More academic recognition has been given to Dalton State athletes. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced Wednesday that four of Dalton State’s athletic teams have been named NAIA Scholar-Teams for 2014-2015, their first season of eligibility.
To be eligible for the honor, all eligible varsity student-athletes on a team must have a minimum 3.0 Grade Point Average on a 4.0 scale. Derek Waugh, Dalton State’s Director of Athletics, said all Roadrunner teams have had a 3.0 or better GPA each semester.
The women’s golf team had a 3.43 GPA, men’s cross country had a 3.26 GPA, and men’s golf and men’s tennis each accomplished a 3.15 GPA.
“You generally win scholastic awards by recruiting serious students in the first place,” said Waugh.
“I give a ton of credit to the coaches of these teams. They posted good grades, but also won on the field of play and in the community.”
Waugh also gives credit to others. “A lot of credit goes to Natima Walker, who serves as academic coordinator, to Dr. Tom Veve, Dalton State’s faculty athletic representative, and to all of the amazing faculty at Dalton State. If I was starting a business or looking for employees, I would actively recruit Dalton State student-athletes because they are intelligent, personable and very competitive.”
Just this month, four members of the women’s golf team were named All-American Scholars by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association of America. Caroline Griffin from Sycamore, Ashley McDonald from Chickamauga, Rachel Rebne from Fort Oglethorpe and Taylor Marie Griner from Moultrie each had better than a 3.5 GPA.
During the past season, women’s cross country captured the school’s first ever Southern States Athletic Conference championship and the men were a close second; Roadrunner basketball won the regular seasons SSAC championship and went on to capture the NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City.; both golf teams took home the SSAC Tournament Championships with the women finishing second at the NAIA Championship in Pooler, Ga.; women’s cross country, men’s golf and men’s tennis all in the NAIA Championships.
Dalton State also had plenty of individual laurels in athletic competition. Natalie Hensley and Spencer Head were named SSAC cross country newcomers of the year. Ladaris Green and Sean Tate are basketball All-Americans. Jordan Bowling is championship tournament MVP. Green was honored as conference player of the year. Tate, Bowling and Preston Earle were named all-conference. Coach Tony Ingle was named as SSAC and NAIA Coach of the Year.
Golf’s Julia McQuilken and Sean Elliott each won national championships. McQuilken had the low score at the NAIA Women’s National Championship Tournament at Pooler, Ga. and Elliott broke two decades old records at the NAIA Men’s Championship Tournament in Daytona Beach. McQuilken and Caroline Griffin were named All-Americans.
Griffin and McQuilken were one-two in the SSAC Championship with Griffin edging out McQuilken by one stroke for medalist honors. Griffin had already been named the conference freshman of the year. McQuilken and Erika Wardzinski were conference newcomers of the year.
Elliott was also the SSAC Men’s Championships medalist, edging out teammate Levi Nix by two strokes. Elliott went on to win the NAIA Jack Nicklaus Award, handed out to the best college golfers in the country.