Student Athletes honored for achievements
BlueWave Athletics would like to take the time during the COVID-19 quarantine to acknowledge and congratulate all the FSCJ student athletes thus far for a great year.
Normally, the athletic department holds an annual sports banquet to honor and celebrate the success of each team and student athletes. Amid the current pandemic we are unable to meet in person, but we wanted to make sure they were all still recognized for their achievements. Unfortunately for FSCJ's spring sports, which consists of baseball and softball, the spring schedule was canceled for this season due to the COVID-19 outbreak. This means no post season honors were selected for those respective teams at this time.
Off the court, BlueWave athletes found tremendous success in the classroom. Athletic Director Ginny Alexander wanted to express her gratitude and share with everyone that, "This past fall we experienced the best semester academically that I can recall in the last few years. Overall, we had both strong academic grades and retention."
The following is a testament to the academic success BlueWave athletics experienced in the fall;
- 67 (65%) of our student athletes had a 3.0 GPA or higher
- The average student athlete fall cumulative GPA is a 3.06
- 14 of the student athletes earned a 4.0 GPA
- Men's Basketball led the teams in highest percentage of 3.0+ GPA's at 77% (10 out of 13).
In addition to academic accolades, several BlueWave student athletes received athletic recognition for their performance on the court in 2019-2020.
Women's Basketball - Mid-Florida All Conference
First Team - Matae Boyd
Second team - Joseline Ramos, Valicia Demeritte
Men's Basketball - Mid-Florida All Conference
First Team - Johnny Brown
Second Team - Eddie Davis, Evan Busby
Volleyball - Panhandle Conference
FCSAA All State Team: Jana Cuk, Jhoana "Elizabeth" Sandavol
Player of the Year: Jhoana "Elizabeth" Sandoval
First Team - Jhoana "Elizabeth" Sandoval, Marine Angely, Krystal Santiago, Jana Cuk
Second Team - Leah Mortenson
If interested in viewing more information or full list, please click on the following link FCSAA Sports Awards
Along with academic and athletic recognition, the BlueWave Athletic Department also selects a female and male "Student Athlete of the Year". This award is presented to a student athlete that consistently excelled in the classroom and in athletics throughout the school year. This year's FSCJ BlueWave Student Athlete of the Year is:
Female Student Athlete of the Year: Jhoanna "Elizabeth" Sandoval (Volleyball)
Sandoval helped lead the 2019 FSCJ volleyball team to the FCSAA/Region 8 State Volleyball Tournament. She earned All-Conference and All-Region while also being named "Panhandle Volleyball Player of the Year". Elizabeth served as both the Captain and SAAC representative for the FSCJ Volleyball Team. She finished the season with 3.13 kills per set and the conference with over 4 kills per set and 10th in the state in kills per set. Elizabeth earned all three academic awards possible last year (all-conference, all-region and all-NJCAA) and will probably do the same at the completion of this year.
Sandoval holds over a 3.7 GPA and would like to continue her studies in the health sciences field. Sandoval has signed a scholarship to play at Louisiana Tech University next season. She is from Uruapan, Mexico.
FSCJ Male Student Athlete of the Year: Samuel Jackson (Men's Basketball)
Jackson has played a significant role in his team's success over the last two years having played in 55 career games for the BlueWave. Samuel was a finalist for this year's FCSAA Men's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year as he currently holds a 3.87 GPA with a perfect 4.0 GPA this past fall. Last year, he earned Academic All-Conference, All-Region and 2nd Team NJCAA All-Academic team and will probably repeat those awards at the conclusion of this year. Jackson helped lead his team in community service endeavors such as Let's Move Jacksonville and Hospice of Jacksonville. He is an exceptional hard worker on and off the court and exemplifies high integrity and dedication.
Jackson is undecided on where he will be playing next year, but plans to complete his degree in Sport Management with a minor in Communication. He is from Fernandina Beach, Florida.
In addition to the academic, FSCAA Conference, State and Region recognition given to our FSCJ student athletes, each team designated award winners for their own programs. The winners were selected by the head coach of each sport team and are listed below.
Baseball:
Most improved: Tyler Prell
Most improved: Chris Ragosta
Baseball Scholar Athlete Award: Jordan Briones
Men's Basketball:
Most Valuable Player: Johnny Brown
Best Defensive Player: Ja'Derryus Eatmon
Coaches Award: Eddie Davis
Women's Basketball:
Most Valuable Player: Mataea Boyd
Most Improved: Rhy'Keria Rolland
Coaches Award: Jayde Johnson
Men's Cross Country
Most Valuable Runner: John Bear
Leadership Award: Aldren Biala
Most Improved: Brandon Russell
Women's Cross Country
Most Valuable Runner: Ally Newkirk
Leadership Award: Hanna Ziegler
Most Improved: Kellee Valaro
Softball
Coaches Award: Payton Mahon
General Patton Award: Joely Leguizamon
Leadership Award: Macy Mizell
Volleyball:
Most Improved: Leah Mortensen
Most Inspirational: Jhoana "Elizabeth" Sandoval
Best Teammate: Britt Klein-Lankhorst