Morehead State student-athletes Katie Rice, Jeanette Petersen and Sarah Debnekoff have been selected to the Women's Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholar Team for the 2014-15 school year.
The list honors 758 collegiate golfers at the Division I, II and III levels. It recognizes individuals with a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 (or better) who have played in at least 50 percent of their school's varsity tournaments.
"We want to win conference championships, but we also place a high emphasis on good-character individuals who want to achieve in the classroom and community," Head Coach Stephanie Barker said. "I am very proud of these three young ladies for all they've accomplished academically. They are terrific examples of what true student-athletes are all about."
Rice, a government major from Oxnard, Calif., carries a 3.80 GPA into her senior year. She recorded a 77.5 stroke average and three top-10 performances in 29 rounds as a junior.
Petersen, an economics major from Krusaa, Denmark, carries a 4.00 GPA into her sophomore campaign. She posted a 75.9 stroke average and five top-10 efforts in 26 rounds as a freshman.
Debnekoff, an exercise science major from Rancho Cordova, Calif., carries a 3.66 GPA into her sophomore year. She tallied an 80.1 scoring average in 19 rounds as a freshman.
"The academic portion of our goal setting is very important," Barker said. "I focus on recruiting student-athletes who will buy into the philosophies of our program, athletic department and university. We want high-caliber golfers, but also want young ladies who are interested in earning a college degree and making a positive impact on the lives of other people."
Rice has now earned three WGCA All-American Scholar Team awards, while Petersen and Debnekoff each pick up their first. Petersen was also a member of the 10-person All-Ohio Valley Conference Team after her stroke average ranked fourth in the circuit.
"The WGCA release points out how difficult this honor is -- and I totally agree," Barker added. "It's not easy to maintain a cumulative 3.5 GPA with all of the demands on our young ladies, but these three have found a way. Katie, Jeanette and Sarah are examples of everything that's right about intercollegiate athletics -- and I'm glad they are Morehead State Eagles."
