Nine Southwest Student-Athletes Honored as Academic All-Americans

For more information, contact:
Keith Gentry
(901) 333-4114
mgentry@southwest.tn.edu

A total of nine Southwest student-athletes have been honored by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) for their outstanding work in the classroom. Freshman Sarah McKinley from the women’s soccer team was named first team NJCAA All-Academic after earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average. Four were honored on the second team – sophomore Candace Gaines from the women’s basketball team and freshmen Haley Cook, Blakeleigh Garrison and MaKayla Pugh from the softball team.

The remaining four recipients are all third team selections – freshman Jennie Bryant (softball), freshman Justin Batts (men’s basketball), freshman Cole Howard (baseball) and sophomore Staffany Olivares (women’s soccer). To qualify for NJCAA All-Academic, these student-athletes had to achieve at least a 3.6 grade point average for the 2018-19 academic year.

In addition, the same four members of the softball team (Bryant, Cook, Garrison and Pugh) were named All-America Scholar-Athletes by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). To qualify for the award, they needed a grade point average of at least 3.5 for the 2018-19 academic year.

NJCAA All-Academic Teams

First Team

Sarah McKinley (women’s soccer) - 4.00 GPA

Second Team

Candace Gaines (women’s basketball) - 3.89 GPA
Haley Cook (softball) - 3.89 GPA
Blakeleigh Garrison (softball) - 3.89 GPA
MaKayla Pugh (softball) - 3.85 GPA

Third Team

Jennie Bryant (softball) - 3.75 GPA
Justin Batts (men’s basketball) - 3.70 GPA
Cole Howard (baseball) - 3.70 GPA
Staffany Olivares (women’s soccer) - 3.64 GPA

NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete

Haley Cook (softball) - 3.89 GPA
Blakeleigh Garrison (softball) - 3.89 GPA
MaKayla Pugh (softball) - 3.85 GPA
Jennie Bryant (softball) - 3.75 GPA