Clarksville, Ark.-University of the Ozarks sophomore Todd Turner earned the title of American Southwest Conference Distinguished Scholar-Athlete for men's tennis and softball player Shawnee Sorensen was nominated for the program, the league office announced on Wednesday (May 29).
Turner, a native of Pearcy, Ark., was one of ten student-athletes from the ASC to receive the winter/spring honor. Additionally, Texas-Dallas' Kyle Schleigh, Louisiana College's Natosha Gottlieb, Texas Lutheran's Sean Kistler and Ashley Meadows, Concordia Texas' Jack Cersosimo and Kayla Burch, East Texas Baptist's Lya Swaner, , Mary Hardin-Baylor's AshLee Bilbo, and Texas-Tyler's Jake Waddingham have all earned the title in their respective ASC 2012-13 winter/spring sport. Overall, 106 student-athletes from basketball, baseball, golf, softball, tennis and track and field were named to the Distinguished Scholar-Athlete Teams.
The honor, in its sixth 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 14 member institutions vote on a Distinguished Scholar-Athlete from each sport.
Turner, a biology major with a perfect 4.0 GPA, posted a program-best 14-2 doubles record and also owned a 12-4 record at No. 1 singles. His 12 wins ranked second at No. 1 singles in the ASC at the end of the regular season. An Honorable Mention All-Conference player in singles and doubles, Turner was named ASC Player of the Week once. Additionally, Turner fueled Ozarks to a program-best 12-4 overall record and the team received the program's first ever regional ranking.
ASC 2012-13 WINTER/SPRING DISTINGUISHED SCHOLAR-ATHLETE TEAMS
(+Sport's Distinguished Scholar-Athlete)
MEN'S TENNIS
+ Todd Turner, Ozarks
Nicholas Larzabal, East Texas Baptist
Jesse Rawlings, Hardin-Simmons
Carlos Cantu, LeTourneau
Nathan Boles, Louisiana College
Collin Davies, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Matthew Martin, Mississippi College
Nathan West, Schreiner
Geoffrey Schuette, Sul Ross State
Camden Cornwell, Texas-Dallas
Edward Timponi, Texas-Tyler
David Schneider, Texas Lutheran
WOMEN'S TENNIS
+ AshLee Bilbo, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Kayla Franklin, East Texas Baptist
Genene Haddad, Hardin-Simmons
Larissa Lynskey, Howard Payne
Miranda Lamb, LeTourneau
Hannah Ingerson, Louisiana College
Abby Bassie, Mississippi College
Whitney Lewis, Ozarks
Kelley Spahn, Schreiner
Rachel Houston, Texas Dallas
Amy Friesenhahn, Texas-Tyler
Caitlin Zarr, Texas Lutheran
MEN'S BASKETBALL
+ Kyle Schleigh, Texas-Dallas
Brett DeMetrotion, Concordia Texas
Erby Thompson, East Texas Baptist
Andy Spears, Hardin-Simmons
Jorden Young, Howard Payne
Phillip George, Louisiana College
Cory Meals, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Marcus Bobb, Ozarks
Manny Longoria, Schreiner
Juston Weldon, Sul Ross State
Dallas Bean, Texas-Tyler
Joseph Richardson, Texas Lutheran
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
+ Natosha Gottlieb, Louisiana College
Brianna Smith, Concordia Texas
Amanda Rucker, East Texas Baptist
Rachel Holik, Hardin-Simmons
Kayla Scott, Howard Payne
Julencia Curtis, LeTourneau
Samara Williams, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Lindsay England, Mississippi College
Jordyn Ferrell, Ozarks
Colby Adolph, Schreiner
Nicole Murdock, Sul Ross State
Kimmie Grimes, Texas-Dallas
Lauren Glasco, Texas-Tyler
Natasha Benavides, Texas Lutheran
BASEBALL
+ Sean Kistler, Texas Lutheran
Brent Schaekel, Concordia Texas
Lance Anding, East Texas Baptist
James Simmons, Hardin-Simmons
Houston Holmes, Howard Payne
Garrett Methvin, LeTourneau
Chaston Lacaze, Louisiana College
Danny Horstman, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Brooks Fortenberry, Mississippi College
Sam Shook, Ozarks
Chris Whitehead, Schreiner
Josh Vasquez, Sul Ross State
Tanner Gandy, Texas-Dallas
Matt Sheppard, Texas-Tyler
SOFTBALL
+ Lya Swaner, East Texas Baptist
Christina Smith, Concordia Texas
Carley Willis, Hardin-Simmons
Jourdan Glover, LeTourneau
Katie Poerner, Howard Payne
Brianna Hall, Louisiana College
Caitlin Bollier, Mary Hardin-Baylor
Catherine Brand, Mississippi College
Shawnee Sorensen, Ozarks
Charis Sultemeier, Schreiner
Maile Hoyt, Sul Ross State
Hannah Creech, Texas-Dallas
Rachel Howell, Texas-Tyler
Megan Carmichael, Texas Lutheran
