As the 2022-23 academic and athletic season draws to a close, Lake-Sumter State College (LSSC) Athletics takes a moment to reflect on the remarkable achievements of its student-athletes throughout the year. The college’s athletics program has enjoyed a tremendous successly season, both as a collective and within each individual team.
The academic accomplishments of LSSC student-athletes are truly commendable. Overall, three teams received the distinction of being named National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Academic Teams, maintaining a minimum team GPA of 3.0. Furthermore, 21 student-athletes were recognized as NJCAA All-Academic Team members, achieving an impressive minimum GPA of 3.6.
34 student-athletes were acknowledged as Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) All-Academic Team members with a minimum GPA of 3.3, while 62 student-athletes received honors as Sun-Lakes Conference All-Academic Team members, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Academic excellence is a core expectation for student-athletes at LSSC, and this year, each team has demonstrated remarkable achievements both on and off the field.
“I’m proud of the work of our student-athletes, their coaches, and the Athletics staff for their dedication and support to success both in the classroom and in competition,” said Mike Matulia, executive director of athletics.
Let’s take a closer look at the standout highlights from each of the six LSSC teams during the 2022-23 school year. Please note that the following academic awards denote the number of nominees each team has, as the official awards for this school year have yet to be announced.
Volleyball
- Yarelis Lopez Osorio received recognition as a member of the All-Sun-Lakes Conference North Division Second Team.
- Overall Team GPA: 3.25
- NJCAA All-Academic Team: 6
- FCSAA All-Academic Team: 8
- Sun-Lakes Conference All-Academic Team: 10
Men’s Cross Country
- Achieved a runner-up finish at the FCSAA/Region VIII Championship.
- Secured an eighth-place finish at the NJCAA National Championship.
- Colton Berquist and Cooper Krug were named All-Region Runners.
- Cooper Krug and Caleb Melendez received honors as NJCAA Cross Country Coaches Association All-Americans.
- Team GPA: 2.93
- FCSAA All-Academic Team: 4
- Sun-Lakes Conference All-Academic Team: 7
Women’s Cross Country
- Team GPA: 2.89
- NJCAA All-Academic Award: 1
- FCSAA All-Academic Team: 3
- Sun-Lakes Conference All-Academic Team: 5
Beach Volleyball
- Achieved a runner-up finish at the FCSAA/Region VIII Championship.
- Secured a third-place finish at the NJCAA National Championship.
- Earned a fifth-place finish at the AVCA Small College Beach Championship.
- Cassidy Rountree and Kaylin McCann were named to the All-FCSAA Pairs Team.
- Alyssa Guarino and Kaylee Hunt received honors as members of the All-FCSAA Second Team.
- Leanne Blue/Alyssa Guarino and Berklee Andrews/Alanis Figueroa Rivera were recognized as Second Team Doubles All-Americans.
- Team GPA: 3.30
- NJCAA All-Academic Awards: 5
- FCSAA All-Academic Team: 7
- Sun-Lakes Conference All-Academic Team: 10
Baseball
- Kendal Spencer and Ryan Monaghan were named to the 2023 Region VII Gold Glove Team.
- Kendal Spencer and Ryan Monaghan received recognition as members of the All-Sun-Lakes Conference First Team.
- Nate Tinder, Carson Russell, and Sebastian Miller were named to the All-Sun-Lakes Conference Second Team.
- Team GPA: 3.05
- NJCAA All-Academic Awards: 4
- FCSAA All-Academic Team: 7
- Sun-Lakes Conference All-Academic Team: 17
Softball
- Achieved the distinction of NJCAA South Atlantic District Runner-Up.
- Crowned FCSAA/Region VIII Champions.
- Became Sun-Lakes Conference Champions.
- Molly Bender earned the distinction of being a two-time Second Team All-American (NFCA and NJCAA).
- Molly Bender was named to the 2023 NFCA All-Region Second Team.
- Ali Shenefield received recognition as the Most Outstanding Pitcher, Raquel Camuglia as the Most Outstanding Player, and Jay Miller as Coach of the Year at the Region VIII Championship.
- Kreighton Steinke, Ali Shenefield, Raquel Camuglia, Molly Bender, and Darian Pippin were named to the All-Tournament Team.
- Reese Snipes, Molly Bender, Raquel Camuglia, Darian Pippin, and Ali Shenefield received honors as members of the All-Sun-Lakes Conference First Team and All-FCSAA/All-NJCAA Region 8 Team.
- Desiree Romeo and Kreighton Steinke were named to the All-Sun-Lakes Conference Second Team.
- Molly Bender was recognized as the Region 8 Player of the Year, Ali Shenefield as the Region 8 Pitcher of the Year, and Jay Miller as Coach of the Year.
- Overall Team GPA: 2.91
- NJCAA All-Academic Awards: 2
- FCSAA All-Academic Team: 6
- Sun-Lakes Conference All-Academic Team: 9
Congratulations to all the student-athletes of Lake-Sumter State College for their remarkable achievements both on the field and in the classroom. Go Lakehawks!
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