ROCK HILL, S.C.— A record 1,736 student-athletes were named to the 2018-19 South Atlantic Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll, the conference announced Monday. The list is made up of student-athletes from the SAC’s 11 member institutions and covers the 20 sanctioned sports.

“We are honored to recognize the outstanding academic accomplishments of our student-athletes,” SAC Commissioner Patrick Britz said in the conference’s release. “Along with the help of our coaches and administrators, they continue to strive for excellence on the playing field and court, as well as in the classroom, and we are extremely proud of their hard work and dedication.”

Lincoln Memorial University placed 166 student-athletes on the list, led by the SAC Men’s Golf Player of the Year Sam Broadhurst, who was one of 131 SAC student-athletes with a 4.0 GPA for the just completed academic year. The 166 LMU honorees breaks a school record for the sixth consecutive year and a previous best of 150 student-athletes while placing the Railsplitters behind only Queens University (204), among non-football schools. Newberry led the way with 207 student-athletes making the list.

The men’s and women’s tennis teams paced LMU in GPA for the academic year. All of the women’s programs finished with a 3.0 or better GPA, led by women’s tennis with a 3.86 GPA while women’s volleyball was second overall with a 3.57 GPA, which included a 4.0 from Salutatorian Erika Whitaker. Cross-country and golf tied with a 3.49 GPA, followed by basketball (3.47), softball (3.43) soccer (3.38), bowling (3.33), track & field (3.28), lacrosse (3.28) and cheer (3.09).

Seven of the 10 men’s programs finished the year with a 3.0 or better GPA, led by men’s tennis 3.39 GPA. Broadhurst led the way for the men’s golf program, which finished with a 3.35 GPA. Soccer (3.28), baseball (3.19), cross country (3.17), volleyball (3.15) and lacrosse (3.04) all finished above 3.0 for the academic year.

Overall, the student-athlete population finished the year with a 3.25 GPA. The 11 women’s programs combined for a 3.42 GPA while the men finished at 3.06.

“Our student-athletes value their educational opportunity at Lincoln Memorial, and it is reflected in their collective achievements this year,” Director of Athletics Brian Hutchinson said. “We are proud to continue to focus on both academic and athletic achievement and want Railsplitter Athletics to always demonstrate that balance. This is a great measure in demonstrating that.”