June 27, 2007
WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAM NAMED NJCAA ACADEMIC TEAM OF THE YEAR
EIGHT STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED NJCAA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
The National Junior College Athletic Association has announced their 2006-2007 Spring Academic Teams of the Year and individual Academic All-Americans. Seward County Community College was well represented with eight student-athletes receiving Academic All-American honors and with the women’s tennis program being named the NJCAA Academic Team of the Year. The Lady Saints tennis team posted a 3.73 GPA. Other spring SCCC athletic teams that ranked nationally were baseball (8th, 3.23 GPA), women’s basketball (tied for 25th, 3.19 GPA) and softball (36th, 3.15 GPA). The Lady Saints tennis program picks up their second academic team of the year award, after winning their first award in 2001-2002.

Three Lady Saints softball players were awarded Academic All-American including Jillian Huber (3.73 GPA), Dana McLaren (3.67) and Stephanie McCarthy (3.60). McLaren is a two-sport athlete, also competing for the Lady Saints volleyball program in 2006.

The baseball program was represented by Curtis Hamilton (3.82), who received Distinguished Academic All-American honors, and by Erik Hegstad (3.72), who was named Academic All-American.

The Lady Saints tennis program was led in the academic awards by Uthala Abdullah (3.82) who received Distinguished Academic All-American honors. Sophomores Hanna Hepp (3.65) and Amina Abdullah (3.78) were also Academic All-Americans.

The Lady Saints tennis program marched back to the NJCAA National Tournament for the second straight year where they finished in 14th place this season. Head Coach Darin Workman has now led the SCCC women’s tennis program to 10 straight seasons being ranked inside the International Tennis Association Top 20 poll and to three appearances at the national tournament. The Lady Saints were also NJCAA Academic Team of the Year Runner-Up in 2000-2001.