Eighteen Lumberjacks were named to their respective All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Teams, 86 received CCAA All-Academic Honors while as a department HSU finished 21st in the nation in NCAA Division II in community service hours.
“I am very proud of our Student-Athletes who have worked hard both in the classroom and in their respective sport,” says Jane Teixeira, Humboldt State University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics & Rec Sports. “Our student-athletes bring value to HSU, the HSU community and Lumberjack Athletics. Students are the core of this University. We continue to strive to achieve our best results as a team and individuals with each of us doing our part to be better each day. It is joyful to see the hard work and dedication paying off.”
FALL SEASON HONORS
During the fall season, men’s soccer had three All-CCAA honorees including Isaiah Dairo being named to the First Team. He also was named to the United Coaches and D2CCA All-West Region Teams. Three Lumberjacks were named to the All-CCAA Women’s Soccer Team while one was named to the volleyball all-conference team. Over on the cross country course, Daniel Tull earned All-CCAA honors and All-West Region honors. Tull participated in the NCAA Division II Men’s Cross Country Championships in Sacramento, Calif., as he placed 56th at the championships.
WINTER SEASON HONORS
On the hardwood, the Lumberjacks had four players named to the All-CCAA Women’s Basketball Team including two being First Team selection in Alexia Thrower and Tyra Turner. Over on the men’s side, one HSU men’s basketball player was selected to the All-CCAA team and one was named CCAA Freshman of the Year in Isaiah Pope. Thrower was named to the WBCA All-American Team as well as the All-Region Team. Jackson Strong was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Men’s Basketball Team.
SPRING SEASON HONORS
During the spring season which was cut short due to the COVID pandemic, four Lumberjacks were selected to their respective All-Star Teams as announced by the CCAA. Micaela Harris (softball), Jaye Washington (men’s track and field) and Brailee VandenBoom (women’s track/field) were named All-Stars while Evelyn Andrews was an Honorary Captain for the CCAA Softball All-Star Team as she passed away in February. HSU’s rowing team was ranked seventh in the 2020 Pocock Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) Preseason Poll. Also during the spring, the Lumberjacks lost a member of their family in legendary head softball and wrestling coach Frank Cheek.
ACADEMIC HONORS
Over in the classroom, 86 Lumberjacks had a 3.40 or higher grade point average this past academic year to earn CCAA All-Academic honors. 13 members of Humboldt State rowing team posted a 3.20 or higher cumulative grade point average to earn Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) All-Academic Honors. HSU is an affiliated member of GNAC in rowing. Five Lumberjacks also were selected to the GNAC FAR Team by having a 3.85 or higher grade point average.
During their respective seasons, 79 Lumberjacks posted a 3.30 or higher grade point averages to earn CCAA All-Academic honors. Besides those outstanding honors, 53 Humboldt State University student-athletes received D2ADA Academic Achievement Honors for having at least a 3.40 or higher grade point average and being at least two years in college. During the Fall semester, HSU student-athletes had a 3.24 cumulative grade point average and during the spring a 3.36 cumulative grade point average.
Several of the HSU teams received academic honors from their coaching organizations: Men’s Basketball (NABC), Men’s and Women’s Soccer (United Soccer Coaches) and Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Men’s and Women’s Cross Country (USTFCCCA).
NCAA WOMAN OF THE YEAR NOMINEE
Rooted in Title IX, the NCAA Woman of the Year Award was established in 1991 to recognize graduating female student-athletes who have exhausted their eligibility and distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, service and leadership throughout their collegiate careers.
The nominees represented all three NCAA divisions, including 259 nominees from Division I, 126 from Division II and 220 from Division III. Nominees competed in 24 sports, with multisport student-athletes accounting for 128 of the nominees.
Humboldt State’s crew student-athlete Amelia Waggoner was the institution’s nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year program. She was one of 605 student-athletes from across the nation to earn this honor. Wagoner was one of two student-athletes to be the GNAC nominees for this program. She was one of 161 student-athletes from across the nation to earn this honor.
STAFF UPDATES
Humboldt State University Department of Athletics saw four new members to its staff heading into this academic year of 2020-21. Jane Teixeira is the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Rec Sports. Grant Landy takes over the women’s soccer program, Tae Norwood takes over the men’s basketball program and Matt Weise is the new head rowing coach.
Four members of the HSU staff are integral members of national or conference committees. Teixeira is the Chair of the NCAA Division II Committee on Infractions. Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations, Joe Danahey, is the D2SIDA West Region Representative while Head Cross Country/Assistant Track & Field Coach Jamey Harris is on the CCAA Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Matt Weise was named to the NCAA National Rowing Championships committee.
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
Back to the student-athletes, Humboldt State University Department of Athletics finished 21st in the nation in community service honors in NCAA Division II with 4536 hours. The Lumberjack Women’s Soccer Team finished first amongst all women’s sports team in the NCAA Division II and were also had the most community service amongst all women’s soccer teams. HSU’s men’s soccer team finished second, volleyball was third, softball was fifth and rowing was sixth in the nation in their sport.
Although intercollegiate sports competition have been suspended for the Fall semester, HSU athletics is still at it as they have a part in two committees at the institution. Athletics along with the Office of Student Life, Associated Students, Housing Office and the Debate Team at HSU has formed the Voting Initiative Group. The Athletic Department also has formed a Student Equity and Equality Group. The women’s soccer team is making bracelets for anyone who wants to make a donation to the African American Center for Academic Excellence on HSU’s campus. To make a donation and receive a bracelet, please click here.