FORT MYERS, Fla. – Celebrating another banner semester in the classroom, the FGCU Department of Athletics celebrated a record 87 individual student-athletes, managers and cheer squad members; several superlative teams; and this year's recipient of the Academic Special Recognition Award at the recently held 13
th Annual Hillmyer-Tremont Foundation Athletics Academic Honors Ceremony.
"This annual ceremony remains a highlight event giving us the opportunity to celebrate our wonderful scholar-athletes and their success in the classroom. Their commitment to excellence in academic endeavors alongside what they achieve in their sport epitomizes all that we stand for as the Green and Blue," said Director of Athletics
Ken Kavanagh.
The 87 individuals who were honored have maintained a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.5-or-better for at least two terms while at FGCU. Overall, 150 student-athletes had a 3.5 GPA last fall, while 42 had a perfect 4.0 GPA.
FGCU student-athletes earned a collective 3.36 GPA following the fall semester (3.41 cumulative) which marked the 25th consecutive semester to surpass the overall student body (2.99 fall semester and 3.13 cumulative).
"As a department, we are always extremely proud of what our student-athletes accomplish each semester," said Associate Athletics Director/Director of the Hartley Academic Resource Center
Kelly Jean Brock. "We also thank our tremendous network of campus partners who encourage, support and challenge our student-athletes which is vital to their success."
With remarks from FGCU Executive Vice President and Provost
Dr. Mark Rieger and emceed by Faculty Athletics Representative
Dr. Tom Roberts, the luncheon was held in the Cohen Student Union Ballroom.
Volleyball senior
Dana Axner (Dublin, Ohio/Dublin Coffman HS) spoke on behalf of the scholar-athletes. Anxer shared how FGCU has changed her life and how dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic transformed her perspective on taking advantage of opportunities – how the loss of competing and being around her teammates made her cherish and not take for granted playing volleyball or the educational opportunities she's been provided.
Brock presented team awards for the fall 2021 semester to highlight programs that have reached new levels of excellence as a group.
Fall 2021 Team Superlatives:
Highest Team Sport GPA: Volleyball (3.58)
Highest Individual Sport GPA: Women's Tennis (3.52)
Most Improved Team Sport GPA (Spring '21-Fall '21): Volleyball (+.08)
Most Improved Individual Sport GPA (Spring '21-Fall '21): Men's Golf (+.25)
The final honor was the Academic Special Recognition Award. Presented annually to individuals who have distinguished themselves by providing a superior level of service and support to FGCU student-athletes in their pursuit of academic and athletic success, it was bestowed upon the former FGCU Associate Vice President for Academic Engagement
Andy Cinoman. Cinoman was instrumental in helping the Hartley Academic Resource Center and FGCU student-athletes. He worked with the HARC staff to help align their services with Student Success and Academic Engagement, encouraged student-athletes to be involved in leadership roles, and served as an invaluable resource assisting the multi-faceted services provided through the HARC.
| First |
Last |
Class |
Major |
Sport |
Hometown |
| Brian |
Ellis |
Grad Student |
Health Services Admin Cert |
Baseball |
Oviedo, Florida |
| Alejandro |
Figueredo |
Senior |
Integrated Studies |
Baseball |
Sucre, Venezuela |
| Jacob |
Lojewski |
Sophomore |
Exercise Science |
Baseball |
West Palm Beach, Florida |
| McFaddin |
Moise |
Junior |
Construction Management |
Baseball |
Cape Coral, Florida |
| Stephen |
Wilmer |
Senior |
Health Science |
Baseball |
Sarasota, Florida |
| Jenna |
Banz |
Senior |
Psychology |
Beach Volleyball |
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada |
| Alexa |
Hamilton |
Senior |
Integrated Studies |
Beach Volleyball |
Naples, Florida |
| Kacie |
Johnson |
Sophomore |
Environmental Studies |
