BOSTON — Six of America East's elite student-athletes who displayed excellence both academically and athletically this year are the 2017 America East Spring Scholar-Athletes as announced Wednesday afternoon by the conference office. Three repeat selections, a pair of All-Americans and the America East Man of the Year highlighted the selections.
2017 America East Spring Scholar-Athletes
David MacKinnon, Sr., Hartford - Baseball
- Graduated with a 3.87 GPA majoring in accounting.
- Three-time Scholar-Athlete and reigning America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
- First-team Academic All-American for the second-straight year.
- Three-time America East All-Academic baseball choice.
- First-team All-Conference selection for second-straight season.
Kyle McClancy, Jr., Albany - Men's Lacrosse
- Carries a 3.94 GPA in business.
- Repeat selection.
- 2017 USILA DI Scholar All-American and America East All-Academic choice for second-straight year.
- Honorable mention All-American and first-team All-America East.
- Helped Albany win the America East regular-season and tournament titles and reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Men's Lacrosse Championship.
Samantha DiSalvo, Jr., Stony Brook – Women's Lacrosse
- Holds a 3.99 GPA majoring in biology.
- Repeat selection.
- Selected to the women's lacrosse All-Academic team for the second-straight year.
- Second-team All-America East choice.
- Helped Stony Brook win the America East regular-season and tournament titles and reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA Women's Lacrosse Championship for the first time in program history.
Joe Miceli, Sr., Binghamton – Men's Outdoor Track & Field
- Received his undergraduate degree in integrative neuroscience with a 3.75 GPA.
- America East Man of the Year.
- America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete.
- America East Elite 18 and All-Academic honoree.
- Most Outstanding Men's Field Athlete at 2017 America East Outdoor Championship after winning the decathlon.
Elinor Purrier, New Hampshire, Jr. - Women's Indoor Track & Field
- Has a 3.70 GPA in nutrition.
- Third Scholar-Athlete honor this season (women's cross country, women's indoor track & field).
- America East All-Academic selection.
- Finished fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship in the 3,000-meter steeplechase earning All-America honors for the third time this year and seventh time in her career.
Gabby Bracchi, Binghamton, Sr. - Softball
- Graduated with a 3.75 GPA in accounting.
- America East Presidential Scholar-Athlete.
- Two-time America East All-Academic selection.
- First-team All-Conference designated player.
- Helped Binghamton win the America East regular-season title.
The Scholar-Athletes were members of teams in the six championship sports which America East sponsored in the spring season including baseball, men's and women's lacrosse, men's and women's outdoor track & field and softball. Nominees were put forward by their institution, which could nominate up to one student-athlete per sport, then voted upon by the conference's Student-Athlete Engagement committee. Each America East Scholar-Athlete was a starter or prominent reserve and carries a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.50.
Winners are automatically be eligible for the America East Female or Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, which will be announced in July.
America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country, which honors over two-thirds of its student-athletes for their success in the classroom. Learn more about the conference's academic awards program.
About America East: The America East provides its member schools and their athletic programs a platform upon which student-athletes can achieve both collegiate and life success through the promotion and nurturing of athletic excellence, academic achievement and leadership, on and off the field.