Graceland University

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Women's Volleyball student-athletes among the 2018 All-Heart Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

Graceland University Football's Preston Compton set the Graceland University career passing record of 8,041 yards during his final game and Graceland's senior day Nov. 10. Passing 289 yards and connecting on 29 of 53 attempts against Culver-Stockton, Compton broke the record for total career passing yards. He totals 8,041, surpassing Clayton Braddock who totaled 8,018 career passing yards. Compton, a three-year starting quarterback, was a 2017 All-Heart of America Athletic Conference honorable mention player. He threw for 1,847 yards during his sophomore season with nine passing touchdowns. His junior year, he compiled 3,319 yards and 19 touchdowns in the air. He finished his senior season with a total of 2,875 yards with 13 touchdowns. Besides the Graceland career passing record, he also holds Graceland's single-game passing record of 501 yards, which he set on Sept. 23, 2017, against Central Methodist University. During his junior season, Compton also set two individual NAIA records. He set the single-game record for total offensive plays by an individual with 103 total plays against No. 2 Baker University. In that same game, Graceland set the NAIA record for total offensive plays with 124. Compton also set the individual offensive plays per game record, averaging 72.2 plays per game. He surpassed the previous record set in 1983 by Kevin Kott of Eastern New Mexico with 69.0 (690 in 10 games).

Graceland University Womens Basketball's Sarai Rodriguez was been named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Week Monday, Nov. 5. Rodriguez helped guide the Yellowjackets to a 3-0 record during a week in which Graceland played three games in three days. Graceland posted victories over Emmaus Bible College (93-57), Stephens College (103-47), and Cottey College (77-62). In the three games, Rodriguez averaged 25.7 points/game while shooting 55.6 percent from the floor, including 47.8 percent from three-point range. Against Emmaus, Rodriguez went 9-for-13 from the floor, including 4-of-7 from beyond the arc to score a game-high 29 points. The senior guard added six rebounds, four steals and four assists in the game. In the second game of the week against Stephens, Rodriguez continued to be a threat for the Yellowjackets recording 30 points in the victory. She went 10-for-13 from the floor and was a perfect 4-for-4 from downtown. Rodriguez rounded out the week with 18 points against Cottey College. She also came up with five steals in the win. On the year, she averages 24.0 points/game which is seventh overall in the NAIA rankings. First in total scoring at 96 total points and second in three-pointers made (13).

Graceland University Football's Evaristo Casimiro was named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week following his performance against Peru State College Saturday, Oct. 27, in the Heart Game of the Week. Casimiro played a key role in the Yellowjackets 36-33 victory. He compiled a career-high 13 tackles in the win, which included eight solo tackles. He marked three tackles for a loss, both of the Yellowjackets sacks and forced a fumble.

Graceland University Women's Soccer's Mikayla Whitmer has been selected to third team All-Heart of America Athletic Conference. Whitmer has been a rock and key member of the Yellowjackets backline in the center back position. "Mikayla is the rock at the back and has had a tremendous impact on our program," said Graceland University Women's Soccer Head Coach Ozzie White. "She has been a four-year starter and really deserves this accolade her senior year. Congratulations, Mikayla!"

The 2018-19 Street & Smith's College Men's Basketball Yearbook has selected Graceland University senior forward Will Nelson as a second team preseason All-American. Nelson was just one of 29 NAIA men's basketball players recognized by the publication. Nelson, a standout forward for Graceland, helped the Yellowjackets to the 2018 NAIA DI Men's Basketball National Championship and the programs first-ever title. He averaged 14.0 points per game while shooting 53.7 percent from the floor. He pulled down 260 rebounds, including 108 on the offensive glass. Following the 2017-18 season, Nelson was 15th in the NAIA in offensive rebounds per game (2.84).

