Four Lancers Earn Scholar Status

BY SCOTT MORRISON
sports@yankton.net

In collegiate athletics the measurement of achievement in a given sport appears not only through success on the playing field, but through academics as well.

Four Mount Marty College volleyball athletes received recognition for their hard work off the court and were named Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athletes for academic accomplishment.

Laura Starman, Tara Adamson, Lindsay Beacom, and Megan Finnegan each earned the scholar status after maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Each Lancer received a nomination from head coach Tracy Grotenhuis before their selection to the honor that boasts only 272 volleyball athletes.

“These girls embody the type of student-athletes at Mount Marty College,” Grotenhuis said.

“They have to be intellegent as well as physically talanted in order to succeed while being an athlete and a student.”

Laura Starman, a native of Elgin, Neb., was the Lancers only senior to be named to the honor.

Entering 2007 with high expectations for her final season in the Lancer program, Starman had difficulty with injuries and moved from middle-hitter to outside hitter.

She provided her team with veteran leadership and the Lancers missed her presence when injuries prevented her from playing.

Starman made this up in large part on the academic side.

“Laura struggled to stay healthy on the athletic side of things, but she stayed positive throughout her difficulties,” Grotenhuis said.

Graduating this upcoming May with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Pre-Optometry, Starman provided here team with a strong example of leadership and discipline throughout her career.

The same applies to outside hitter Tara Adamson who followed Starman on the list. The native of Centerville earned the honor in her first season with the Lancers.

Adamson, who joined the Lancers squad in the fall, filled a major on the offensive side of the ball that was created when Starman fell to injuries.

Though she remains a junior as far as athletic eligibility goes, Adamson will graduate MMC with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design in May.

Arguably the best scholar on the Lancers squad, Lindsay Beacom’s recognition on the scholar list came without question.

Up through the fall 2007 semester, the resident of Lyons, Neb. prioritized her academics through the first two and a half years of college.

Her hard work has not only paid off with recognition, but has helped to give coach Grotenhuis one more reason to get her experience on the court.

Beacom moved from a sophomore who received little varsity experience to a junior with a starting spot at an outside hitter position.

“Lindsay is a phenomenal student who earned a starting position near the end of the season,” Grotenhuis said.

“Lindsay’s play picked up tremendously on the defensive side. She has become more consistent as a player throughout her career.”

Beacom, who seeks an undergraduate degree in secondary education, has a lot to look forward to in her upcoming senior season.

Junior Megan Zimmerman finished the list of Lancers receiving recognition for excellent academic performance.

A native of Newcastle, Neb. Zimmerman proved to be the epitome of a team player in the 2007 season.

Though she received only limited time as a defensive specialist, Zimmerman’s academic dedication proved beneficial to underclassmen looking to make the transition in college athletics.

“It’s very important for our team to have someone in which the younger girls look up to. Megan is a great role model for our team,” Grotenhuis said.

With two of the four Lancer NAIA scholars graduating, Grotenhuis’s team will need to have a couple girls step up to take their place.

“We have a young team and these girls have been great examples on how to be a successful student-athlete,” Grotenhuis added.