Posted: Mar 30, 2017

13 Trailblazers named to MASCAC All Academic Team

Westfield, MA — A total of 437 student-athletes have been honored by the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference with selection to the league's Winter 2017 All-Academic Team that was released earlier today by Commissioner Angela Baumann.

Thirteen Trailblazers were named to the respective squad with women's basketball garnering eight spots on the roster and men's basketball earning five. The number represents 48% of eligible student-athletes that made the roster.

Student-athletes that compete in championship varsity sports offered by each of the MASCAC institutions during the course of the Winter 2017 athletic season and have achieved a 3.20 cumulative or semester-based grade point average during the semester are eligible for selection to the Fall All-Academic Team.

Westfield State University placed the most student-athletes on the Winter 2017 MASCAC All-Academic Team with 105 total, while Bridgewater State University is close in second with 100, Worcester State University is third with 83, Fitchburg State University is fourth with 59 and Salem State University is fifth with 23 student-athletes on the team.

"The growing number of student-athletes on the MASCAC Winter All-Academic team is a true testament to the hard work of our student-athletes," Commissioner Baumann said. "The number of student-athletes recognized has increased again this year which demonstrates their outstanding academic performance. It is my honor to congratulate them on their academic success."

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men's ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as a football affiliate member in 2013.

MCLA All-Academic Team Members:

Student Athlete	Sport	Class	Major	Hometown/High School
Nolan Bird	Men's Basketball	JR	Business	Clarksburg, MA/Drury
Keiland Cross	Men's Basketball	JR	IDST	Pittsfield, MA/Pittsfield
Merle Darling	Men's Basketball	JR	English	Plainfield, VT/Twinfield
Tyler McKay	Men's Basketball	SO	Business	Clifton Park, NY/Catholic Central
Travis Rice	Men's Basketball	SR	Business	Springfield, MA/Sci-Tech
Ashley Clawson	Women's Basketball	SR	Biology	Tolland, CT/Tolland
Samantha Gawron	Women's Basketball	SO	Undeclared	South Hadley, MA/South Hadley
Brayleigh Hanlon	Women's Basketball	SR	Business	Wynantskill, NY/Troy
Kayla Hotaling	Women's Basketball	SR	Psychology	Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk
Karina Mattera	Women's Basketball	SO	English	Johnston, RI/Johnston
Svetlana Morrell	Women's Basketball	SR	Biology/Psychology	Stillwater, NY/Stillwater
Courtney Pingelski	Women's Basketball	SO	Biology	Mechanicville, NY/Mechanicville
Paige Vincent	Women's Basketball	JR	English	Hillsboro, NH/Hillsboro-Deering