Beach Volleyball |
Frisco, Texas |
| Maddison |
Parmelly |
Junior |
Psychology |
Beach Volleyball |
Rockwall, Texas |
| Elizabeth |
Richmond |
Junior |
Criminal Justice |
Beach Volleyball |
Oakville, Ontario, Canada |
| Trinity |
Rosales |
Sophomore |
Biology |
Beach Volleyball |
Wilmington, North Carolina |
| Caleb |
Catto |
Senior |
Integrated Studies |
Men's Basketball |
Cape Coral, Florida |
| Chance |
Jackson |
Junior |
Entrepreneurship |
Men's Basketball |
Tampa, Florida |
| Kyle |
Riemenschneider |
Sophomore |
Marketing |
Men's Basketball |
Fort Myers, Florida |
| Suehellen |
Lecaros |
Senior |
Health Science |
Cheerleading |
|
| Hannah |
Royston |
Sophomore |
Management |
Cheerleading |
|
| Molly |
Whisler |
Junior |
Environmental Studies |
Cheerleading |
|
| Austin |
Cherichella |
Sophomore |
PGA Golf Management |
Men's Golf |
Orlando, Florida |
| Jon |
Hopkins |
Senior |
Management |
Men's Golf |
Bishop's Stortford, England |
| Thomas |
Salanito |
Sophomore |
Supply Chain Management |
Men's Golf |
Palm Harbor, Florida |
| Chase |
Bigham |
Senior |
Entrepreneurship |
Men's Golf |
Naples, Florida |
| Henry |
Tschopp |
Senior |
Entrepreneurship |
Men's Golf |
Rapperswil-Jona, Switzerland |
| Parker |
Holland |
Fall 21 Grad |
Health Science |
Men's Soccer |
Winter Garden, Florida |
| Marcos |
da Paz |
Junior |
Integrated Studies |
Men's Soccer |
Recife, Brazil |
| Aiden |
Jokomba |
Senior |
Public Health |
Men's Soccer |
Anchovy St. James, Jamaica |
| Wyatt |
Kistner |
Junior |
Integrated Studies |
Men's Soccer |
Midlothian, Virginia |
| Timon |
Zech |
Senior |
Integrated Studies |
Men's Soccer |
Starnberg, Germany |
| Magnus |
Johnson |
Sophomore |
Management |
Men's Tennis |
Naples, Florida |
| Juan |
Lopez |
Junior |
Economics |
Men's Tennis |
Gachancipa, Colombia |
| McKenna |
Batterton |
Senior |
Biology |
Softball |
Norco, California |
| Kaylin |
Cole |
Sophomore |
Psychology |
Softball |
Clearwater, Florida |
| Ashley |
Hayes |
Senior |
Nursing |
Softball |
Naples, Florida |
| Abigail |
Thomas |
Junior |
Health Science |
Softball |
Fort Myers, Florida |
| Alexis |
Durlacher |
Senior |
Health Science |
Swimming & Diving |
Jacksonville, Florida |
| Anna |
Hogan |
Senior |
Health Science |
Swimming & Diving |
Louisville, Kentucky |
| Hailey |
Jerew |
Senior |
Environmental Geology |
Swimming & Diving |
Miami, Florida |
| Claire |
McAtee |
Junior |
Health Science |
Swimming & Diving |
Louisville, Kentucky |
| Emily |
Merton |
Senior |
Communication |
Swimming & Diving |
Jacksonville, Florida |
| Sara |
Niepelova |
Junior |
Public Health |
Swimming & Diving |
Piestany, Slovakia |
| Michaela |
Sizemore |
Senior |
Biology |
Swimming & Diving |
Fredericksburg, Virginia |
| Lucija |
Sulenta |
Junior |
Health Science |
Swimming & Diving |
Zagreb, Croatia |
| Kierra |
Adams |
Junior |
Resort & Hospitality Management |
Women's Basketball |
Lawrenceville, Georgia |
| Maddie |
Antenucci |
Junior |
Biology |
Women's Basketball |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Tanner |
Bryant |
Senior |
Biology |
Women's Basketball |
Washington Court House, Ohio |
| Andrea |
Cecil |
Grad Student |
Educational Leadership |
Women's Basketball |
Oak Harbor, Ohio |
| Tyra |
Cox |
Grad Student |
Business Administration |
Women's Basketball |
Orlando, Florida |
| Seneca |
Hackley |
Sophomore |
Nursing |
Women's Basketball |
Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Kerstie |
Phills |
Grad Student |
Health Science |
Women's Basketball |
Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Calvin |
Finley |
Senior |
Mathematics |
Women's Basketball Manager |
|
| Jonathan |
Reuss |
Senior |
Political Science |
Women's Basketball Manager |
|
| Gianna |
Citarella |
Junior |
Forensic Studies |
Women's Cross Country |
Manahawkin, New Jersey |
| Julia |
Filip |
Senior |
Biochemistry |
Women's Cross Country |
Owasso, Oklahoma |
| Josephine |
Bertelsen |
Senior |
Economics |
Women's Golf |
Vejle, Denmark |
| Sophia |
Warren |
Senior |
Psychology |
Women's Golf |
Lakewood Ranch, Florida |
