FRISCO, Texas – Southeastern Louisiana’s Franck DiSanza and Northwestern State’s Natashia Jackson are the 2021 Southland Conference Outdoor Track & Field Student-Athletes of the Year, the league announced Tuesday along with its academic all-conference teams. Southland yearly awards are presented by
GEICO.
DiSanza, the Southland Javelin Champion, holds a 3.74 grade-point average (GPA) as a computer science major. As a sophomore, DiSanza finished sixth in the javelin at the NCAA Championships to earn First Team All-America honors for the Lions. During the Southland Conference Tune-Up meet, he threw the second-longest javelin in the Southland in eight years with a distance of 75.80m and 248-feet, eight inches. DiSanza, who hails from Rolle, Switzerland, is a two-time selection to the Southland Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Jackson has compiled an impressive 19 Southland medals during her career, a total that ranks second in league history. The reigning Southland Outdoor Runner of the Year won the 400m, was part of the gold medal 4x100 and 4x400 relays and posted a runner-up finish in the 200m. The sprinter also holds a conference designation as the only one to win an event (outdoor 400m) four years in a row. Jackson set the school record in the 400 (52.55) at the NCAA East Regional. As a graduate student in Homeland Security, the Houston native has maintained a 4.0 GPA.
The men’s all-academic roster is comprised of 39 spots, with Southeastern Louisiana leading the way with six selections, while Houston Baptist and Stephen F. Austin each placed five on the squad. UIW graduate student Rodney Littlejohn is a four-time selection to the all-academic team as he spent this season working on his master’s degree in kinesiology. Jared Hamilton of Central Arkansas and Matthew Arnold of Lamar received their third all-academic honor.
On the 45-member women’s all-academic team, UIW and Stephen F. Austin placed six honorees apiece, followed closely by Abilene Christian and Northwestern State with five selections apiece. McNeese, Sam Houston and Southeastern Louisiana added four each.
Southland hammer throw champion Alanna Arvie of McNeese and Southland long jump champion Jasmyn Steels of Northwestern State were not only among the 19 automatic selections, but also earned their fourth selection to the All-Academic Team.
Southland Conference Track & Field All-Academic Teams are selected by a 50-percent rule. Of the total number of nominees, half are named all-academic selections. Honorees are nominated and voted upon by head coaches, sports information directors, and academic staff members from each university. Student-Athletes of the Year are voted on by the Southland awards committee, consisting of one administrator from each member school.
Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Student-Athlete of the Year: Franck DiSanza, Southeastern Louisiana
Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Student-Athlete of the Year: Natashia Jackson, Northwestern State
2021 Southland Conference Men’s Track & Field Academic All-Conference Team
| Name |
School |
Cl. |
GPA |
Major |
| Jack Marshall |
Abilene Christian |
Jr. |
3.67 |
Management |
| Jared Hamilton3 |
Central Arkansas |
Gr. |
4.00 |
M.B.A. |
| Jaron Hamilton* |
Central Arkansas |
Gr. |
3.50 |
Master’s, Sport Management |
| Zachary Jewell*2 |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Master’s, Geo Info System |
| Scott Boon*2 |
Houston Baptist |
Jr. |
3.85 |
International Business |
| Ben Drew* |
Houston Baptist |
Sr. |
3.66 |
Finance |
| Garrett Gibson |
Houston Baptist |
Jr. |
3.26 |
Accounting |
| Hudson Hall |
Houston Baptist |
Sr. |
3.64 |
Psychology |
| Denim Rogers* |
Houston Baptist |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Master’s, Sports Management |
| Parker Barrett |
UIW |
So. |
3.86 |
Criminal Justice |
| Matthew Hernandez2 |
UIW |
Jr. |
3.74 |
Sports Management |
| Cash Kunkel |
UIW |
So. |
3.97 |
Business Administration |
| Rodney Littlejohn4 |
UIW |
Gr. |
3.93 |
Master’s, Kinesiology |
| Matthew Arnold3 |
Lamar |
Gr. |
3.58 |
English |
| Eli Peveto |
Lamar |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Computer Science |
| Gideon Cheplak* |
McNeese |
Jr. |
3.07 |
Applied & Natural Sciences |
| Henry Kiplagat |
McNeese |
Sr. |
3.58 |
General Studies |
| Cade Litolff |
New Orleans |
So. |
3.71 |
Chemistry |
| Alec Snell* |
New Orleans |
So. |
3.51 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Destine Scott |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
3.20 |
General Studies |
| Quindarrius Thompson |
Northwestern State |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Master’s, Homeland Security |
| Andrew Bosquez* |
Sam Houston |
Sr. |
3.02 |
Sociology |
| Eric Callaway |
Sam Houston |
Sr. |
3.12 |
Electronics & Computer Engineering |
