The Minnesota College Athletic Conference has named the MCAC Elite '18-19 Team, which consists of the top performing student-athletes which excel both in the classroom and the competitive arena from around the Conference.
A conference initiative which began with the 2017-18 academic year, MCAC Elite Teams are comprised of student-athletes who earned All-Academic honors during their sport season, as well as earning distinction in competition via All-Division, All-Conference, All-MCAC, All-State, All-America or similar NJCAA recognition.
Each Elite Team is designated by the academic year in which the competitive season and academic semester(s) for which the team member earned All-Academic status. Student-athletes participate in Soccer (men's & women's), Golf, Volleyball, Football, Clay Target, Wrestling, Basketball (men's & women's), Softball and Baseball. More than 15 of this year's Elite Team members were two-sport athletes at their respective institution.
The second-annual MCAC Elite Team student-athletes for 2018-19 are presented in alphabetical order by college. All team members have earned MCAC All-Academic status; their highest, current individual sport recognition is also listed.
Please note, some NJCAA spring sport honors will be announced later this month. This release reflects awards received as of June 5, 2019. Stay tuned to NJCAA Baseball, Softball and Golf Twitter feeds for All-American announcements.
Of particular note are eight MCAC athletes which were named both to an NJCAA All-America teams this past year while also succeeding in the classroom, earning MCAC All-Academic honors.
In volleyball, all four MCAC student-athletes who earned All-America honors in the fall also earned All-Academic distinction.
Paige Wallevand of Central Lakes College, Carly Mekash of Northland Community & Technical College, Carrie Rutledge of Rochester Community & Technical College and Andrea Hinkeldey of Minnesota West Community & Technical College each earned NJCAA Division III Volleyball All-America and MCAC All-Academic distinction. Wallevand and Mekash were two-sport athletes, also suiting up for the Raider and Pioneer women's basketball teams, respectively.
MCAC football had three NJCAA All-America selections who also earned MCAC All-Academic status; University of Maryland signee Sam Okuayinonu and teammate Darryll Munoz, both defensive standouts at Mesabi Range College, joined North Dakota State College of Science lineman Nick Radunz as 18-19 MCAC Elite Team members.
Anoka-Ramsey Community College women's soccer player Kati Beckman also earned MCAC Elite Team honors; the NJCAA All-America selection led the MCAC in scoring during the fall season for the Golden Rams. M State-Fergus Falls men's golf student-athlete Hunter Moen was a 2019 NJCAA Golf All-America selection and earned MCAC All-Academic honors as well.
In total, 128 student-athletes from 19 MCAC member schools were honored. Geographically speaking, honorees came from sixteen U.S. states and five different countries. Check back for updates as spring sport All-American's are announced.
The second annual MCAC Elite Team as presented by athletic directors from MCAC member colleges is available in.pdf format by clicking this link, or by going to: https://www.mcacsports.org/general/-18-19_MCAC_Elite_Team.pdf
The MCAC All-Academic teams are announced twice annually, following the completion of both the fall and spring academic semesters.
CLICK HERE for the 2019 MCAC Winter/Spring Sport All-Academic selections. Go to this link for 2018 MCAC Fall All-Academic awards.
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About the Minnesota College Athletic Conference
The Minnesota College Athletic Conference is the organizational body for NJCAA-affiliated two-year technical and community college athletic programs in the Minnesota State system. The mission of the Minnesota College Athletic Conference is to advance intercollegiate athletics by providing an engaging and supportive environment for success of our student athletes and competition among member institutions. The MCAC is committed to the guiding principles of encouraging the development and success of student athletes, promoting the integrity, honesty and loyalty to member schools as well as upholding the sustainability of conference athletic programs.