Army West Point Athletics
CEP Recognizes December Scholar-Athletes
December 27, 2021 | General, Hockey, Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving
WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Army West Point Athletics Association's Academic Support team has announced its Corps Squad Athletes for the month of December, awarding hockey player Jake Felker, Kevin Lin of the men's swimming & diving team and Sammie Edwards from women's swimming & diving.Â
The trio joins seven other scholar-athletes that have been selected during the 2021-22 academic year, including recipients from the month of September (Jacob Suppiah - MSOC and David Dickerson - SFB), October (Nicole Wantlin - WRUGBY, Georgia Jones - WXC and Marshall Beatty - MXC) and November (Connor Bishop - FB, Isabella Sullivan - VB).Â
Jake Felker - Sophomore - Hockey - Omaha, Neb.Â
Cadet Felker, a yearling forward on the Army hockey team, has emerged as a top scholar-athlete and leader this season. He has played in every game this season and contributed immensely to the team's success thus far. In just his second season, he has shown the ability to balance academics with the hockey team's grueling travel schedule.Â
Army Hockey is currently third in the Atlantic Hockey Association, thanks to Felker's leadership on the ice. He provides a consistent offensive presence, always showing up in the top three lines as a center forward. In a predictably tough October game with AIC, he led the team with a first period goal. The team would go on to win a close 2-0 contest and win their first game of the season. Whether he is winning face-offs to ensure the team maintains the advantage in the possession battle or rising to the occasion when his team needs him most, Felker is a key component of the Black Knights' offensive unit.Â
Felker's success has also translated to his core curriculum, as he boasts a 3.79 GPA. He is a systems engineering major and, in addition to performing well within his major, has strong grades in phsyics, economics and philosophy. He recently received accolades for course-wide bests on graded events in physics and match.Â
The military pillar is yet another area of accomplishment for Felker, as he has maintained a MPSC above 3.5 throughout his entire career. His Company's TAC noted that Jake "regularly displays a high level of personal appearance and discipline. He is highly effective at directed tasks and achieving results. He consistently displays humility and a desire to improve those around him. He is a great example for those around him for excelling in all four pillars." He is known for his ability to stand out as a leader in the classroom, on the ice and within the Corps.
Brian Riley, Head Hockey Coach: "It's great to see Jake receive recognition for his work in the classroom as well as on the ice. Jake puts in a great deal of time and energy so that he can excel in both academics and hockey. We are all very proud of Jake."
Kevin Lin - Senior - Men's Swimming & Diving - Ijamsville, Md.
Cadet Lin serves as one of the captains for Army Swimming & Diving and is the team's most versatile swimmer, competing in the freestyle, butterfly and the individual medley.Â
At the annual dual with Navy in December, Kevin finished second in the 200-yard freestyle to help the Black Knights achieve their best performance at Lejeune Hall in nearly 30 years. Lin also had success at the highly-competitive NC State Invitational, where he placed 18th in the 400 IM while competing against three of the top teams in the NCAA. The team's top scorer in dual meets from this fall, Lin claimed individual wins against both Boston College and Virginia.Â
Lin is the team's best academic performer, as he holds a 4.0 GPA in electrical engineering and achieved 4.21 and 4.14 GPAs in the fall and spring semesters of the 2021 academic year. He also excels in West Point's physical and military programs, standing in the top 20% or higher in all three pillars and the top 5% of his class.
A natural selection as captain, Lin helped head coach Brandt Nigro return the team to prominence this year, playing an instrumental role in the team's strong pivot from two seasons of COVID interruption.
Brandt Nigro, Head Swimming & Diving Coach: "Kevin has made the absolute most of his Firstie year. In the pool, he works hard and leads by example. He's focused each day, coachable, and gives this program everything he has to give. He's been our utility guy this season, stepping up in any event when we need him. In addition to being one of our top scorers in the pool, Kevin's biggest impact on our program is through his leadership on the team. He, along with our other Firsties, have really elevated the team's competitiveness this year and it has shown in our performances all semester. He helped lead our men to our closest meet against Navy in Annapolis since the early 90s and I'm excited to see what he can do in the spring semester."
Sammie Edwards - Senior - Women's Swimming & Diving - Mercer Island, Wash.
Cadet Edwards is a top performer in both the pool and the classroom. A freestyle sprinter, she is a consistent force in both the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke events. At the annual Star Meet against Academic rival Navy, Edwards finished second in the 100 Free and trailed the lead swimmer by just 0.02 seconds. She additionally finished third in the 50-yard event.Â
Edwards also had a strong performance during the meet at Seton Hall in October. she took second in the 50 Free and anchored the winning 200 Medley Relay Team. Her career performances have placed her in Army's top-10 all-time in the 50- 100- and 200-yard freestyle events and she holds several school records as relay entries as well.
