#RooNation Celebrates NCAA Division III Week

SHERMAN, Texas - This week, the NCAA and schools across the country are celebrating Division III Week, recognizing the impact of athletics and of student-athletes on the campus and surrounding community. Division III Week was launched in 2010, and is designed to highlight not just the athletic successes of student-athletes, but also their academic, service, and leadership successes.

On Thursday, Austin College will be celebrating Student-Athlete Day at Austin College, encouraging all of our student-athletes to wear their 'Roo gear with pride throughout the day. The athletics department will also invite people across campus to join in, wearing the school colors and helping to celebrate the Division III vision of a full collegiate experience that extends beyond the courts, fields, tracks, and pools and out into the campus community and beyond.

Throughout the 2018-19 academic year, Austin College athletics has had plenty to celebrate, with multiple student-athletes earning academic recognition. Men's water polo players Will Koelzer, Brett Skinner, Connor Watson, Tanner O'Dwyer, Andrew Pope, Ben Rafalski, Nico Masso, Brady Sullivan, Sam Skinner, and AJ Pritchard were all named Academic All-Americans, while women's basketball player Ann Savage was named a CoSIDA Academic All-Region honoree. Men's soccer player Joseph Khalaf was named an All-West Region Scholar Athlete by the United Soccer Coaches organization, and both Savage and Khalaf were honored by the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference as the Elite 19 winners for their respective sports. That honor is reserved for one student-athlete in each sport sponsored by the SCAC, recognizing combined athletic and academic excellence.

The 'Roos have also had plenty of success with athletic accolades, as well, headlined by women's basketball player Bryce Frank, who was named the SCAC Player of the Year for the second straight season, in addition to being named a first team All-American by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association and a second team pick by D3Hoops.com, as well as being selected for the inaugural Beyond Sports Women's Collegiate All-Star Game. Men's soccer player Phillip Le was picked as a second team All-West Region performer, and he and Khalaf were also recognized as first team All-SCAC players, and Pope and Koelzer were named honorable mention All-Americans by the Association of College Water Polo Coaches. Chris Brown made history at the SCAC Championships, becoming the first 'Roo men's swimmer to capture an individual conference title.

The men's and women's tennis teams have reached new heights throughout the course of the year, with both teams being regionally ranked while women's singles player Melody Duong has consistently been ranked and cracked the top 50 nationally. Duong and Diana Carvajalino are also ranked regionally for their doubles success, as is the men's team of Kenneth Hardy and Siddharth Kortikere. Along with the tennis teams, the women's basketball team cracked the D3Hoops. Top 25 for the first time in program history this season, reaching as high as No. 19 in the nation while also earning a regional ranking during the course of the season, which saw them win 20 games for the second year in a row.

Austin College's accolades have gone beyond just athletic and academic success, as well, with baseball player Josh Boring, softball player Elizabeth Parks, men's soccer player Ben Sloan, and women's soccer player Hallie Dickerson all being recognized by the SCAC with the Character and Community Award. That honor highlights student-athletes who commit to service both on campus and in their community through volunteer work and community outreach.

While this is just a small sample of the tremendous things that Austin College student-athletes have done throughout the year, it's a testament to the way the members of the 'Roo athletics teams embody the Division III spirit. We hope that you'll join us in honoring our outstanding student-athletes this week, and remember to wear your Austin College gear proudly on Thursday, April 4 as we celebrate Student-Athlete Day!