de Villiers Receives CoSIDA Academic All-America Honor
William Penn University Athletics
Oskaloosa–Statesmen golfer Adriaan de Villiers (Jr., Akasia, South Africa, Akasia HS) is finding success in the classroom as well as on the links and he was honored for his all-around achievements Monday.
de Villiers was named a 2012 Capital One College Division Third-Team Academic All-American as CoSIDA announced its At-Large teams.
The accolade recognizes student-athletes not only for their athletic prowess but also their successes academically.
At the time of the nomination, the junior owned a 3.86 Grade Point Average in industrial technology. In 19 competitive rounds this season, de Villiers posted a 77.9 stroke average, good for second on the team. He broke par twice and recorded 11 rounds in the 70s.
Kyle Ross, a hockey player from the University of Saskatchewan, was named Academic All-American of the Year.
A first-team all-district winner in May (one of just ten individuals representing District 5), de Villiers was also honored as an NAIA Scholar-Athlete last month and will receive academic all-Midwest Collegiate Conference laurels in the upcoming days.
The men’s at-large teams consist of student-athletes participating in intercollegiate golf, fencing, ice hockey, gymnastics, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo, and wrestling.
To be eligible for the award, athletes must be of at least sophomore academic standing, be a starter or key reserve player (other playing requirements where applicable), maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or above on a 4.0 scale, and have attended the nominating institution for at least one full calendar year.
de Villiers’ Academic All-America award is the first at William Penn since Sarah Ridley was honored as Academic All-American of the Year for women’s soccer during the 2002-2003 school year.
