HAMMOND, La. – Southeastern Louisiana's
Franck DiSanza earned the Southland Conference Track and Field Male Student-Athlete of the Year while nine other SLU student-athletes were named to the 2021 Southland All-Academic team, the league office announced Tuesday.
DiSanza joins elite company with former Lion Alex Young, a 2021 United States Olympian in the hammer throw, as the last two SLU men to win the Southland Track and Field Student-Athlete of the Year.
DiSanza, a freshman, won the conference outdoor javelin title before advancing to the NCAA East Regional Prelims and then the NCAA Outdoor National Championships. The Rolle', Switzerland native finished sixth in the nation in the javelin earning him first team All-American honors. The Computer Science major also finished the semester with 3.74 GPA.
Joining DiSanza on the team are teammates
Stevon Crooks,
Thomas Daigle,
D.J. Ruffin,
Slavko Stevic and
Anthony Cordero.
On the women's side,
Sophie Daigle,
Grace Walford,
Indya Jackson and
Grace Walford each made the team.
Crooks, a senior, had a 3.0 GPA majoring in Business Administration. The Westmoreland, Jamaica product finished third in the shot put at the Southland Outdoor Championships.
Ruffin, out of Gautier, Mississippi, won the Southland outdoor long jump title and also qualified for the NCAA East Prelims. The senior Sociology major finished the semester with a 3.05 to secure a spot on the team. Ruffin also earned All-American honors helping the men's 4x400 team, including
Jonathon Sawyer,
James Benson II and
Donovan Storr, to the NCAA Championships in Oregon.
Stevic, the conference outdoor high jump champion, qualified for the NCAA East Prelims as well with a conference high mark of 2.17m (7 feet, 1.5 inches). The Serbian native turned in a 3.93 GPA majoring in Computer Science.
Thomas Daigle, a sophomore, finished with the sixth best time in the Southland in the 800m. A native Belle Rose, Louisiana, Daigle is a History major that holds a 3.78 GPA.
Wissing won the outdoor conference javelin title to earn an automatic selection. A Marketing major, Wissing had a 3.66 to polish off an outdoor season that saw her break the SLU Track facilty record in the javelin (160 feet, 48.78m).
Walford's near perfect 3.95 GPA in Elementary Special Education earned her a spot on the team. The senior also finished fifth in the hammer throw at the conference outdoor championships.
Jackson, a sophomore, finished third in the 400m at the conference outdoor championships. The Biology major finished with a 3.35 GPA to earn her way to the team.
Sophie Daigle, a Donaldsonville, Louisiana native, finished runner up in the 1500m at the conference outdoor meet. The Kinesiology major achieved a 3.28 in route to a selection to the team.
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
PODIUM CLUB/S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the track and field program are encouraged to join the Podium Club. Lion alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners. All membership fees and donations to Podium Club are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern track and field program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at
laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting
www.LionUp.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Track and Field, follow @LionUpTrack and @CoreyMistretta on Twitter, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube. channel.
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit
www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern is implementing mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets for the 2020-21 season. All tickets will be available via e-mail in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
