Eight ERAU Teams Honored as NAIA Scholar Teams
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics has announced that eight Embry-Riddle athletic teams are Scholar Teams. To be considered a scholar team, the team's overall grade point average must be at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. A record total of 857 teams in the NAIA, an increase over last year’s total of 837, received the award.
The Eagles' men's tennis team received top honors in the athletic department with a 3.47 GPA. Three Eagles were named Daktronics-NAIA All-America Scholar Athletes during the spring: Jan Hoekzema, Charlie Rice and Luke Maricic were honored. Hoekzema boasted a 3.7 GPA in Business Administration, while Rice put forth a 3.8 GPA effort in Engineering Physics and Maricic had a 3.9 GPA in Aerospace Engineering.
The women's cross country team followed closely behind with a 3.37 GPA. Emily Cook (3.63 GPA in Aerospace Engineering) and Kimber Wille (3.5 GPA in Aeronautical Science) were named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athletes.
The women's indoor track and field and women's tennis teams both checked in with a 3.35 GPA with a combined six All-America scholar athletes between the two squads. For the women's indoor track and field team Andrea Freeze, Nathalie Hildinggson, Erika Langhauser, Flo Vazquez and Cook were named to the scholar athlete roster, while Sara Abraul earned the honors on the women's tennis team.
The women's outdoor track and field team boasted a 3.26 GPA while the men's soccer team finished with a 3.16 GPA. The Eagles' Phil Middleton (3.8 GPA in Aviation Business Administration) and Michael Steffens (4.0 GPA in Engineering Physics) earned roster spots on the Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athlete Men's Soccer Team.
Both men's and women's golf rounded out the eight Eagle Scholar Teams. The men's team posted a 3.09 GPA, while the women's team, led by All-America Scholar Athletes Albane Flamant and Teresa Sandri turned in a 3.06.