FCSAA announces 2021-22 Athletic, Academic Award Winners

Seminole State College's Minori Nagano is the FCSAA Female Athlete of the Year for the second straight year (photo courtesy of Simone Amaduzzi/ProSports Visuals)

Posted: Jun 24, 2022

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (June 24, 2022) – The Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) has announced the winners of its 2021-22 Athletic and Academic Awards.

Nominees for Male and Female Athletes of the Year are comprised of each FCSAA-sanctioned sport's Player of the Year recipient, as well as individuals submitted from non-FCSAA sanctioned sports (golf, soccer, swimming & diving, track & field), provided the nominee was named NJCAA All-America.

Likewise, all sanctioned sports selected a Scholar-Athlete of the Year who were considered for the statewide award, in addition to nominees from non-sanctioned sports. Nominees must have accumulated 48 credit hours with a minimum 3.30 GPA and completed at least three full-time terms, including at least one at a FCSAA instituion. Citizenship, community service and athletic prowess were taken into consideration.

Male and Female Academic Teams of the Year for small (10 or fewer participants) and large (11+ participants) rosters were also selected.

All awards were voted on by the Council for Athletic Affairs' Executive Board.

Male Athlete of the Year

William Beckstead-Holman, Indian River State College, Swimming
Freshman | Rockwood, ONT, Canada

NJCAA Swimmer of the Year
8X NJCAA All-America
Was National Champion in all eight events he competed in at the NJCAA Swimming & Diving Championships (50 back, 100 back, 200 back, 100 IM, 400 Free Relay, 800 Free Relay, 200 Medley Relay, 400 Medley Relay
Led Indian River State to the NJCAA Championship
Broke NJCAA records in the 50 back and 100 back; was also a member of the NJCAA record-setting 800 free relay

Female Athlete of the Year

Minori Nagano, Seminole State College, Golf
Sophomore | Tokyo, Japan

NJCAA Individual Champion for the second straight year
NJCAA Golfer of the Tournament
Led Seminole State to the NJCAA Championship
NJCAA First-Team All-America
2022 scoring average of 71.37
Won 4 (out of her 9) events in 2022
Ranked #15 in GolfStat Cup Rakings (NJCAA, NAIA, NCAA)
Has earned a scholarship to the University of Oregon

Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Will Diaz, Daytona State College, Soccer
Sophomore | Sanford, Fla.

3.98 GPA, including a perfect 4.0 in three of his four full-time semesters
Earned his A.A., graduating with High Honors in May 2022
Goalkeeper for 2021 (Fall) NJCAA Region 8 and Southeast District Champions
Recipient of Daytona State's Lemerand Leadership Award recipient
NJCAA Second-team All-America in Spring 2021 season
Representing the DSC Athletics Department, he collaborated with other students and college staff members to implement various community service projects
Has also achieved his United States Soccer referee and National Intercollegiate Soccer Official badges

Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year

Raissa Bianco, Miami Dade, Softball
Sophomore | Piraquara, Brazil

Jean Williams Award winner
4.0 GPA
Earned her A.A. in April, graduating with Highest Honors
Pursuing a degree in electrical engineering
Southern Conference Player of the Year and FCSAA First-team All-State,
Batted .418 with two home runs and 46 RBI
Received Miami Dade's Outstanding Student Award in Philosophy
Has worked with young girls on the Lady Canes travel softball team; Spooky Night, where the College hosted more than 100 children from the community on Halloween; Special Olympics; and Live Like Bella Foundation.

Male Academic Team of the Year (11+ participants)

Daytona State College Baseball

Team GPA: 3.77

Head Coach: Tim Touma

Team members: Austin Brinling, Logan McClure, Danny Rodriguez, Kayden Anderson, Kyle Abbott, Mason Neller, Noah Palmese, Bryce Holmes, Clay Callan, Hayden Henry, Fletcher Cline, Nate Stanley, Ryan Radcliff, Alex Rich, Jace Wilson, Devon Nowells, Tyson Hardin, Zach Mizrahi, Tyler McKenna, Griffin Hacker, Sean McArdle, Connor Burt, William Rich, Sean Sparling, Carson Spradlin

Male Academic Team of the Year (10 or fewer participants)

Eastern Florida State College Tennis

Eastern Florida State College Men's Tennis

Team GPA: 3.48

Head Coach: Bobby Cashman

Team members: Jaewoo Choi, Gustavo Goncalves, Lucas Gonzalez, Santino Morel Rieder, George Myers-Millington, Lluc Pasqual Camps, Enric Porcar, Ramiro Rincon, Corentin Venot, Bernardo Vieira

Female Academic Team of the Year (11+ participants)

Miami Dade College Softball

Team GPA: 3.62

Head Coach: Gina De Aguero

Team members: Janessa Benavides, Kaila Mullett, Trinity Her, Allison Morales, Chryssia Catalan, Beatriz Narazaki, Beatriz Theodoro Pinto, Raissa Bianco, Naomi Suzuki, Brianna Romaguera, Lindsey Arana, Brunella Vilchez, Amanda Mason, Bianca Palacios, Melissa Leon, Erica Wilton, Katelyn Ruiz, McKenna Thompson, Maria "Vicky" Navarro, Gina Gallegos, Ashlyn Blanchard, Jada Harris

Female Academic Team of the Year (10 or fewer participants)

State College of Florida Tennis

Team GPA: 3.47

Head Coach: Chloe Murphy

Team members: Jessica Bustamante, Kia Carvalho-Landell, Lou Francoise De Freitas Bonet, Kathrin Didovic, Sarah Forsyth, Carlota Gascon Martinez, Jenna Gusto, Luna Mouton, Suzuki Sakurako