| Haley |
Yerxa |
Senior |
Software Engineering |
Women's Golf |
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| Reedy |
Davenport |
Senior |
Integrated Studies |
Softball |
St. Johns, Florida |
| Meagan |
Ricks |
Sophomore |
Health Science |
Softball |
Winter Haven, Florida |
| Ryley |
Topliff |
Sophomore |
Health Science |
Softball |
Fort Myers, Florida |
| Alyssa |
Abbondandolo |
Senior |
Integrated Studies |
Women's Soccer |
Cape Coral, Florida |
| Ashlee |
Brentlinger |
Senior |
Biology |
Women's Soccer |
Middletown, Delaware |
| Amanda |
Crisalli |
Senior |
Health Science |
Women's Soccer |
High Springs, Florida |
| Ashley |
Labbe |
Sophomore |
Health Science |
Women's Soccer |
Lake Worth, Florida |
| Louie |
Lillbaeck |
Senior |
Communication |
Women's Soccer |
Stockholm, Sweden |
| Malaya |
Melancon |
Junior |
Biology |
Women's Soccer |
Naples, Florida |
| Lander |
Peck |
Junior |
Digital Media Design |
Women's Soccer |
Sanibel, Florida |
| Alison |
Wessel |
Junior |
Health Science |
Women's Soccer |
St. Charles, Illinois |
| Megan |
Gruber |
Fall 21 Grad |
Master's in Health Science |
Women's Soccer |
Long Beach, California |
| Kara |
Kyramarios |
Senior |
Nursing |
Women's Soccer |
Titusville, Florida |
| Zoey |
Spitzer |
Senior |
Economics |
Women's Soccer |
Naples, Florida |
| Leah |
Scarpelli |
Junior |
Integrated Studies |
Women's Soccer |
Brick, New Jersey |
| Kailyn |
Sheehan |
Junior |
Health Administration |
Women's Soccer |
Cary, Illinois |
| Karen |
Arngeirsdottir |
Sophomore |
Child & Youth Studies |
Swimming & Diving |
Reykjanesbaer, Iceland |
| Tori |
Czarnecka |
Senior |
Psychology |
Swimming & Diving |
Lublin, Poland |
| Emma |
Hixenbaugh |
Junior |
Bioengineering |
Swimming & Diving |
Louisville, Kentucky |
| Isabeau |
Keene |
Junior |
Biology |
Swimming & Diving |
Demorest, Georgia |
| Joely |
Merriman |
Senior |
Exercise Science |
Swimming & Diving |
Shawnee, Kansas |
| Delaney |
Nelson |
Junior |
Nursing |
Swimming & Diving |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Zuzana |
Rabiniak |
Sophomore |
Psychology |
Swimming & Diving |
Radom, Poland |
| Kaja |
Reinhardt |
Senior |
Environmental Engineering |
Swimming & Diving |
Herdecke, Germany |
| Rebecca |
Winn |
Sophomore |
Finance |
Swimming & Diving |
Warwick, United Kingdom |
| Emma |
Bardet |
Senior |
Management |
Women's Tennis |
Vichy, France |
| Ida |
Ferding |
Junior |
Civil Engineering |
Women's Tennis |
Vasteras, Sweden |
| Fanny |
Norin |
Sophomore |
Marketing |
Women's Tennis |
Stockholm, Sweden |
| Dana |
Axner |
Senior |
Secondary Mathematics Education |
Volleyball |
Dublin, Ohio |
| Snowy |
Burnam |
Grad Student |
Local Government Management Certificate |
Volleyball |
Palm City, Florida |
| Hannah |
Kivett |
Sophomore |
Sociology |
Volleyball |
Chandler, Indiana |
| Chelsey |
Lockey |
Senior |
Integrated Studies |
Volleyball |
Eaton, Colorado |
| Erin |
Shomaker |
Junior |
Health Science |
Volleyball |
Granville, Ohio |
| Cortney |
VanLiew |
Grad Student |
Business Administration |
Volleyball |
Seymour, Indiana |
For complete coverage of FGCU athletics, follow the Eagles on Twitter (@FGCUEagles), Instagram (@FGCUAthletics) and Facebook (@FGCUAthletics) and online at
www.FGCUAthletics.com. You can also sign-up to have news on FGCU athletics and all 15 sport programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting
www.fgcuathletics.com/email.
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence.
Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 87 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 14+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 43 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 25, 2021-22), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2021) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 24 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall, 2020 Spring, 2020 Fall, and 2021 Spring semesters each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA in each. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--
