HADLEY, Mass. – Over 1,400 student-athletes have been named to the 2023 NESCAC Winter All-Academic Team. To be honored, an individual must have reached sophomore academic standing, and be in good standing in their sport with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 or equivalent on a 4.0 scale. Transfers must have completed one year of study at an institution. Lists of All-Academic honorees are provided by the athletic departments at each institution. The cumulative GPA on record as of the end of the Fall 2022 semester was used to determine eligibility for the honor.
Of the student-athletes who garnered er All-Academic honors this winter, 88 earned both All-Academic and All-NESCAC accolades and 47 individuals were named to both the All-Sportsmanship and All-Academic Teams. Eph Squash players Quan Ng (Women's Squash), and Udai Pal (Men's Squash) were named All-NESCAC, All-Sportsmanship, and All-Academic.
The 2023 Winter All-Academic Team includes major award winners from women's basketball, men's ice hockey, men's swimming & diving, and women's swimming & diving.
Maddy Mandyck was selected as the NESCAC Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year and was an All-NESCAC First Team selection. Mandyck was one of two Ephs to start all 26 games this season and averaged a double-double of 12.6 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. The senior led the NESCAC in blocks (3.1 per game) while totaling 81 for the year, including a season-high 12 blocks versus Stevenson in the non-conference portion of the schedule. Mandyck also ranked second in the NESCAC in steals (57) and field goal percentage (47.4%) and third in rebounding (10.9 rpg). Mandyck helped the Ephs earn the No. 2 seed in the NESCAC Championship and advance to the semifinals.
Kobe Tray of Williams was selected as the NESCAC Diver of the Year for the second straight year after sweeping the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events for the second consecutive year at the 2023 NESCAC Men's Swimming & Diving Championships. The senior also totaled 183 career points at NESCAC Championships to also earn the Career High-Point Diver honor.
Williams swimmer Nick Whitcomb totaled 337 career points at NESCAC Championships to earn the Career-High Point Swimmer honor at this year's NESCAC Championship meet. The 15th Williams swimmer to earn the award, Whitcomb earned All-NESCAC honors in four events at the 2023 NESCAC Championship with a win in the 50 backstroke, a second-place finish in the 400 medley relay, and the 200 backstroke, and a third-place finish in the 100 backstroke.
Williams sophomore Sophia Verkleeren was named the Swimmer of the Year after winning three individual events (200 IM, 400 IM, and 200 backstroke) and participating on two winning relay squads (200 & 400 medley relays) at the 2023 NESCAC Women's Swimming & Diving Championships. Verkleeren set a NESCAC meet record in the 200 and was a member of the Williams 400 medley relay team that established a new NESCAC meet mark. She finished the 2023 championships with seven All-NESCAC citations.
See the complete list of the NESCAC Winter All-Academic honorees here.
