GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Conference Carolinas has announced its winter and spring Academic All-Conference teams with 15 Falcons receiving academic honors.
OFFICIAL RELEASE
Three members of the Montevallo Acrobatics & Tumbling team were named to the Conference Carolinas All-Academic list, including Corrine Wilcox, Payton Roach, and Katlyn Smith. Wilcox, a senior from Dukes Center, Pa., posts a 3.84 cumulative GPA in pursuit of an exercise and nutrition science degree. Roach, a senior from Niceville, Fla., posts a 3.81 cumulative GPA in pursuit of a marketing degree. Smith, a senior from Waxahachie, Tex., posts a 3.31 cumulative GPA in pursuit of an exercise and nutrition science degree. The senior trio helped Montevallo secure its first conference win in program history, as the Falcons defeated Mars Hill on Feb. 16. Gillian Chorrushi, a speech pathology major from Tampa, Fla., put together a strong season in the pool for the Falcons. Her year was highlighted by three season-best performances at the Conference Carolinas Championships, including a sixth-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:11.96.
Keara McGee, a senior mass communication and marketing major from St. Augustine, Fla., earned a spot on the Conference Carolinas All-Academic Team after excelling both in the pool and in the classroom. McGee helped lead the Falcons to a runner-up finish at the conference championships, capturing individual titles in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly while also swimming on two championship relay teams.
Hanna Persson, a junior political science major from Linköping, Sweden, earned Academic All-Conference honors following a strong season in the pool and classroom. She recorded personal-best times in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke at the Conference Carolinas Championships, setting a new program record in the 200-yard event.
Mia Ross, an exercise and nutrition science major from Houston, Texas, also earned Academic All-Conference recognition. Ross posted three season-best times at the conference championships in the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and 100-yard backstroke.
Ethan Brewer, a junior finance major from Winter Garden, Fla., was named to the Conference Carolinas All-Academic Team in his third season with the Falcons. Brewer recorded three top-four finishes at the conference championships, highlighted by third-place efforts in the 1,000-yard freestyle (9:51.02) and 200-yard butterfly (1:53.71).
Jimmy Franck, a senior finance major from Marietta, Ga., earned a spot on the Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference Team following a strong season. Franck posted a personal-best time of 1:42.13 in the 200-yard freestyle and totaled four podium finishes at the conference championships, helping the Falcons secure the team title.
Aleksei Kolesnikov, a senior business management major from Pyatigorsk, Russia, also earned Academic All-Conference honors. He delivered a standout performance at the Conference Carolinas Championships, winning three conference titles, including individual victories in the 100-yard freestyle (44.86) and 100-yard butterfly (47.73).
Ben Johnson, a senior finance and Spanish major from Woodstock, Ga., helped lead the Falcons to a conference championship this season. He captured the 200-yard butterfly title with a season-best time of 1:52.19 and added top-five finishes in the 1,000-yard freestyle and 400-yard individual medley.
Carson Freeman, a junior management major from Alabaster, Ala., earned a spot on the Conference Carolinas All-Academic Team following a strong season on the mat. Freeman won 23 matches at 157 pounds and was one of three Falcons to compete at the NCAA National Championships. He went 10-3 in dual matches and led the team with six major decisions.
Jeffery Tubbs, a senior psychology major from Alabaster, Ala., was named to the Academic All-Conference Team after a solid season at 184 pounds. Tubbs compiled a 13-5 record and placed fourth at the Super Region II Championships.
Chad Strickland, a junior exercise and nutrition science major from Wetumpka, Ala., earned Academic All-Conference honors after posting a 7-4 record on the season.
Aiden Knight, a junior exercise and nutrition science major from McCalla, Ala., was also named to the All-Academic Team after recording 15 wins as the Falcons' starter at 174 pounds. Knight tallied four pins on the year, including a fastest fall of 0:48.
The Conference Carolinas Academic All-Conference teams consist of junior and senior student-athletes in the conference who have competed in a conference-sponsored sport and maintained a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale in all work completed at their member institution.
