Kish College student-athletes nominated for 2023-2024 academic excellence awards

Kishwaukee College had a College-record 46 student-athletes nominated for the Arrowhead Conference Bob Bopp Academic Excellence Team during the 2023-2024 athletic season. The award honors Bob Bopp, a major supporter of the Arrowhead Athletic Conference and its athletes, and recognition is given to student-athletes who complete at least 12 credits per semester while achieving a 3.00 or higher cumulative GPA for the academic year. The following Kishwaukee student-athletes were nominated:

Men's Baseball — Will Baumgartner, Sycamore; Victor Becerra, Hillside; Ethan Byham, Crystal Lake; Forrest Gerber, Chana; Cameron Knapp, Plainfield; Dean Rizzo, Lake in the Hills; Aidan Rodriguez, Rochelle; Ian Solger, Lake in the Hills

Men's Basketball — Amonn Burns, Indianapolis, Ind.; Cooper Hasz, Rochelle; Chance Perry, DeKalb; Brock Zimmerman, Somonauk

Women's Basketball — Mariah Drake, Oregon; Emily Gilbert, Genoa

Women's Bowling — Kyra Pyburn, Kingston; Carly Summers, Esmond; Avie Truran, Kirkland

Men's Cross Country — Josue Huerta, Rochelle; Thomas Kozial, Rochelle

Coed Esports — Katrina Ingalls, Oregon; Hailey Knight, Honolulu, Hawaii; Nathan Merryman, Sycamore; Austin Salter, DeKalb

Men's Golf — Owen Haas, Rochelle; Josh Melms, Sycamore; Griffin Ohlinger, Rochelle; Charlie Wetzel, Sycamore

Women's Golf — Georgia Arhos, New Market, Md.; Ella Hensley, Genoa,

Men's Soccer — Jonathan Avendano, Davis Junction; Garett Cook, Earlville; Andrew Davison, Elburn; Carter England, Sycamore; Will Romero Montoya, Sycamore; Charlie Roots, Sycamore

Women's Soccer — Georgia Arhos, New Market, Md.; Mavi Avila, Rochelle; Abby Tarvestad, Steward

Women's Softball — Chelsea Hatfield, Waterman; Kyra Johnson, Maple Park; Linnea Nelson, Byron; Alyssa Owen, Smithton; Alyssa Wilkerson, Sycamore

Women’s Volleyball — Addie Friedstad, Rochelle; Julie Leon, DeKalb; Destiny McKinnie, Cortland; Avery Salsbury, Oregon

In addition, 15 student-athletes also received National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Academic nominations. Student-athletes with a 4.00 GPA earned NJCAA All-Academic First Team, a 3.80-3.99 GPA earned NJCAA All-Academic Second Team, and a 3.60-3.79 GPA earned NJCAA All-Academic Third Team. The following student-athletes were nominated:

First Team — Will Baumgartner, Sycamore; Ethan Byham, Crystal Lake; Hailey Knight, Honolulu, Hawaii; Avery Salsbury, Oregon; Brock Zimmerman, Somonauk

Second Team —Forrest Gerber, Chana; Cameron Knapp, Plainfield; Thomas Kozial, Rochelle; Aidan Rodriguez, Rochelle

Third Team — Amonn Burns, Indianapolis, Ind.; Josue Huerta, Rochelle; Alyssa Owen, Smithton; Kyra Pyburn, Kingston; Avie Truran, Kirkland; Charlie Wetzel, Sycamore

“The 2023-2024 athletic year was a great year of competition, and we are very proud of our student-athletes who achieved academic recognition. Their efforts inside and outside the classroom are exceptional, and it is exciting to see a record number of our student-athletes being successful role models for the College and community,” said Scott Kawall, Director of Student Involvement, Athletic Director.

With a new athletic season starting in August, Kishwaukee College is ready to welcome its next class of athletes. To learn more about athletics at Kish, visit www.kishkougars.com.