SoCon announces Spring Academic All-Conference

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Four hundred and four student-athletes accounted for 479 spots on the Spring 2017 Academic All-Southern Conference Team, the league office announced Monday.

Each of the SoCon's 10 full-time institutions had at least 30 honorees, representing the sports of men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, rifle, wrestling, men's and women's golf, men's lacrosse, men's and women's outdoor track and field, men's and women's tennis, baseball and softball. Associate members for men's lacrosse, rifle and wrestling were also eligible for the award, accounting for 49 of the selections.

To be eligible for the academic all-conference team, student-athletes must carry at least a 3.3 cumulative grade point average at the conclusion of the spring semester and were required to compete in at least one-half of their teams' competitions. In addition, the student-athletes must have successfully completed at least three semesters at their institutions, making true freshmen and first-year transfers ineligible for inclusion.

Seventy-five student-athletes earned double mention, with 74 earning the honor for both indoor and outdoor track and field and ETSU's Malloree Schurr earning inclusion in both women's basketball and softball.

Sixteen student-athletes combined for 19 of the perfect 4.0 cumulative GPAs, including The Citadel's Charles Braddock (men's outdoor track and field); ETSU's Macy Carrier (women's indoor and outdoor track and field); Mercer's Howard Joe (baseball) and Amanda Thompson (women's basketball); UNCG's Brandon King (men's indoor and outdoor track and field) and Lexi Kershaw (women's golf); Samford's Lydia McGee (women's basketball), Haley Harrington (women's golf) and Hannah Belcher (women's indoor and outdoor track and field); SIUE's Clayton Bass (wrestling); Chattanooga's Megan Woods (women's golf) and Sydney Patton (women's tennis); VMI's Josh Winder (baseball) and John O'Donnell (men's lacrosse); Western Carolina's Alyssa Morahan (women's golf); and Wofford's Curran Carver (women's tennis).

The league's 10 women's outdoor track and field programs led the way with 59 academic all-conference selections, while the eight men's lacrosse programs and nine baseball programs each produced 50 selections.

Samford led all schools with 67 spots on the academic all-conference team, followed by Mercer with 61 selections and ETSU with 50.

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