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Seven Shorter soccer players named CoSIDA Academic All-District
By Matt Green
ROME -- Shorter University placed seven soccer student-athletes on their respective CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District teams according to a release from the organization on Friday afternoon.
Hawks Julian Kitkowski, Stan Nizamutdinov and Trae Zablan joined Lady Hawks Kelli Davis, Blair Fine, Taylor Hays and Jessica Wright as Academic All-District honorees for the College Division of District 2. All seven student-athletes are now eligible for consideration on CoSIDA's Academic All-America teams, which will be released on Monday, Nov. 28.
Shorter's commitment to excellence both on and off the playing field was once again affirmed by these latest Academic All-District selections.
On the men's side, Shorter represented 25 percent of all District 2 College Division honorees.
Kitkowski, a sophomore defender out of Bremen, Germany, boasts a 3.7 GPA in Business Administration and made 15 starts in 16 appearances in the back line for Shorter this season.
Nizamutdinov, a senior defender from Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., carries a 3.7 GPA in Accounting and tallied one assist for the Hawks in 2011. He has been named to the SSAC All-Academic team twice and was an NAIA Scholar-Athlete selection last season.
Zablan, a senior midfielder out of Dallas, Ga., posted the highest grade point average of all District 2 College Division honorees with his 3.9 GPA in Accounting. Zablan appeared in 13 matches and made four starts for Shorter in 2011. He is a two-time SSAC All-Academic selection and was named an NAIA Scholar-Athlete for the first time in 2010.
The Lady Hawks were also well represented and tied with Faulkner University for the most honorees on the All-District squad.
Davis, a sophomore Early Childhood Education major from Peachtree City, Ga., carries a 3.9 GPA while starring on the pitch for the Lady Hawks with six goals and four assists. In two seasons on the Hill, Davis has 12 goals and nine assists and was an All-SSAC selection last season as a freshman.
Fine, a sophomore defender, appeared in 12 matches and made six starts for Shorter. A Biology major who hails from Lawrenceville, Ga., Fine boasts a 3.3 GPA and recorded one assist in 2011.
Hays, a junior goalkeeper out of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., has a 3.6 GPA as an Early Childhood Education major. Already Shorter's all-time leader in career shutouts (9) and saves (254), Hays was named to the SSAC All-Academic team in her first year of eligibility for the award in 2010 and was also named to the All-SSAC squad the very same season.
Wright, a sophomore meidfielder from Kennesaw, Ga., boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA in Communications and has been a staple in Shorter's midfield over the past two seasons. Wright scored her first career goal and handed out her first career assist this season.
To be nominated for CoSIDA Capital One Academic All-District and All-America honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.3 cumulative grade point average at his/her institution. Voting for the Capital One Academic All-America teams ends Nov. 15.
CoSIDA -- College Sports Information Directors of America -- began its Academic All-America program in the 1950s, and since then, has honored thousands of deserving student-athletes from numerous sports and across all divisions. Currently, CoSIDA honors Academic All-Americans in 12 sports.
