Western Nevada College
Although variable spring weather conditions contributed to prolonged periods on the road and away from Carson City, Western Nevada College’s baseball players remained committed to their No. 1 priority as a Wildcat: academics.
WNC earned National Junior College Athletic Association Academic All-American honors with a team grade point average of 3.19.
“This is an outstanding accomplishment and reflects the dedication of the coaching staff, the students and Lauren Stevens, their academic adviser, in promoting a team focused first on success in the classroom,” said John Kinkella, WNC’s Dean of Student Services and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.
Baseball coach D.J. Whittemore believes that his players’ commitment to education will serve them far into the future.
“The one championship that can continue to make a difference in young men’s lives is scholastic,” Whittemore said. “Too often we heap praise on young athletes for their accomplishments on the field but rarely does that have as big effect on their contribution to society or their long-term happiness as does academic excellence.”
Leading the charge in the classroom for the Wildcats’ roster was sophomore center fielder Jake Bennett, the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Bennett was recognized for exemplary academic achievement for student-athletes whose GPA ranges from 3.60 to 3.79.
“The awards keep piling up for ‘JB,’ ” Whittemore said. “Sometimes you run across a special person that understands that excellence isn’t a part-time or occasional endeavor. You are either committed to it or you’re not, and he clearly is.
“Our entire college community is grateful to him for his representation to Western Nevada.”
Bennett’s academic excellence spanned his entire time at WNC. Last year, the NJCAA recognized Bennett with superior academic achievement.
The University of Oregon-bound Bennett said that players learn right off the bat that education is the No. 1 reason that they attend WNC.
“From day one, the priority is that you are going to be a student and coach ‘Whitt’ is going to give you the time to get schoolwork done,” Bennett said. “It’s up to you if you want to get it done. The big thing is don’t be lazy and you’ll get it done.”
Communicating with professors was another key to Bennett’s success in the classroom.
“Letting them know when you were going to be gone in advance. We always knew at a minimum of a week before when we were going to be gone,” he said.
The baseball team accomplished these honors despite having to play the first four weekends of the season and the last half of the conference season on the road. Rain and snow moved most of the team’s early conference schedule to Carson City and thus necessitated the team playing the latter part of its season away from home.
“Our players traveled most of the Western U.S. on long bus rides and competed at the highest level and still earned this incredible honor (Spring Academic Team of the Year),” Whittemore said. “I am thoroughly impressed by their commitment to be well-rounded individuals. Our coaching staff and administration want to congratulate and thank them.”
Since 1983, the NJCAA has been committed to recognizing the success of student-athletes in the classroom. The NJCAA requires that teams must collectively meet or exceed a 3.0 GPA to receive All-American honors.
