Winkelmann Named D2 CCA Region Scholar Athlete of the Year

CLEVELAND --- Former Tusculum College men's tennis student-athlete Lukas Winkelmann has been selected as the Division II Collegiate Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) Southeast Region Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2014-2015.

A male and female Division II Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be selected from the 17 regional winners, nine men and eight women. The commissioners from each Division II region selected the regional winners. To be eligible for consideration, a student-athlete must have attained a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and possess outstanding athletic credentials.

This award, sponsored by the D2 CCA, provides the opportunity for Division II to highlight the extraordinary achievements of its student-athletes. Dave Brunk, D2 CCA President and Commissioner of the Peach Belt Conference, noted that the award showcases the academic and athletic talent at the NCAA Division II level. "The CCA Scholar-Athlete Awards are a great way for us to highlight the impressive achievements of our student-athletes both on the field and in the classroom," explained Brunk.

Winkelmann becomes the fifth Tusculum student-athlete to earn this distinction, joining former Academic All-America® placekicker Glen Black (2006-07), two-time CCA region scholar-athlete and Academic All-America® tight end Jarrell NeSmith (2008-09 & 2009-10), two-time Academic All-America® baseball pitcher Taylor Rakes (2012-13) and two-time Academic All-America® volleyball setter Ashley Sarmiento (2013-14).

Winkelmann is a three time Academic All-America® first team selection becoming the first Tusculum student-athlete to earn Academic All-America® first team honors on three occasions in a career.
Earlier this summer, he was also named this year's recipient of the South Atlantic Conference Presidents Award, the most prestigious honor the league awards to its student-athletes.
 
In the classroom, Winkelmann sported a 3.96 cumulative grade point average as a pre-medicine major.  The three-time SAC Men's Tennis Scholar Athlete of the Year has earned selections to the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll, the TC President's List, the Charles Oliver Gray Honors List, the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and the ITA All-Academic Team.  He graduated from Tusculum this past May with summa cum laude honors.

Winkelmann finished the season ranked 19th in the ITA singles rankings, becoming the first player in program history to garner All-America distinction.  He also becomes only the ninth SAC singles player to earn ITA All-America honors, fifth during the NCAA II era (since 1994) and the first since 1996.  He finished the season with a perfect 18-0 singles record at the top flight and finished his collegiate career with a 50-match regular season winning streak.

He was named the SAC Men's Tennis Player of the Year for a third consecutive season, becoming the first three-time winner in league history.
 
Winkelmann finished his collegiate career with a 70-7 singles record and was a four-time All-SAC performer and was the SAC Freshman of the Year in 2012.  During his collegiate career, he led the Pioneers to a combined 63-22 overall record, including 32-8 on South Atlantic Conference play.

Lukas was named the 2014-15 Tusculum College Male Athlete of the Year, becoming the first three-time winner of the award in school history and only the second TC student-athlete overall to be named Athlete of the Year three times (Susan Starnes – 4-time winner).