Three more Tech student-athletes named Academic All-District
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Recognition continues for Tennessee Tech
student-athletes for their success in the classroom, with Academic
All-District honors going to two football players and one member of
the Golden Eagle volleyball squad.
Junior Bradley Thompson and sophomore Taylor Askew have been named
first-team Academic All-District in football, while junior Teresa
Craig has earned second-team honors in volleyball. Askew and Craig
own perfect 4.0 grade averages, while Thompson is just behind with
a 3.97 GPA. Askew and Thompson were also named last season, and
this year's spot on the first-team means their names will advance
to the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.
"These awards are a reflection of the dedication of our
student-athletes, as well as our coaches and staff, to high
academic achievement," said Director of Athletics Mark Wilson. "We
are extremely grateful that they are being recognized individually
for their hard work in the classroom. It is truly
well-deserved."
Taylor Askew is a political science major from Knoxville, Tenn.,
with a 4.0 grade point average, and has started every game in 2008
at offensive tackle. He is part of an offensive line that ranks
among national FCS leaders in fewest sacks allowed. He was also
named Academic All-District in 2007, and was named to the TTU
Athletic Director's Honor Roll all four semesters. The winner of
the OVC Academic Medal of Honor for posting the highest GPA in the
league among all conference football players, Askew was also named
to the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll.
A mechanical engineering major from Jamestown, Tenn., Thompson has
managed a 3.97 grade point average. He has played in all 10 games
this season and has 14 total tackles, including 1.5
tackles-for-loss. Named to the 2007 CoSIDA Academic All-District
team, he was also voted to the 2007 FCS Athletic Director's
Association Academic All-Star team. During his collegiate career
Thompson has been named every semester to the Athletic Director's
Honor Roll, and was also named each of the past two seasons to the
OVC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
Craig, a native of Muncie, Ind., has been a key part in the Golden
Eagle volleyball team's push to the top of the OVC standings in
2008. With the team at 15-9 overall and 12-2 in the conference,
Craig has 81 kills with a .145 hitting percentage to go along with
181 digs and 15 service aces. An injury suffered shortly after the
season began limited her playing time early in the season, but the
political science major did not let that stop her, either on the
court or in the classroom. She owns a 4.0 grade point average, she
was also the recipient of the Ohio Valley Conference Medal of Honor
for having the highest GPA among all conference volleyball
players.
The teams are selected by the College Sports Information Director's
of America (CoSIDA), and sponsored by ESPN The Magazine.
The selection of Askew, Thompson an Craig gives Tech five Academic
All-District selections this fall, joining soccer selections
Kathryn Lally and Taren Brown who were announced last week.
Since 1985, a total of 96 Tennessee Tech student-athletes have
earned Academic All-District awards.
Craig is the 12th winner from the Golden Eagle volleyball program,
joining previous selections Angie Duncan (1985, 1986, 1987), Rachel
Melchiorre (1995, 1996, 1997), Kara Gilbert (2001, 2002), Anne
Morrow (2004, 2005),and Jess Seyfert (2005)
In football, Askew and Thompson give the program a total of 24
selections. Previous football winners are Barry Wilmore (1985),
Andy Rittenhouse (1985, 1986, 1987), Joel Chandler (1986), Clark
Rickey (1987), Spencer Hissam (1990), Ted Lockerby (1991, 1992),
Scott Trent (1995), Jeff Norman (1997), Wes Gallagher (1997, 198,
1999), Nick Solomon (2000), Grant Swallows (2001), Trey Perry
(2002), Brett Vavra (2004), Jon Mahan (2005), Taylor Askew (2007,
2008) and Bradley Thpmpson (2007, 2008).
