RLC announces 5 teams and 36 athletes achieve academic honors

INA, IL – The National Junior College Athletic Association recognized 36 athletes from Rend Lake College for their high academic achievements during the 2020-21 season.

The NJCAA officially announced the RLC athletes and teams as Academic All-Americans. RLC had nominated the athletes for awards earlier this summer.

There were 13 student-athletes who earned a grade point average of 4.0 and were given the distinction of NJCAA First-Team Academic Excellence Award, the highest award available. Another 11 Warriors earned a GPA between 3.80 and 3.99 and the NJCAA Second-Team Academic Achievement Award. A dozen more athletes received the NJCAA Third-Team Academic Achievement Award as well as a GPA between 3.60 and 3.79.

Selections for the All-American teams included members RLC baseball, softball, volleyball, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s basketball teams.

First-Team Academic Excellence Award (4.0 GPA)
Madelyn Britton – Softball
Justin Clark – Baseball
Jackson Creel – Men’s Basketball
Townsend Ellis – Baseball
Mitchell Gilman – Baseball
Christopher Gory – Baseball
Ma’Kayla Marshall – Women’s Basketball
Jaice McCowen – Women’s Basketball
Samantha McCowen – Women’s Basketball
Mikayla Robbers – Softball
Alexandra Sadler – Women’s Golf
Hunter Thomas – Baseball
Rylee White – Women’s Golf

Second-Team Academic Achievement Award (3.80-3.99 GPA)
Weston Brockhouse – Baseball
Arlon Butts – Baseball
Rachel Finders – Volleyball
Megan Hallemann – Women’s Basketball
Kyle Hetherington – Baseball
Destiny Holtz – Softball
Blake McKay – Men’s Basketball
Race Rynski – Men’s Basketball
Brooke Stepter – Volleyball
Brandon Tucker – Baseball
Nicholas Wimber – Baseball

Third-Team Academic Achievement Award (3.60-3.79 GPA)
Aaron Agee – Baseball
Frank Barrett – Baseball
Danielle Bieber – Softball
Korey Bunselmeyer – Baseball
Leah Davis – Softball
Jase Felker – Baseball
Paige Hand – Volleyball
Annibelle Harrison – Women’s Basketball
Ashley Jarrett – Volleyball
Samantha Licka – Softball
Brendan Luster – Men’s Golf
Emma Moser – Softball

The NJCAA also recognized several teams from Rend Lake as Academic Teams of the Year. A team receives the distinction for earning a GPA of 3.0 or better.

Academic Teams of the Year
Volleyball – 3.48
Women’s Golf – 3.28
Baseball – 3.21
Softball – 3.12
Women’s Basketball – 3.07