All-Academic Individuals & Scholar Athletes of the Year – NCAA DIII Men’s Track & Field

NEW ORLEANS – Deko Ricketts of Washington (Mo.), Robert Eason of Rhodes College and Theron Baumann of UW-Whitewater were named the Male Scholar Athletes of the Year in NCAA Division III Track & Field on Friday by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Combining their accomplishments in the classroom and in competition during the recently completed academic year, these four men were the most exceptional among a group of 402 men who earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors.

Scholar Athletes of the Year were selected as the highest finishing performers at the NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships who achieved All-Academic status. Those who won individual championship titles ranked higher in the tie-breaking process and cumulative GPA is weighed as the final advantage.

Separate awards are given to track athletes and field athletes for the indoor and outdoor seasons, hence the four categories.

Ricketts, a graduated senior who majored in Electrical Engineering, maintained a 3.72 GPA and was named the Male Indoor and Outdoor Track Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Kansas City, Missouri, swept the 800-meter titles at NCAAs this past academic year. Ricketts is the first male athlete from Washington (Mo.) to earn this honor.

Eason, an undeclared junior, held down a 3.45 GPA and was named the Male Indoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Memphis, Tennessee, won the indoor high jump title. Eason is the first male athlete from Rhodes College to earn this honor.

Baumann, a junior majoring in Social Work, obtained a 3.36 GPA and was named the Male Outdoor Field Scholar Athlete of the Year. The native of Monona Grove, Wisconsin, won the outdoor shot put title and placed third in the discus. Baumann is the second male athlete from UW-Whitewater to be named Scholar Athlete of the Year, joining Jon Schellin in 2008.

All-Academic Individuals

Including the Scholar Athletes of the Year, a total of 402 men earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors during the 2016-17 track & field seasons.

To qualify for USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.30 and must have met at least one of the following athletic standards:

• Competed in an NCAA Indoor or Outdoor Championship
• Finished the regular season ranked in the national top-50 in an individual event or ranked in the national top-35 in a relay event on the official NCAA Descending Order List.

There were 10 men who earned GPAs of 4.0 or better.