NJCAA recognizes IVCC athletes for academic performance

Nearly 40 Illinois Valley Community College athletes were recognized for outstanding academic performance beyond their feats on the court, the field, or the track by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).

“IVCC Athletics takes great pride in the academic performance of our student-athletes.  Participating in college athletics takes a great deal of time, organization, and commitment, and these individuals and teams have truly excelled,” said Athletic Director Cory Tomasson.

Nationwide, 14,000 students earned a listing on the NJCAA 2024-25 All-Academic Teams for achieving a GPA above 3.60. The 38 IVCC Eagles earning individual honors represent nearly one-third of the College’s athletes and also helped put the College in the running for athletic team of the year.

More IVCC athletes — and twice as many IVCC teams — were ranked this year than last, Tomasson said.

Student-athletes are eligible to earn academic honors on the basis of grade point average. Athletes earning 4.00 GPA are named to the All-Academic First Team; athletes earning 3.80 to 3.99 GPA are named to the Second Team and those earning 3.60 to 3.79 GPA earn a place on the Third Team.

Nationally, nearly 4,000 student-athletes garnered First Team honors, 4,500 athletes received second team recognition, and 5,400 student-athletes received third-team recognition.

The IVCC athletes earning recognition are as follows:

NJCAA All-Academic First Team — Ava Lambert, softball; Charlee Bourell, tennis/basketball; Danica Scoma, soccer; Emma Augustine, softball; Jasmine Garman, basketball; Kevin Rynke, cross country; Mina James, tennis; Noah Steiner, baseball; Nolan Hunter, baseball and Tyson Phillips, tennis.

All-Academic Second Team – Alexandra Mahan, tennis/basketball; Conner Price, baseball; Coral Garcia, soccer; Marissa Vickers, tennis/basketball; Meghann Ostler, cross country; Michael Ellis, tennis; Nolan VanDuzer, baseball; Reese Cole, basketball; Sarah Johnson, basketball/softball; Sebastian Cabrera, tennis; Shae Simons, softball and Thomas Staton, basketball.

All-Academic Third Team – Austin Davy, baseball; Ayipey Salinas, basketball; Carter Ewing, baseball; Cassie Zimmerman, softball; David Garcia, soccer; Emma Walker, tennis; Esmeralda Avila, basketball; Kailey Goetsch, cross country; Kylee Moore, softball; Litzy Lopez, soccer; Makenzie Eichelkraut, tennis; Max Cook, baseball; Michael Peters, tennis; Morgan Clements, soccer; Rafael Romero, soccer and Roko Kegalj, basketball.

Academic Team of the Year nominees included: women’s basketball, cross-country, tennis, soccer, volleyball and softball, and men’s tennis.