2021 CoSIDA At-Large Academic All-America

Austin, TX – For the first time in University of the Cumberlands history the Cumberlands has multiple representatives on the CoSIDA Academic All-America list with a NAIA-best four selections, CoSIDA official announced Tuesday.  Swimmer Enzo Esteves was a first team All-America selection, while the trio of men's tennis player Martin Barbier and men's lacrosse players Dylan Crouch and Jake Morgan garner second team accolades.  

It marks the first CoSIDA Academic All-America honor for any of these four recipients and the first time since 2018 and just the fourth time in school history that a Patriot has earned this distinction. 

A month after becoming the first swimmer to be garner CoSIDA All-District honors, Esteves adds another accolade as the five-time CSCAA All-American recipient becomes the first CoSIDA All-America as well.  The Business Admiration major tallied national cuts in three events and led off UC's 400 free relay that broke the school record.  Esteves garnered three MSC First Team All-Conference accolades including winning the 50 free with a time of 20.50.  That time also broke the MSC meet record.  The Salvador, Brazil native finished the year ranked fourth in the NAIA in the 50 free and seventh in the 100 free and was a NAIA All-American.  Esteves was part of the Patriots men's swimming team that captured their third consecutive conference championship.

Barbier continued dominance on the court in addition to excelling in the classroom makes him the first men's tennis player to garner this honor in program history. This year, Barbier was named the Mid-South Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season, is the program's first ITA Doubles All-American, and was named a NAIA Second Team All-American.  The Biology major posted an 18-2 singles record, while teaming up with Eric Banoub to go 19-3 at #1 doubles.  Barbier posted a perfect 10-0 singles and 9-1 doubles record in conference play.  The junior opened his season by capturing the ITA singles and double regional title and advancing to the ITA Cup for the second consecutive year.  Barbier is a three-time NAIA All-American and was an ITA singles All-American in 2020. 

After earning CoSIDA All-District honors twice in the past three years, Crouch adds another accolade as he is named a CoSIDA Academic All-American in 2021.  The Business Administration major set a program record with 59 points on the season while ranking third in program history with 35 goals and 24 assists.  Crouch tied the program record dishing out six assists in the win over Montreat and netted his 100^th career goal becoming the first UC player to surpass the century mark.  The Trenton, OH native netted at least three goals in a game seven times and finished the year ranked eighth in the NAIA in assists.  Crouch is a two-time AAC All-Conference selection and has helped the Patriots reach the NAIA Invitational three times. 

Morgan's dominant season on the field earned his spot on the All-America team.  Morgan earned NAIA First Team All-American honors and was named the AAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career. The Exercise Sport Science major led the NAIA in caused turnovers with 55, averaging 3.67 caused turnovers per game.  He also ranked second in the country scooping 119 ground balls.  Morgan was named to the NAIA All-Tournament team after recording 12 ground balls and six caused turnovers in the NAIA Invitational.  The Easton, MD native was also the AAC Freshman of the Year in 2018.

The 2020-21 Academic All-America At-Large Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CoSIDA Academic All-America program separately recognizes at-large honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. 

The At-Large category consist of student-athletes across a variety of sports including women's beach volleyball, men's & women's bowling, cheerleading, dance, men's & women's golf, men's & women's lacrosse, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's tennis, men's volleyball, men's wrestling. Each school can nominate up to four men and four women in this category.

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