Bisping & Lapszynki Named to Division I-AAA ADA Scholar Athlete Team
MAAC Sports
CLEVELAND -- The 20 winners of the 14th Annual Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) Scholar-Athlete Teams were announced today by the Association. In addition, the Association also selected both a men's and women's scholar-athlete of the year and two postgraduate scholarship winners.
"Our Association congratulates this year's scholar-athlete award winners," stated Tim Hall, chair of the Division I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete Team Selection Committee and athletics director at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. "We pride ourselves in honoring deserving student-athletes who exemplify I-AAA athletics and this year is no different, as we recognize the scholar-athletes of the year and the postgraduate scholarship recipients for their outstanding accomplishments."
Basketball players from all Division I-AAA ADA member institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees was required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletics credentials. Nominated student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's games listed on the nomination form. To be eligible for nomination to the Scholar-Athlete Team, he/she must have reached JUNIOR academic standing at their institution (ineligible athletics transfers are not eligible). To be eligible for the postgraduate scholarship, he/she must have completed eight semesters or the equivalent number of quarters at their institution. Preference was given to those on track to graduate in spring/summer 2016.
Siena Basketball red-shirt junior forward Brett Bisping collected another major award on Monday. The Peoria, Ill. native was named one of just 10 Division I men's basketball players nationally to the prestigious 14th Annual Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association Scholar Athlete Team.
Niagara University senior center Sam Lapszynski is one of 20 student-athlete recipients of the 14th Annual Division I-AAA Athletic Directors Association (DI-AAA ADA) Scholar Athlete Teams announced on Monday.
Lapszynki had a break-out year for the Purple Eagles, leading the team in rebounding with 8.6 rebounds per game. She averaged a career-high 11.7 points per game, as well as finishing the season with a team-high eight double-doubles. Lapszynski scored a career-high 27 points at Detroit on Nov. 29, 2015 and tallied a career-high 19 rebounds at Quinnipiac on Feb. 7, tying the women's basketball program record for rebounds in a single game. She was third in the MAAC in field goal percentage (.478) and fourth in blocks with 54
A special Review Committee of Division I-AAA athletics directors were responsible for selecting the winners. Completing this task were Committee Chair Tim Hall; Amanda Braun, Wisconsin-Milwaukee; Don DiJulia, St. Joseph's; Gene Doris, Fairfield; Bill Hogan, Seattle; Bill Husak, Loyola Marymount; Philip Hutcheson, Lipscomb; Scott Lazenby, Texas A&M Corpus Christi; and Jean Lenti Ponsetto, DePaul.
About Division I-AAA ADA: Now in its 15th year, the Division I-AAA Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance initiatives common to its Division I-AAA membership (the 99 Division I institutions that do not sponsor football), in particular, aspects related to their flagship basketball programs. For more information on the Division I-AAA ADA, please visit www.div1aaa-ada.com. The Division I-AAA ADA is administered by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), which is in its 51st year. For more information on NACDA and the 14 professional associations that fall under its umbrella, please visit www.nacda.com.
Men's Scholar-Athlete Team
|
Name
|
Instutution
|
GPA
|
Major
|
|
Brett Bisping
|
Siena College
|
3.42
|
Finance
|
|
Evan Bradds
|
Belmont University
|
3.53
|
Finance
|
|
Craig Bradshaw
|
Belmont University
|
3.47
|
Public Relations
|
|
Mike Crawford
|
Saint Louis University
|
3.84
|
Business Administration
|
|
Caleb Donnelly
|
Northeastern University
|
3.99
|
Chemical Engineering
|
|
Obi Emegano
|
Oral Roberts University
|
3.66
|
Psycology (Bachelors) Christain Counseling (Masters)
|
|
Marc-Eddy Norelia
|
Florida Gulf Coast University
|
3.31
|
Communication
|
|
Joe Rahon
|
Saint Mary's College of California
|
3.65
|
Economics
|
|
Jesse Reed
|
American University
|
3.41
|
Accounting
|
|
Kyle Wiltjer
|
Gonzaga University
|
3.76
|
Business Administration
|
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Kyle Wiltjer, Gonzaga University
Women's Scholar-Athlete Team
|
Name
|
Institution
|
GPA
|
Major
|
|
Shelby Cheslek
|
Gonzaga University
|
3.62
|
Masters in Business Administration
|
|
Lauren Crisler
|
American University
|
3.92
|
Finance
|
|
Stephanie Haas
|
Florida Gulf Coast University
|
3.94
|
Criminal Justice/Psychology
|
|
Jessica January
|
DePaul University
|
3.95
|
Public Relations/Advertising and Communications/Media
|
|
Sam Lapszynski
|
Niagara University
|
3.92
|
Elementary Education
|
|
Taylor Leathers
|
University of Missouri Kansas City
|
3.98
|
Health Science/Pre Medical
|
|
Bryahna "Lucy" Mason
|
UNC - Greensboro
|
3.80
|
Economics/African Studies
|
|
Megan Podkowa
|
DePaul University
|
3.84
|
Mathematical Sciences
|
|
Nicole Rogers
|
IUPUI
|
3.81
|
Biology/Pre Medical
|
|
Christine Roush
|
Northern Kentucky University
|
3.78
|
Biological Science
|
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Jessica January, DePaul University