LA JUNTA — The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) honors both student athletic and academic achievement at the junior college level. The NJCAA recently announced that the Otero Junior College women's softball and volleyball teams received Academic Teams of the Year honors for their outstanding team grade point averages. The softball team posted a 3.26 cumulative grade point average while the volleyball team posted a 3.16 cumulative grade point average. Both teams were among some of the highest ranked academic teams in the nation.
Chris Carrillo, athletic director at OJC proudly stated, "It's a good day to be a Rattler! We are very proud of the effort our athletes and coaches put into academic achievement. OJC Athletics has always put the highest emphasis on academic success, and when we receive this kind of national recognition, we know our work has paid off."
Carrillo went on to say that the men's and women's golf teams, baseball team, and men's soccer team were just under the mark of making NJCAA Academic Teams honors list as well. "What a great job all of our teams did this year under some very unusual circumstances. We are extremely proud of them," said Carrillo.
NJCAA Academic Individual Awards
In addition, the NJCAA and Otero Junior College proudly recognizes 68 students who were individually honored for their academic achievements in the 2019-2020 year.
To qualify for NJCAA Academic All-American honors, student athletes must maintain a 3.6 or better cumulative grade point average and have been enrolled as a full-time student for three semesters.
Seven OJC students met the qualifications for First Team (GPA of 4.0):
Isaiah J. Alexander, Lower Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago
Jillian J. Bishop, Brighton
Lexie Black, Omaha, Neb.
Hannah M. Hackney, Loveland
Ingrid Franco Ferrari, Botu Catu, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Kelsey K. Garcia, Pueblo
Taylor L. Pace, Thorton
A total of 12 OJC students met the qualifications for Second Team (GPA of 3.80-3.99):
Elizabeth G. Betsch, Conifer
Tatyana N. Bradshaw, Fowler
Juan I. Silva Garcia, San Diego, Calif.
Kayla M. Kascak, Thornton
Makayla S. Keck, Pueblo
Brilane K. Manchego, Pueblo
Jennifer A. Mueller, Rio Rancho, N.M.
Paul Nitsch, Nis, Germany
Tyler B. Hamill, Loveland
Dyson C. Oquist, La Junta
Giselle Prado, Johnstown
Syndey Turnbow, Tooele, Utah
A total of 17 student athletes earned Third Team Achievement honors (GPA of 3.6-3.79):
Miranda L. Algien, Pueblo
Alison M. Bregar, Pueblo
Martim B. Camacho, Lisbon, Potugal
Adrianna Castillo, Rio Rancho, N.M.
Tiago A. De Deus Cordeiro, Lisborn, Portugal
Sarah M. Decarlo, Pueblo
Ceceila E. Elliott, Thornton
Caroline Gomes de Oliveira, San Paulo, Brazil
Allie E. Hobbs, Eaton
Koy W. Jorgensen, Greeley
Lauren D. Kia, Erie
Christian B. Marsh, Fowler
Ivory J. Martinez, Pueblo
Stefan P. Zychlinski - Mielzynski, Waterdown, Ontario Canada
Joie N. Raybourn, Durango
Zachary W. Thomas, Pueblo
Bryana K. Yoshida, Maui, Hawaii
Region IX Academic Individual Awards
A total of 32 student athletes at OJC earned Academic All-Region IX Awards. To achieve this award a student must have a GPA of 3.25 or above.
Sophie Abela, San Gwen, Malta
Seaerra D. Fuentes Arellano, Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Skylar Botos, Peyton
Donathan M. Chavez, Alamosa
Charisse M. Fairley, Colorado Springs
Marlene Godoy, Las Vegas, N.M.
Alfredo Gonzalez, Denver
Alyssa Goodwill, Flagstafff, Ariz.
Joshua T. Grizzell, Monument
Chase Hettinger, Castlerock
Skyler M. Jones, Swink
Emma M. Juarez, Rio Rancho, N.M.
Graycee J. Lay, Albert
Kelly E. Long, Rocky Ford
Julian I. Lucero, Pueblo
Dawn E. Luttrell, La Junta
Alan Jorge Miranda, Denver
Eoin B. O'Conaill-Nelson, Dublin, Ireland
Adam Nolte, Swink
Chigozie Okorie, Houston, Texas
Sebastian M. Orozco, Reno, Nev.
Samuel Parker, Pueblo
Madison M. Pryor, La Junta
Andres R. Quintana, Albuquerque, N.M.
Nadya K. Ramos, Hobbs, N.M.
Esteban G. Rivera, San Jose, Costa Rica
Antia Vallecas Rodriguez, Dos Heranas, Spain
Isaiah B. Romero, Lakewood
Alaina R. Sayler, Aztec, N.M.
Tyler A. Scheler, Albuquerque, N.M.
Dalton P. Strickland, Rye
Tyler N. Trujillo, Pueblo
For more information, contact OJC Athletic Director Chris Carrillo at 719-384-6973 or chris.carrillo@ojc.edu.
