Seniors Jimmy Morton (Sugar Grove, Ill.-Marmion Academy) and Rick Smith (Frankfort, Ill.-Lincoln-Way East) were recognized as part of the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District 7 At-Large team Thursday, May 19. The duo will now advance to the ballot for Academic All-America.
The At-Large teams are comprised of student-athletes competing in beach volleyball, bowling, rowing, fencing, field hockey, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, men's volleyball, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, and water polo.
Morton received the distinction for the first time in his career, while Smith garnered the selection for the second straight season.
A member of the Illinois Wesleyan men's golf team that won the NCAA Division III National Championship in 2019 and 2021, Morton graduated with a degree in accounting earlier this month. Morton posted seven top-five finishes throughout the season, while finishing below par in six tournaments. He won the Blueboy Invite and one week later claimed medalist honors at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championship. He finished the season ranked 36th in Division III according to Golfstat with a 72.39 adjusted scoring average. A three-time CCIW Men's Golfer of the Week this season, Morton led the Titans to a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Division III National Championship last week.
Smith, who graduated with a 3.79 grade point average, led the Titans with 50 goals and 70 points. He was third on the team with 20 assists, and has also added 35 ground balls and 10 caused turnovers. Smith, who finished his career second on IWU's all-time goals list, ranked second in the conference in goals per game (3.33), third in points per game (5.00), seventh in assists per game (1.67), and seventh in shots per game (8.50). He was named the league's Offensive Player of the Week, April 11, following a six-goal performance against North Central and a three-point effort in a blowout win over Carthage.
Academic All-America teams will be announced next month.
Original source can be found here.
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