
Donny Gable	Mississippi College	Jr.	English Education	Pass Christian, MS
Lee Goble	Ozarks	Sr.	Sociology	Dallas, TX
Kendall Smith	Sul Ross State	Jr.	Range Animal Sci.	Johnson City, TX
Matthew Sanchez	Texas-Dallas	So.	Computer Science	Austin, TX
Jeff Chandler	Texas-Tyler	So.	Business Marketing	Longview, TX

 

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY

Name	School	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Stephanie Baer	Louisiana College	So.	Eng./Journ./Mark.	Monroe, LA
Joli Bula	Concordia Texas	So.	Kinesiology	Austin, TX
Kara Beall	East Texas Baptist	So.	Chemistry	New Guinea
Vanessa Montelongo	Hardin-Simmons	Jr.	Athletic Training	San Antonio, TX
Carla Lewis	McMurry	Sr	Exercise Science	Tuscola, TX
Jennifer Cooper	Mississippi College	So.	Biology	Raymond, MS
Tadera Garland	Ozarks	So.	Early Childhood Ed.	Pelsor, AR
Brenda Bui	Texas-Dallas	Sr	Biology	Carrollton, TX
Rachel Carroll	Texas-Tyler	Jr.	Management	Tyler, TX
Jacqueline Allen	Texas Lutheran	Sr.	Kinesiology	Katy, TX

 

FOOTBALL

Name	School	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Kyle Pope	East Texas Baptist	Sr.	Accounting	Longview, TX
ZaVious Robbins	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Marketing	Mesquite, TX
Cody Hambrick	Howard Payne	Jr.	Business Admin.	Paradise, TX
Ben McLaughlin	Louisiana College	Jr.	Math/Physical Ed.	Dierks, AR
Quincy Daniels	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Management	Belton, TX
Renard Ellis	Mississippi College	Sr.	Business Admin.	Winter Haven, FL
Ricardo Vera	Sul Ross State	So.	Kinesiology	Hebbronville, TX
Josh Goodlow	Texas Lutheran	So.	Kinesiology	Austin, TX

 

MEN'S SOCCER

Name	School	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Daniel Green	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Chemistry	Abilene, TX
Brian Friend	Concordia Texas	Sr.	History/Theology	Bannockburn, IL
Ryan Collins	East Texas Baptist	Sr.	Biology	Tyler, TX
Isaiah Hicks	Hardin-Simmons	So.	Biology	Waco, TX
Hugo Uribe	Howard Payne	Sr.	Criminal Just./Span.	Greenville, TX
Patrick Thompson	LeTourneau	So.	Engineering	Southlake, TX
Nic Philpot	Louisiana College	So.	Athletic Training	Pineville, LA
Barry Prather	Mississippi College	Jr.	Kinesiology	Clinton, MS
Philip Johnson	Ozarks	Sr.	Business Admin.	Plano, TX
Miachel Anyirah	Texas-Dallas	Jr.	Biochemistry	Dallas, TX
Mark Oliphant	Texas-Tyler	Jr.	Civil Engineering	Bedford, TX
Morgan Parker	Texas Lutheran	Jr.	Account./Business	Humble, TX

 

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Name	School	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Emalee Pearson	Ozarks	Sr..	Strategic Comm.	Salt Lake City, UT
Lya Morfitt	Concordia Texas	Jr.	Business Manag.	Brownsville, TX
Danica Saxon	East Texas Baptist	So.	Undecided	Tyler, TX
Sarah Stansell	Hardin-Simmons	Jr.	Math	McAllen, TX
Lauren B Hankins	Howard Payne	Jr.	Elementery Edu.	Midlothian, TX
Kirby Posey	LeTourneau	Sr.	Kinesiology	Longview, TX
Stephanie Baer	Louisiana College	So.	Eng./Journ./Mark.	Monroe, LA
Lindsay Hunt	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Sr.	Art	Lahaina, HI
Carrie Kirk	Mississippi College	Sr.	For. Lang. Int. Trade	Madison, MS
Brittany Cardwell	Schreiner	So.	Math	Spring Branch, TX
Emily George	Texas-Dallas	Sr.	Accounting	Lubbock, TX
Kristen Chockley	Texas-Tyler	Jr.	Biology	Plano, TX
Kaysie Boomhower	Texas Lutheran	So.	Comm. Studies	San Antonio, TX

 

VOLLEYBALL

Name	School	Cl.	Major	Hometown
+ Kaela Parnell	Hardin-Simmons	Sr.	Pre-Med Biology	Carrollton, TX
Kevyn Jackson	Concordia Texas	So.	Biology	Baytown, TX
Jane Hays	East Texas Baptist	Sr.	Education	Hereford, TX
Cathie Lynn Kilmartin	Howard Payne	Jr.	Ex. and Sport Sci.	Lorena, TX
Erin Maenius	Mary Hardin-Baylor	Jr.	Marketing/Finance	San Antonio, TX
Danielle Kelton	McMurry	Sr.	General Business	Andrews, TX
Jessica Torick	Mississippi College	So.	Interior Design	Pleasant View, UT
Misty Fletcher	Schreiner	Jr.	Business	La Vernia, TX
Whitney Clements	Texas-Tyler	Jr.	Special Education	Flint, TX
Jamie Jahns	Texas Lutheran	Sr.	Business Marketing	Spring, TX