The Heart of America Athletic Conference has selected its nominees for a number of national awards, including the Liston Award, which will be represented by Graceland University student-athletes. Each nominee represents the conference for national awards that will be announced Sept. 15 by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Liston Award is named in honor of the NAIA's first executive secretary. This award has been presented annually since 1950 to one junior men's and women's basketball player who has shown high athletic and scholastic achievement.

Graceland University sophomore wide receiver Caleb Thomas has been selected to the College Football America's 2018 Yearbook NAIA Starting Lineup, their version of All-America Team. Thomas, who was one of three sophomores selected, was a 2017 American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) NAIA Coaches' All-America First Team Selection. He is the first AFCA NAIA All-American in Graceland football history. Thomas finished the 2017 season leading the nation with 158 receptions, an NAIA record. In 10 games, he averaged 15.8 receptions/game, another NAIA record. Thomas accounted for 10 touchdowns and averaged 123.5 receiving yards/game. He also holds the NAIA record for the most receptions in a single contest: 27 catches. The College Football America 2018 Yearbook features more than 930 college football teams from the United States and Canada in more than 300 pages. That includes every team from the NCAA (FBS, FCS, Division II and Division III), NAIA, NJCAA, CCCAA and U Sports (Canada). It also includes updates on club football, one-year postgraduate prep/sports academies and Mexican college football, along with dozens of action shots and stadium photos taken by the CFA staff.

The 2018 Street & Smith's College Football Yearbook has selected Graceland University wide receiver Caleb Thomas as a preseason All-American. Thomas was one of just 24 NAIA football players recognized by the publication. Thomas, who will return to Graceland as a sophomore, was named a First Team AFCA NAIA All-American in his fresman campaign, making him the first player in Graceland football history to earn the distinction. He finished 2017 leading the nation with 158 receptions - an NAIA record. In 10 games, he averaged 15.8 receptions/game, another NAIA record. Thomas accounted for 10 touchdowns and averaged 123.5 receiving yards/game. He also holds the NAIA record for the most receptions in a single contest: 27 catches.

The Graceland University women's volleyball team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

The Graceland University women's indoor track and field team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

The Graceland University men's cross country team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

The Graceland University women's soccer team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

The Graceland University women's basketball team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

The Graceland University men's soccer team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

The Graceland University baseball team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

The Graceland University men's golf team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

The Graceland University softball team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

The Graceland University women's golf team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

The Graceland University competitive dance team earned the distinction of a scholar team for the 2017-18 academic year by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The team led the way for the 14 Graceland teams that earned the honor with the school's highest GPA of 3.73. For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award, it must have a minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) as defined by the institution. The team grade point average includes all eligible varsity student-athletes.

For the seventh consecutive year, the Graceland University women's volleyball team earned an American Volleyball Coaches Association Team Academic Award following the 2017-18 academic year. The Yellowjackets also made the AVCA Team Academic Honor, meaning their team GPA was among the top 10 in the NAIA with a 3.697. The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.

Graceland University student-athletes have been honored for their academic achievements by being named Heart Scholar-Athletes for the 2017-18 academic season. In order to qualify for this honor, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.40 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale), have accumulated at least 60 semester hours, at least five semesters, and attended the nominating institution for at least two semesters prior to being nominated. The student-athletes must also be a varsity competitor and made a significant contribution to their respective team and school.

The Heart of America Athletic Conference named Graceland University Track and Field student-athletes among the 2018 All-Heart Conference selections, selected by the Heart coaches.

Graceland University Women's Outdoor Track and Field student-athletes were named 2018 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.

Graceland University Men's Outdoor Track and Field student-athletes were named 2018 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.

Graceland University Baseball's Daniel Page was named a 2018 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.

Graceland University Softball student-athletes were named 2018 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.

Graceland University Track and Field Long Jumper Lexus Lovan received All-American recognition from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Graceland University Men's Golf student-athletes were named 2018 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.

Graceland University Women's Golf's Karli Smith was named a 2018 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale and must have achieved a junior academic status.