Lake Land College 2022-2023 Athletic Honors Announced (Revised)

Lake Land College and Laker Athletics are proud to share the many team and individual athletic accomplishments from the 2022-2023 academic year.

“The many accomplishments of our student athletes reflect the outstanding young men and women who participate in athletics at Lake Land College, the strong commitment of our coaches and athletic staff to focus on student success both in the classroom and in their sport, and the contributions of faculty and staff across the college who support student athletes in learning and accomplishing their goals,” Vice President for Student Services Valerie Lynch said. ”I would like to thank the coaches, faculty, and staff for their contributions to the success of our student athletes and to congratulate all of the student athletes for a great year.”

The athletic accomplishments include:

2023 NJCAA Academic Team (must have a team GPA of 3.00 or higher):

Softball, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Baseball

2023 NJCAA All-Academic First Team (athletes with 24 credits hours with 4.00 GPA):

Olivia Niemerg, Teutopolis (Women’s Basketball)

Taylor Orris, Sullivan (Women’s Basketball)

Kendall Matthews, Paris (Softball)

Nate Lacy, Neoga (Baseball)

Jude Sullivan, Paris (Baseball)

2023 NJCAA All-Academic Second Team (athletes with 24 credit hours with 3.80-3.99 GPA):

Devon Patrick, Casey (Volleyball)

Aaron Davis, Cincinnati, Ohio (Men’s Basketball)

Lexie Niebrugge, Sigel (Women’s Basketball)

Alexa Miller, Cadwell (Women’s Basketball)

Kylee Phillips, Neoga (Women’s Basketball)

Collyn Ballard, Louisville (Baseball)

Brock Barton, Belleville (Baseball)

Gavin Gonzalez, Mattoon (Baseball)

Christopher Seropian,Chicago (Baseball)

Peter Stewart, Ortonville, Mich. (Baseball)

2023 NJCAA All-Academic Third Team (athletes with 24 credit hours with 3.60-3.79 GPA):

Avery Fearday, Sigel (Women’s Basketball)

Marissa Russo, Tuscola (Women’s Basketball)

Isabella Hardiek, Teutopolis (Women’s Basketball)

Brianna Hewing, Mode (Volleyball)

Johnny Close, Mattoon (Men’s Basketball)

Jordan Donato, Nashville (Softball)

Serenity Shemwell, Gracey, Ky. (Softball)

Nathan Jendraszkiewicz, Aurora (Baseball)

Logan Wombels, Bloomington (Baseball)

Accumulative GPA of all athletes (131) for the 2022-2023 academic year: 3.14

Top three accumulative GPAs by team:

Women’s Basketball – 3.68

Volleyball – 3.34

Cheer – 3.16

Total number of athletes achieving a 3.0 or higher GPA for the 2022-2023 academic year: 83 of 131

Season records by sport:

Softball: 50-12

Women’s Basketball: 25-7

Men’s Basketball: 17-15

Volleyball: 18-18

Baseball: 23-34

Volleyball

Team Honors:

NJCAA Academic Team

Qualified for the District Tournament

Individual Honors and Awards:

NJCAA Division One All-Region 24: Madison Watret (1st Team), Brianna Hewing (2nd Team) 

Great Rivers Athletic Conference All-Conference Team: Madison Watret   

Women’s Basketball

Team Honors:

NJCAA Academic Team

Midwest Athletic Conference Champion

Region 24 Runner Up  

Individual Honors and Awards:

NJCAA Division Two All-Region 24: Olivia Niemerg (Teutopolis), Lexie Niebrugge (Sigel), Tayler Barry (Newman)

Midwest Athletic Conference All-Conference: Olivia Niemerg (Teutopolis), Lexie Niebrugge (Sigel), Katelyn Littleton (Paris)

Men’s Basketball

Individual Honors and Awards:

NJCAA Division One All-Region 24: Amar Kuljuhovic (Waterloo, Iowa), Johnny Close (Mattoon)

Great Rivers Athletic Conference All-Conference: Amar Kuljuhovic 

Softball

Team Honors

NJCAA Academic Team

Great Rivers Athletic Conference Champion

Region 24 Runner Up        

Individual Honors and Awards 

Great Rivers Athletic Conference Team: Eva Richardson, Casey (1st Team), Ashlyn Hicks, Marion, Ky. (1st Team), Deanna Reed, South Bend, Ind. (1st Team), Serenity Shemwelll, Gracey, Ky. (1st Team), Mackayla Denney, Perth, Australia (2nd Team), Bryanna French (Centralia (2nd Team).

Great Rivers Athletic Conference Player of the Year: Eva Richardson, Casey

NJCAA Division One All-Region 24: Eva Richardson, Casey (1st Team), Ashlyn Hicks, Marion, Ky. (1st Team), Deanna Reed, South Bend, Ind. (1st Team), Serenity Shemwell (Gracey, Ky.) (1st Team), Mackayla Denny, Perth, Austrlaia (1st Team), Bryanna French, Centralia (2nd Team).

NJCAA Division One Region 24 Player of the Year: Eva Richardson, Casey

NJCAA Division One All-Region 24 Tournament Team: Eva Richardson, Casey, Mackayla Denney, Perth, Australia,, Serenity Shemwell, Gracey, Ky., Bryanna French (Centralia)

Great Rivers Athletic Conference Coach of the Year: Coach Gregory Nelson

NJCAA Division One Region 24 Coach of the Year: Coach Gregory Nelson

NFCA All Midwest Team: Eva Richardson

NFCA All American Team: Eva Richardson (1st Team)

NJCAA Division One All American: Eva Richardson (3rd Team)

Baseball

Team Honors: 

NJCAA Academic Team

Region 24 Runner Up   

Individual Honors and Awards: 

Great Rivers Athletic Conference Team: Liam McKillip

NJCAA Division One Region 24 Gold Glove: Cameron Nagel, Ben Benoit