Coconino News

The Northern Arizona University (NAU) Lumberjacks have achieved a significant milestone by leading the Big Sky Conference with 60 Winter All-Academic awards. This achievement was announced by the league office on Thursday, marking an increase from previous years. The number of honorees rose from 47 two years ago and is 24 more than the year before that.

This trend aligns with the success of NAU's fall teams, which earned 62 All-Academic honors compared to 40 in the fall season of 2019.

Eligibility for these honors requires student-athletes to meet specific criteria: participation in at least half of their team's competitions or attendance at indoor conference championships for track & field athletes; a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; and completion of one academic term at their current Big Sky institution.

The women's indoor track & field team contributed significantly with 25 honorees, followed by the men's indoor track & field team with 23. Women's basketball had eight awardees, while men's basketball had four, completing NAU's leading total in the conference.

"More than half (36) of the 60 Winter All-Academic have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.60," noted the release, adding that "10 student-athletes currently hold a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA."

Through this winter season, NAU Athletics has accumulated a total of 122 Big Sky All-Academic honorees.

Below is a list highlighting some notable selections:

- Men's Basketball: Keith Haymon (Organizational Leadership), Jayden Jackson (Biomedical Science)

- Women's Basketball: Sierra Mich'l (University Studies), Nyah Moran (Health Science-Fitness Wellness)

- Men's Indoor Track & Field: Parker Bays (Psychology), Drew Bosley (Journalism)

- Women's Indoor Track & Field: Hannah Behunin (Health Science-Fitness Wellness), Jesselyn Bries (Special & Elementary Education)