Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Beckner, Long named First Team Academic All-American
6/21/2019 1:28:00 PM | Men's Golf, Women's Golf, BRAA
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee's Golf programs doubled up Friday as the 2019 Google Cloud Academic All-America Teams were announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Men's Golfer James Beckner and women's Golfer Hanley Long were each selected to the Division I At-Large First Team, ranking them alongside the nation's top student-athletes competing in fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming & diving, tennis, water polo, beach volleyball, bowling, field hockey, rowing, men's volleyball and wrestling.
Beckner is making his second appearance as an Academic All-American after being selected as a member of the Second Team as a junior in 2018. His 2018 selection made him just the second Blue Raider Men's Golfer selected, joining Brett Patterson (2015), while his selection Friday makes him the first two-time selection and First Team selection in program history.
The Kingsport, Tenn., native, who has graduated and plans to begin dental school in the fall, is one of 12 First Team selections on the men's side that boast a perfect 4.0 GPA and is the only First Team honoree competing in golf.
"It's an absolute honor to be named a First Team Academic All-American this year," Beckner said. "I knew coming into college that education was my main priority second to golf. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to never have to choose one over the other and balance golf and my education.
"One of my main goals here has been to represent Middle Tennessee to the best of my abilities on the course and in the classroom, and this award allows me to feel like I accomplished that."
Long is a first-time selection and marks the first Academic All-American honoree in Middle Tennessee women's golf history.
The Clarksville, Tenn., native who also graduated from Middle Tennessee in May and is set to begin her professional golf career this summer, is one of four golfer's to make the cut for the First Team on the women's side which saw all 15 selections own a perfect 4.0 GPA.
"It's a tremendous honor to be mentioned as one of the top student-athletes in the country with this recognition," Long said. "I feel like the academic side of being a student-athlete gets overshadowed sometimes and that what all goes into balancing school, golf and training isn't always easy to see.
"It's a difficult balancing act to find success in all areas as a student-athlete and to be recognized for that as an Academic All-American is an incredible acknowledgement."
While obviously being a huge individual honor for two of Middle Tennessee's finest four-year standouts, the honor also speaks volumes to the Blue Raider Athletic Department as Beckner and Long were the only two honorees out of a total of 92 to compete for a Conference USA member institution.
"James and Hanley represent the very best of what Middle Tennessee has to offer," Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said. "Both of them are champions in everything they do. We are all very proud that their hard work has been recognized with this tremendous honor."
Men's Golfer James Beckner and women's Golfer Hanley Long were each selected to the Division I At-Large First Team, ranking them alongside the nation's top student-athletes competing in fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming & diving, tennis, water polo, beach volleyball, bowling, field hockey, rowing, men's volleyball and wrestling.
Beckner is making his second appearance as an Academic All-American after being selected as a member of the Second Team as a junior in 2018. His 2018 selection made him just the second Blue Raider Men's Golfer selected, joining Brett Patterson (2015), while his selection Friday makes him the first two-time selection and First Team selection in program history.
The Kingsport, Tenn., native, who has graduated and plans to begin dental school in the fall, is one of 12 First Team selections on the men's side that boast a perfect 4.0 GPA and is the only First Team honoree competing in golf.
"It's an absolute honor to be named a First Team Academic All-American this year," Beckner said. "I knew coming into college that education was my main priority second to golf. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to never have to choose one over the other and balance golf and my education.
"One of my main goals here has been to represent Middle Tennessee to the best of my abilities on the course and in the classroom, and this award allows me to feel like I accomplished that."
Long is a first-time selection and marks the first Academic All-American honoree in Middle Tennessee women's golf history.
The Clarksville, Tenn., native who also graduated from Middle Tennessee in May and is set to begin her professional golf career this summer, is one of four golfer's to make the cut for the First Team on the women's side which saw all 15 selections own a perfect 4.0 GPA.
"It's a tremendous honor to be mentioned as one of the top student-athletes in the country with this recognition," Long said. "I feel like the academic side of being a student-athlete gets overshadowed sometimes and that what all goes into balancing school, golf and training isn't always easy to see.
"It's a difficult balancing act to find success in all areas as a student-athlete and to be recognized for that as an Academic All-American is an incredible acknowledgement."
While obviously being a huge individual honor for two of Middle Tennessee's finest four-year standouts, the honor also speaks volumes to the Blue Raider Athletic Department as Beckner and Long were the only two honorees out of a total of 92 to compete for a Conference USA member institution.
"James and Hanley represent the very best of what Middle Tennessee has to offer," Director of Athletics Chris Massaro said. "Both of them are champions in everything they do. We are all very proud that their hard work has been recognized with this tremendous honor."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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