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.
There is virtually no limit to what you can achieve at Kish, and we will be here for you every step of the way.