SAC Student-Athletes a Strong Presence on Capital One Academic All-District Football and Volleyball Teams

ROCK HILL, S.C. - The South Atlantic Conference prides itself on not just athletic excellence, but success in the classroom is well. That commitment was rewarded this week, as a total of 13 SAC student-athletes were named to the Capital One Academic All-District Teams in football and volleyball.

The SAC claimed nine of the 15 spots on the District II All-Academic Football Team and four of the eight selections on the District III All-Academic Volleyball Team - meaning SAC student-athletes made up nearly 57-percent of the teams combined.

Wingate led the SAC's representation on the football Academic All-District Team with junior Grace Krauser, senior Maggie Malone and senior Liz Willis - the conference's Scholar-Athlete of the Year - earning accolades.

The trio was joined by Tusculum's Ashley Sarmiento, who as a sophomore was the only underclassman earning volleyball Academic All-District honors.

Wingate also headlined the football Academic All-District Team with four student-athletes earning selections - more than any other school. Bulldogs senior Cody Haffly - who was also named the SAC Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year - was a member of the team, along with sophomore Brandon Ellington, junior Andrew Nallenweg and Austin Lowe, who is already pursuing his graduate degree.

Carson-Newman had two members of the Academic All-District Team in seniors Matt Shillington and Thomas Turnbull. Three more SAC institutions were represented with one member of the team in Mars Hill's Tyler Hodgson, Newberry's Lequawn James and Lenoir-Rhyne's Colin Corpe.

The Capital One Academic All-America and All-District program, which is also sponsored by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), began in the 1950s and has since honored thousands of deserving student-athletes from all three NCAA Divisions.