MORROW, Ga. – Continuing a tradition started four years ago, Clayton State Athletics recognized the program's top student-athletes at the Heritage Bank Breakfast of Champions in The Loch on Friday, October 5.
 
Created to highlight those student-athletes that achieved at least a 3.0 Grade Point Average in the previous semester, in this case Spring 2018, the early morning ceremony featured 61 such individuals.
 
Treated to a hot breakfast, each student-athlete was recognized both individually and with their teams during a brief ceremony that was preceded by presentations by a number of high level administrators and Department partners. Each individual was also presented with a plaque commemorating their achievement after being introduced by their coach.
 
The group of dignitaries was headlined by Clayton State Director of Athletics Ryan Erlacher who recognized the assembled student-athletes as the Lakers best and brightest and leaders among their peers. Additionally, he praised their intentional efforts to get to this point and challenged them to continue to excel.
 
Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) President T.J. Witherspoon congratulated his fellow honorees and expressed his gratitude in being able to serve a group of individuals like the one assembled before him. He also made sure to thank the many advisors and individuals on campus that continue to facilitate this success.
 
Rounding out the speakers was David Crow from Heritage Bank, the title sponsor for the event. After touching on how the early start didn't exactly conform to "bankers hours" - to a round of laughter - Crow expressed his appreciation for the work and time management that is required to reach these lofty goals.
 
Specifically he mentioned dealing with the rigors of practice and time constraints that come with travel and late nights while making good decisions. He concluded by praising the good habits and character that these challenges have helped develop in Laker student-athletes and how Heritage Bank is proud to put their name next to Clayton State's for an event like this.
 
In addition to the Breakfast of Champions, each of the 61 student-athletes were recognized between games of a soccer doubleheader against Flagler on Saturday, September 22.

This is the ninth straight semester that the Lakers have honored those that succeed in the classroom and truly embrace the "student" part of student-athlete. On February 9 of this year a record setting 82 individuals were honored while 75 were on October 13 and February 3, 2017. That followed 62 student-athletes the previous semester and a then record 75 in February of 2016. The tradition began with 67 student-athletes honored in Fall of 2014 and continued that year with 67 in the Spring of 2015.

Leading the way among the Lakers' programs was the combination of men's cross country and track & field with 12 honorees while women's soccer produced 11 student-athletes with a 3.0 or better.

Clayton State Student-Athletes With 3.0 GPA Or Better – Spring 2018 Semester
 
Men's Basketball (5)
Denzel Council (3.75), Aubrey McRae (3.75), Obi Udezeh (3.5), Shonari Street (3.25), Justin Tuckson (3.0)
 
Women's Basketball (4)
TaKwana Bland (3.5), Kietta Saunders (3.16), Tatiana Foster (3.0), Aleisha Merriweather (3.0)
 
Cheerleading (3)
Careese Colzie (3.5), Kyla Davis (3.4), Makayla Cummings (3.0)
 
Men's Cross Country and Track &Field (12)                                  
Evan Ortiz (4.0), Anuj Patel (3.81), Shaun Carter (3.75), Keldren Reddick (3.75), T.J. Witherspoon (3.71), Tyler Askew (3.4), Eric Williams (3.25), Jason Dang (3.2), Ryan Polk (3.2),
Zach Czerniak (3.0), Andrew Omoregbe (3.0), Rafael Salis (3.0)
 
Women's Cross Country and Track& Field (10)
Hailey Budd (4.0), Nia Elmore (3.78), Chaviya Jackson (3.76), Kimberley Zahm (3.75), Ariel Boyd-Ghani (3.69), Jasmine Radford (3.69), Carla Catala Martin (3.6), Laura Shkembi (3.6), Abigail Campbell (3.56), Lynnet Kosgei (3.53)
 
Men's Golf (4)
Luke Spooner (3.8), Nick Woof (3.8), Joseph Kim (3.4), Seong Lee (3.0)
 
Men's Soccer (8)
Tristan Shytle (4.0), Jordan Knight (3.81), Mitro Turunen (3.5), Chevaun Blake (3.4), Ryan King (3.33), Dionysius Harmon (3.16), Dean Foster (3.0), Sekou Thornell (3.0)
 
Women's Soccer (11) 
Claudene Bent (4.0), Janne Brouer (4.0), Jessica Charman (4.0), Jane McKevitt (4.0), Filippa Svan (4.0), Tovin Saleh (3.85), Ann-Cathrin Zabel (3.8), Manoly Baquerizo (3.6), Marie Durr (3.57), Caitlyn Dove (3.50), Skyler Young (3.28)
 
Women's Tennis (4)
Alina Ageichik (3.75), Brianna Canty (3.41), Maria Mendes (3.31), Brittney Canty (3.0)
 

Breakfast of Champions Photo Gallery - October 5, 2018