PBC honors academic success of FMU athletes

Ninety-three student athletes were named to the Peach Belt Conference’s (PBC) Presidential Honor Roll for academic achievement in June.

The honor roll recognizes athletes attending PBC schools who earned a minimum 3.00 grade point average (GPA) or higher on a 4.00 scale for the 2016-2017 academic year.

There are four categories in the honor roll: Presidential Scholars (GPA of 3.00 to 3.24), Bronze Scholars (3.25 to 3.49), Silver Scholars (3.50 to 3.74), and Gold Scholars (3.75 to 4.00).

Thirty-three Patriots were named Gold Scholars; 25 were named Silver Scholars; 18 were named Bronze Scholars; and 17 were named Presidential Scholars.

One FMU athlete, Chance DuCharme, was named to the Presidential Honor Roll for the fifth time. DuCharme is a pitcher for the FMU baseball team.

Emmeline Wheeler (women’s cross country), Kelly Anthony (women’s soccer), Briana Barzola (women’s softball), Jannik Roettlingsberger (men’s tennis), Samantha Koelliker (women’s tennis), and Caroline Boone (women’s volleyball) were named to the honor roll for the fourth time.

Of the 93 athletes named to the Presidential Honor Roll, the men’s baseball team had the largest number of athletes named to the honor roll with 14 athletes.

The rest of the teams were represented as follows: 14 from men’s baseball; 8 from women’s cross country/track and field; 8 from men’s cross country/track and field; 5 from men’s golf; 7 from women’s basketball; 12 from men’s soccer; 11 from women’s soccer; 12 from softball; 6 from men’s tennis; 6 from women’s tennis; and 4 from volleyball.

“[Being on the honor roll] means that you’re getting it done,” Briana Burgins, women’s basketball player, said. “Not only are you getting it done on the court or the field, but you’re getting it done in the classroom. College is hard, and being able to balance both and be rewarded for it by some type of honor shows that you’re on the right track and doing what you’re supposed to do.”

Burgins said that one of the biggest challenges for college students is time management. Managing time as an athlete means balancing practice, weight training, games and all that is required in the classroom, according to Burgins.