Heartland student athletes hit new heights for academic performance

 

[June 13, 2021]   For the third year in a row, the Heartland Hawks athletics teams have set a new high point for academic performance.

With a cumulative GPA of 3.23 for the 2020-2021 academic year, Heartland’s student athletes have posted the highest marks in the program’s history. This tops the previous mark of 3.03 Hawks athletes posted in the 2019-2020 academic year, which topped the 3.02 record from the year before that.

The continued academic success of student athletes reflects the College’s commitment to student success. Last year, Heartland opened the Student Athlete Academic Support Center (SAASC), administered by Rachel Cook, Director of Advisement and Mary Frahm, Head Volleyball Coach and Coordinator of the SAASC.

“Six of our eight teams had a team GPA over a 3.0,” reported Cook. “I am so impressed with this group of student-athletes. The past year was particularly hard on everyone with many still adapting to online learning. To face that adversity and still end with the highest Athletics department GPA ever is an incredible accomplishment.”

Forty athletes made the Academic All-Conference team. Parameters for this achievement are two full-time semesters with a GPA average of 3.5 or higher. Additionally, thirteen athletes were named to the NJCAA All-Academic 1st Team with a 4.0 GPA. Fourteen made 2nd Team, having earned an average GPA between 3.80-3.99, and eleven made 3rd Team with an average falling between 3.60-3.79.

First Team (4.0 GPA)

Sean Shook, Baseball
Morgan Boward, Softball
Lindsey Hari, Softball
Blair Jacobus, Softball
Mikayla Fairfield, Softball
Sara Perkins, Softball
Ariadna Roca Arjona, Women’s Soccer
Lucia Cuadra Valero, Women’s Soccer
David Hutson, Golf
Regan Danko, Volleyball
Lacey Kaiser, Volleyball
Emily Eder, Volleyball
Emma Clark, Volleyball

Second Team (3.80-3.99 GPA)

Dylan Foley, Baseball
Irene Robles, Women’s Soccer
Jazmin Torres, Women’s Soccer
Darla Portillo, Women’s Soccer
Cora Perez Andreu, Women’s Soccer
Montserrat Alsina, Women’s Soccer
Alexander Schulze, Men’s Soccer
Mattia Vecchi, Men’s Soccer
Pavel Capovsky, Men’s Soccer
Santiago Huertas, Men’s Soccer
Brooke Evans, Women’s Cross Country
Lauren Minick, Volleyball
Aniya Monla, Volleyball
Kendall Peck, Volleyball

Third Team (3.60-3.79)

Matthew Murphy, Baseball
Jack Leffers, Golf
Ricardo Herrero Araguas, Men’s Soccer
Loris Granier, Men’s Soccer
Diego Massone, Men’s Soccer
Alyssa Webb, Softball
Brandy Ogden, Softball
Hadleigh Loitz, Volleyball
Carley Baughman, Volleyball
Rebekah Nielsen, Women’s Soccer
Apryl Alvarez, Women’s Soccer

“These accomplishments are a testament to the services provided at Heartland,” said Ryan Knox, HCC Athletic Director. “The faculty were exceptional in mitigating the various platforms and circumstances for all our students throughout the trials of the past year. I hope everyone at Heartland feels a sense of accomplishment with this record-breaking group of athletes. It’s truly a school-wide victory.”

[Steve Fast
Director, Public Information
Heartland Community College]