Nearly 50 Student-Athletes Named to Fall 2017 Dean's List, Men's Basketball Team Earns 3.45 GPA

Seven football players, six men's basketball players and five women's water polo players are among the dozens of Allan Hancock College student-athletes who qualified for the Dean's List during the 2017 fall semester. Nearly 50 student-athletes earned grade point averages of 3.50 or higher, including 11 who received 4.0 GPAs.

"This is a testament to the hard work of our coaching staff, academic counselor, and most importantly, demonstrates the dedication of our student athletes," said Kim Ensing, Hancock's athletic director and associate dean. "We are a united front when it comes to emphasizing the importance of academics. We all love winning games, and we acknowledge hard work and discipline are characteristics that come from winning. However, their success in the classroom is paramount to them moving forward in life and beyond sport."

Thirty student-athletes on the Dean's List participated on in-season sports teams, which means they participated in intercollegiate competition during the fall semester. Those sports include football, men's soccer, men's and women's basketball, women's water polo and volleyball.

Seven players from the league champion football team received 3.5 GPAs or higher. The American Pacific League's Offensive Player of the Year and All-State tight end, Dominic Chance, as well as defensive back Domanic Chapa earned 4.0 GPAs. Ben Willkomm, Kaleb Monette, Logan Armstrong, Spencer Pool and Jacob Bouzard joined them on the Deans' List.

Highlighted by freshmen Trenton Mitchell, Javae Lampkins and Spirit Ricks, who all earned 4.0 GPAs during the fall semester, six men's basketball players made the list. Freshmen Glenn Jordan and Mayowa Akinsanya, as well as sophomore guard Kevin Baines also had GPAs of 3.52 or higher in the fall. With half of its 12-player roster on the Dean's List, the men's basketball team compiled an impressive overall team GPA of 3.45.

"We are proud of our guys for their commitment to their coaches, each other, the community and their academic performance," said Tyson Aye, Hancock's men's basketball head coach. "Intercollegiate student-athletes are required to be full-time students and be on pace to graduate with a degree within two years, which is much faster than the general student population on average. To have those type of academic requirements while being a student-athlete is quite an undertaking. So, to have a team 3.45 GPA under these requirements is a testament to their positive attitudes, work ethic, resilience, commitment, and communication."

All-conference women's water polo players Meagan Coyne and Ellyn Clardy earned 4.0 GPAs. Joining them on the Dean's List are teammates Makena Blanco, Maribel Morales and Ambria Eidson, all of whom had GPAs of at least 3.71.

Four men's soccer players scored spots on the Dean's List: Angel Mendez; Cuahuhtemoc Martinez; Angel Gallo; and Eric Pulido. Three women's volleyball players earned spots on the Dean's List: Isabella Albano; all-league selection Amiee Domingues; and Brianna Sanchez. Melissa Brocke, Brianna Magana and Michaella Praska represented the women's cross country team on the Dean's List. Meantime, freshman Kiesa Romero and sophomore guard Karly Beyers, both members of the women's basketball team, are on the Dean's List.

Seven baseball players, four members of the women's swimming and diving team, as well as two players from the softball, men's track and women's track and field teams also earned 3.5 GPAs or higher in the fall.