| Denzel Downing |
Sam Houston |
Sr. |
3.17 |
Communications |
| Clayton Fritsch*2 |
Sam Houston |
Sr. |
3.31 |
Construction Management |
| Anthony Cordero |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
3.14 |
Engineering Technology |
| Stevon Crooks |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
3.00 |
Business Administration |
| Thomas Daigle |
Southeastern Louisiana |
So. |
3.78 |
History |
| Frank DiSanza*^ |
Southeastern Louisiana |
So. |
3.74 |
Computer Science |
| D.J. Ruffin* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
3.05 |
Sociology |
| Slavko Stevic* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
So. |
3.93 |
Computer Science |
| Trenton Bridges* |
Stephen F. Austin |
Sr. |
3.00 |
Kinesiology |
| Branson Ellis*2 |
Stephen F. Austin |
Jr. |
3.20 |
Agricultural Engineering Technology |
| Asani Hylton* |
Stephen F. Austin |
Jr. |
3.10 |
Health Science |
| Muzuri Mattar* |
Stephen F. Austin |
Jr. |
3.20 |
Health Science |
| Cord Neal |
Stephen F. Austin |
Jr. |
4.00 |
Animal Science |
| Timor Barrett |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Sr. |
3.44 |
Kinesiology |
| Dennis Kipngeno |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
So. |
3.53 |
Pre-Nursing |
| Keenan Lawrence |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
Jr. |
3.73 |
Accounting |
2020 Southland Conference Women’s Track & Field Academic All-Conference Team
| Name |
School |
Cl. |
GPA |
Major |
| Ella Antilla* |
Abilene Christian |
Sr. |
3.67 |
Psychology |
| Payton Kirk |
Abilene Christian |
Sr. |
3.80 |
Engineering |
| Irene Rono* |
Abilene Christian |
Jr. |
3.51 |
Nursing |
| Zoe Spinn*2 |
Abilene Christian |
Sr. |
3.78 |
Nursing |
| Taylor Tolen*2 |
Abilene Christian |
Sr. |
3.67 |
Kinesiology |
| Ajah Criner*3 |
Central Arkansas |
Sr. |
3.76 |
Athletic Training |
| Tamara Reeves |
Central Arkansas |
So. |
4.00 |
Undecided |
| Tyler Rose |
Central Arkansas |
Jr. |
3.83 |
Health Education |
| Jessica Rabius* |
Houston Baptist |
Jr. |
3.90 |
Kinesiology |
| Kaitlin Smith*3 |
Houston Baptist |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Kinesiology-Sports Management |
| Maryn DeMaio |
UIW |
So. |
3.45 |
Marketing |
| Madison Henry2 |
UIW |
Gr. |
4.00 |
M.B.A. |
| Deja Keys |
UIW |
Gr. |
4.00 |
MAA – Criminal Justice |
| Alisa Novosad2 |
UIW |
Jr. |
4.00 |
Rehabilitative Sciences |
| Erekha Sebastion |
UIW |
Sr. |
3.43 |
Elementary Education |
| Sullivan Wilke |
UIW |
So. |
3.89 |
Rehabilitative Sciences |
| Parl Eelma |
Lamar |
So. |
3.61 |
Graphic Design |
| Alanna Arvie*4 |
McNeese |
Gr. |
4.00 |
HHP-Exercise Physiology |
| Malayia Jedkins2 |
McNeese |
Jr. |
3.13 |
Health Systems Management |
| Grace McKenzie* |
McNeese |
Gr. |
4.00 |
HHP – Exercise Physiology & Health Promotion |
| Jemira Thomlinson |
McNeese |
Gr. |
3.14 |
M.B.A. |
| Arina Kleshchukova2 |
New Orleans |
Jr. |
3.81 |
Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Admin. |
| Allie Louis |
New Orleans |
Sr. |
3.62 |
Human Perf. & Health Promotion |
| Shamarah Shannon |
New Orleans |
So. |
3.33 |
Human Perf. & Health Promotion |
| Chelsea Harrington* |
Nicholls |
Jr. |
3.13 |
Psychology |
| Elsa Rijpstra |
Nicholls |
So. |
4.00 |
Allied Health Sciences |
| Annemarie Broussard*2 |
Northwestern State |
Jr. |
3.63 |
Health & Exercise Science |
| Natashia Jackson^*2 |
Northwestern State |
Gr. |
4.00 |
Homeland Security |
| Kristin McDuffie |
Northwestern State |
Gr. |
3.05 |
Sports Administration |
| Janiel Moore* |
Northwestern State |
Sr. |
3.30 |
Psychology |
| Jasmyn Steels*4 |
Northwestern State |
Gr. |
3.63 |
Sports Administration |
| Allie Angelo |
Sam Houston |
Sr. |
3.44 |
Kinesiology |
| Sandy Clarkin2 |
Sam Houston |
Jr. |
3.96 |
Kinesiology |
| Halie Daniel |
Sam Houston |
Gr. |
3.97 |
Homeland Security |
| Rebeca Gonzalez2 |
Sam Houston |
Gr. |
4.00 |
M.B.A. |
| Sophie Daigle |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
3.28 |
Kinesiology |
| Indya Jackson |
Southeastern Louisiana |
So. |
3.35 |
Biology |
| Grace Walford |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
3.95 |
Elementary Special Education |
| Charlotte Wissing* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
Sr. |
3.66 |
Marketing |
| Kaylee Bizzell2 |
Stephen F. Austin |
Sr. |
3.70 |
Nursing |
| Mathilde Coquillaud-Salomon* |
Stephen F. Austin |
So. |
3.80 |
Kinesiology |
| Avery Ellis-Byerly2 |
Stephen F. Austin |
Sr. |
4.00 |
Kinesiology |
| Nissi Kabongo* |
Stephen F. Austin |
So. |
3.40 |
Psychology |
| Brianna Nolen |
Stephen F. Austin |
Jr. |
3.40 |
Health Science |
| Kelsey Ramirez*3 |
Stephen F. Austin |
Sr. |
3.85 |
Kinesiology |
*
Automatic selection
2 Two-time all-academic selection
3 Three-time all-academic selection
4 Four-time all-academic selection
^ Student-Athlete of the Year
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