Bucs awarded 85 Commissioner’s Medals to lead SoCon; 20 Bucs record 4.0 GPAs in 2022-23
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (July 12, 2023) – One day after placing 58 student-athletes on the Southern Conference Spring All-Academic Team, ETSU had even more to celebrate on Wednesday as 266 student-athletes were placed on the SoCon Honor Roll, announced by the league office.
The SoCon announced 2,471 student-athletes from the 10 member institutions and nine associate members earning the distinction. The 2,471 selections are the third-most in SoCon history.
For a second straight year, ETSU led the SoCon in Commissioner’s Medalists with 85 — five more than last year. The medals are awarded to those who obtain a GPA of 3.8 or higher throughout the course of the year. Of the 85, ETSU also had 20 student-athletes post a perfect 4.0 GPA in the 2022-23 academic year.
The academic honor roll originated in 1988-89, when SoCon athletic directors established the award as a way to recognize the league’s outstanding student-athletes. The academic honor roll consists of student-athletes who participated in varsity sports, posted a 3.0 grade point average or higher for the academic year, were eligible the entire academic year and were members of the final squad lists.
“Institutions in the Southern Conference emphasize education,” said SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross. “As a league, we’re proud to honor and recognize the academic performance of each of the college athletes named to the Academic Honor Roll. The dedication and diligence necessary to balance classroom performance and athletic commitments represents uncommon excellence. It's also important to acknowledge the personal investment the academic advisors and counselors on each campus make in the athletes’ lives. Their mentorship and guidance are truly appreciated.”
With 266 selections, ETSU has now eclipsed the 200-mark in six of the last seven years. The Buccaneer student-athletes also beat last year’s honor roll total by 27 after placing 239 on the list last season.
Below is a list of the 20 Buccaneer student-athletes that finished with a 4.0 GPA:
- Ryan Enos — Baseball
- Cole Morganstem — Football
- Josh Hancock — Men’s Soccer
- Alex Magnuson — Men’s Soccer
- Taylor Roberts — Volleyball
- Hannah Burkhart — Women’s Cross Country / Track & Field
- Julia Karsten — Women’s Cross Country / Track & Field
- Chanelle Kruger — Women’s Cross Country / Track & Field
- Amber Thornton — Women’s Golf
- Emma Arnold — Women’s Soccer
- Sarah Connolly — Women’s Soccer
- Ellie Cornell — Women’s Soccer
- Grace Eatz — Women’s Soccer
- Rachel Reid — Women’s Soccer
- Maegan Sours — Women’s Soccer
- Emilia Alfaro — Women’s Tennis
- Maria Fernanda Carvajal — Women’s Tennis
- Yunuen Elizarraras — Women’s Tennis
- Molly Rhudy — Women’s Track & Field
- Diana Romero-Barba — Women’s Track & Field
ETSU football led the way with 52 student-athletes on the honor roll, followed by men’s soccer and women’s cross country / track & field with 29, baseball with 26 and women’s soccer with 24. Multiple programs had at least 90 percent of the roster on the list, including all 18 members of the volleyball team and all seven members from women’s tennis.
Women’s soccer led all ETSU programs with 13 Commissioner’s Medalists and six players boasting a 4.0 GPA. Women’s cross country / track & field and men’s soccer tied with 12 Commissioner’s Medals and each had multiple 4.0s. Women’s tennis had three of its seven players with 4.0 GPAs.
The SoCon had 704 student-athletes on the Commissioner’s Medal list, as well as 223 student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA.
The honor roll includes all 20 sports sponsored by the SoCon in 2022-23 as well as the non-sponsored sports of swimming and diving, water polo, triathlon, men’s and women’s lacrosse and beach volleyball.
For more information on Buccaneer athletics, visit ETSUBucs.com
