Casper College teams receive NJCAA academic honor
Three Casper College athletic teams were named to the National Junior College Athletics Association 2022-23 All-Academic Team of the Year. The women’s basketball team placed eighth in the nation with a team GPA of 3.63, while the men’s soccer team was ranked 19th with three other teams, all with a team GPA of 3.29. The women’s soccer team ranked in the top 60 with a GPA of 3.19.
“I am proud of how these ladies were able to be successful in class and on the court,” said Dwight Gunnare, head women’s basketball coach. Added Benjamin McArthur, head men’s soccer coach, “My players have repeatedly proven that they represent what it means to be a student-athlete. They have done a great job maintaining an extremely high level of academics while producing on the soccer field.”
In addition to the team recognitions, 21 athletes were named to the NJCAA 2022-23 All-Academic Teams. This honor recognizes student-athletes across the county for their dedication in the classroom. According to the NJCAA, student-athletes are eligible to earn academic honors by achieving an overall GPA of 3.60 or higher for the 2022-23 academic year. There are three All-Academic teams. Those named to the first team must have a 4.0 GPA, while those named to the second team must have a GPA between 3.80 and 3.99. The third team selectees must have a GPA between 3.60 and 3.79.
“We are very proud of our student-athletes in their academic achievement. It is very important to us that they do well in their classes,” said Paul Marble, athletic director. “Our coaches do a wonderful job of helping our student-athletes achieve in the classroom as well as their sport, as is evidenced by these NJCAA All-American reports and our success on the field, court and arena,” he added.
The Casper College Volleyball team had four selections: Milena Quaresma Franzini, first team; Mia Hutchinson and Hailey Lattin, second team; and Raelee Samio, third team. “All of them are hardworking students and take academics very seriously, which it shows. They will continue to do so at the next level and will be very successful,” said Angel Sharman, head coach.
The men’s soccer team had five selections: Alexander Glover, first team; Jules Foll, Lewis Gordon, and Mads Huegel, second team; and Brandon Gaspar, third team.
The women’s soccer team also had five selections: Emma Goetz and Emily Kessler, first team; Alexis Jennings and Hannah Trumbull, second team; and Brielle Valentine, third team.
The women’s basketball team had the most with seven selections: Celina Arnlund and Mesa Butler, first team with a 4.0 GPA; Joslin Igo, second team with a GPA between 3.8-3.99; and Logann Alvar, Mariona Cos-Morales, Irene Fernandez de Caleya, and Sandra Frau-Garcia, third team with a GPA between 3.6-3.79.