The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s basketball team was recognized on March 24 as four of its players were named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District list. The selections include senior Karlo Colak and juniors Mason Funk, Jackson Niego, and Casen Lawrence.
This recognition highlights the academic achievements of student-athletes who also played key roles in a successful season for the Titans. The team reached the Elite Eight and secured both regular season and tournament championships in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.
Colak, a finance major with a 3.81 grade point average, served as co-captain and was named Second Team All-Conference. He set career highs across multiple categories, scoring 403 points and collecting 191 rebounds during his first year as a starter. “In his first year as a starter, Colak finished third on the team in scoring (13.0 rpg) and rebounding (6.2 rpg). He set career-highs in every statistical category, compiling 403 points, 191 rebounds, 90 assists, 23 steals, and 12 blocks.” Funk holds a 3.95 GPA while majoring in biology on the pre-med track. He became one of eleven finalists for the Josten’s Trophy after averaging nearly sixteen points per game over thirty-one contests.
Niego led as starting point guard with strong statistics including a conference-leading assist-to-turnover ratio while maintaining a GPA of 3.86 as a finance major. Lawrence achieved academic distinction with a perfect GPA of 4.00 in kinesiology and allied health studies while making ninety three-pointers at forty percent accuracy.
The Titans play their home games on campus in Bloomington using green and white colors under their Titans nickname according to the official website. They compete at an intercollegiate level within NCAA Division III athletics according to the official website. The program has previously captured national championships in both nineteen ninety-seven and two thousand one according to the official website.
Funk will advance to consideration for CSC Academic All-America honors when teams are announced April fourteenth.
