6 Liberty Student-Athletes Included on VaSID Academic All-State Team
Six Liberty student-athletes have been named to the 2022-23 Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) Academic All-State Team. The Flames’ honorees include a trio from the track & field/cross country program (Calli Doan, Meredith Engle and Stuart Folkerts) along with Gray Betts (baseball), Reagan Underwood (field hockey) and Josh Wilson (men’s tennis).
Doan and Wilson are receiving this award for the third straight year, while Betts and Underwood are now two-time VaSID Academic All-State honorees.
Every Commonwealth college and university, including NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and independents, had the opportunity to submit student-athletes to be honored. To be eligible, student-athletes were required to have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or better. The student must have achieved sophomore status, and he or she could not have been in the first season of competition at their current school.
A senior catcher/infielder from Raleigh, N.C., Betts leaves Liberty with a pair of degrees. He posted a 3.92 undergraduate GPA as an accounting major before finishing his master’s degree studies in Christian ministry with a 3.97 GPA. Betts was named to both the CSC Academic All-District team and the ASUN All-Academic Team (for the third time) this season. He finished his Liberty career tied for second in program history for both hits (262) and runs scored (173).
A senior distance runner from Apex, N.C., Doan has also completed two degrees at Liberty. She recently graduated with a 4.0 GPA in her master’s degree studies in human performance following a 3.99 GPA during her undergraduate work in exercise science. Liberty’s first ASUN Female Student-Athlete of the Year, Doan earned All-America recognition both on and off the track in 2023. She was a second team All-American in the women’s steeplechase and earned CSC Academic All-America second team honors.
A redshirt sophomore heptathlete from Dillsburg, Pa., Engle maintains a 4.0 GPA as a computer science major. She stood out during the indoor track & field season, winning ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year and Women’s Most Outstanding Field Performer honors. Engle successfully defended her ASUN pentathlon title with a personal-best score of 3,973 points.
A redshirt junior thrower from Highlands Ranch, Colo., Folkerts kept a 4.0 GPA throughout both his bachelor’s degree (psychology) and master’s degree (clinical mental health counseling). He was named the ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the year during the indoor track & field season and collected CSC Academic All-District recognition. In competition, Folkerts placed seventh in the ASUN men’s weight throw final, helping the Flames capture their 26th straight indoor conference title.
A junior midfielder from Sinking Spring, Pa., Underwood owns a 4.0 GPA as a digital media and journalism major. She was named an NFHCA Scholar of Distinction for the third time in her career. On the field, Underwood helped Liberty capture the BIG EAST title and contributed to USA Field Hockey’s gold medal at the Junior Pan Am Championships.
A senior from Reigate, United Kingdom, Wilson finished his time at Liberty with a 4.0 GPA as he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in finance and economics. He was voted ASUN Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the third season in a row and was a first team All-ASUN performer. Wilson broke Liberty’s all-time singles wins record (92) and tied the program standard for doubles victories (82) as he helped the Flames capture the inaugural Universal Tennis NIT Championship.
