Defiance Puts 22 Student-Athletes on HCAC All-Academic Team

GREENWOOD, Ind. – The Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference has announced its spring honorees for Academic All-HCAC. Defiance College placed 22 student-athletes on the list, raising its total for the 2008-2009 academic year to 35.

In order to be named as an Academic All-HCAC selection, student-athletes must have completed one full academic year, be enrolled full-time at their institution, be a varsity athlete and possess a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.5.

DC's group of 22 student-athletes to be honored matched Anderson's total as the second-highest number in the conference. The Yellow Jackets led the HCAC with seven softball All-Academic selections, while also adding seven track and field, six baseball and two men's tennis award winners.

Defiance's standout student-athletes included Grant Barbour, Mike Dushane, Ben Gates, Brett King, Todd O'Dell, Ethan Salsbury, Brad Zarembski, Kerstyn Clover, Laura Derov, Samantha Higdon, Courtney Swabb, Alex Thiel, Amanda Tooley, Trevor Ault, Austin Kleman, Lisa Brophy, Kayla Crager, Justine Johnston, Elizabeth Petrie, Aubrie Ridinger, Kelly Schnipke and Kelsey Williams.