A consistent worker in the classroom, she is focused on continuous improvement and is committed to lifelong learning. She holds a 3.30 GPA as a geospatial information science major with honors distinction. One of the team's lead academic mentors, she helps organize and supervise study hall as well as the academic mentorship program.Â
Brandt Nigro, Head Swimming & Diving Coach: "Sammie brings effort and intensity to each workout and everything she does - in the pool, in the classroom, and beyond. She has competed at a high level for the team - both individually and as a member of key relay teams. She's continued to improve throughout her career and that's a testament to the work she puts in and her attention to detail. I'm looking forward to seeing her close out her career on a high note in February at the Patriot League Championships."
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The trio joins seven other scholar-athletes that have been selected during the 2021-22 academic year, including recipients from the month of September (Jacob Suppiah - MSOC and David Dickerson - SFB), October (Nicole Wantlin - WRUGBY, Georgia Jones - WXC and Marshall Beatty - MXC) and November (Connor Bishop - FB, Isabella Sullivan - VB).Â
Jake Felker - Sophomore - Hockey - Omaha, Neb.Â
Cadet Felker, a yearling forward on the Army hockey team, has emerged as a top scholar-athlete and leader this season. He has played in every game this season and contributed immensely to the team's success thus far. In just his second season, he has shown the ability to balance academics with the hockey team's grueling travel schedule.Â
Army Hockey is currently third in the Atlantic Hockey Association, thanks to Felker's leadership on the ice. He provides a consistent offensive presence, always showing up in the top three lines as a center forward. In a predictably tough October game with AIC, he led the team with a first period goal. The team would go on to win a close 2-0 contest and win their first game of the season. Whether he is winning face-offs to ensure the team maintains the advantage in the possession battle or rising to the occasion when his team needs him most, Felker is a key component of the Black Knights' offensive unit.Â
Felker's success has also translated to his core curriculum, as he boasts a 3.79 GPA. He is a systems engineering major and, in addition to performing well within his major, has strong grades in phsyics, economics and philosophy. He recently received accolades for course-wide bests on graded events in physics and match.Â
The military pillar is yet another area of accomplishment for Felker, as he has maintained a MPSC above 3.5 throughout his entire career. His Company's TAC noted that Jake "regularly displays a high level of personal appearance and discipline. He is highly effective at directed tasks and achieving results. He consistently displays humility and a desire to improve those around him. He is a great example for those around him for excelling in all four pillars." He is known for his ability to stand out as a leader in the classroom, on the ice and within the Corps.
Brian Riley, Head Hockey Coach: "It's great to see Jake receive recognition for his work in the classroom as well as on the ice. Jake puts in a great deal of time and energy so that he can excel in both academics and hockey. We are all very proud of Jake."
Kevin Lin - Senior - Men's Swimming & Diving - Ijamsville, Md.
Cadet Lin serves as one of the captains for Army Swimming & Diving and is the team's most versatile swimmer, competing in the freestyle, butterfly and the individual medley.Â
At the annual dual with Navy in December, Kevin finished second in the 200-yard freestyle to help the Black Knights achieve their best performance at Lejeune Hall in nearly 30 years. Lin also had success at the highly-competitive NC State Invitational, where he placed 18th in the 400 IM while competing against three of the top teams in the NCAA. The team's top scorer in dual meets from this fall, Lin claimed individual wins against both Boston College and Virginia.Â
Lin is the team's best academic performer, as he holds a 4.0 GPA in electrical engineering and achieved 4.21 and 4.14 GPAs in the fall and spring semesters of the 2021 academic year. He also excels in West Point's physical and military programs, standing in the top 20% or higher in all three pillars and the top 5% of his class.
A natural selection as captain, Lin helped head coach Brandt Nigro return the team to prominence this year, playing an instrumental role in the team's strong pivot from two seasons of COVID interruption.
Brandt Nigro, Head Swimming & Diving Coach: "Kevin has made the absolute most of his Firstie year. In the pool, he works hard and leads by example. He's focused each day, coachable, and gives this program everything he has to give. He's been our utility guy this season, stepping up in any event when we need him. In addition to being one of our top scorers in the pool, Kevin's biggest impact on our program is through his leadership on the team. He, along with our other Firsties, have really elevated the team's competitiveness this year and it has shown in our performances all semester. He helped lead our men to our closest meet against Navy in Annapolis since the early 90s and I'm excited to see what he can do in the spring semester."
Sammie Edwards - Senior - Women's Swimming & Diving - Mercer Island, Wash.
Cadet Edwards is a top performer in both the pool and the classroom. A freestyle sprinter, she is a consistent force in both the 50- and 100-yard breaststroke events. At the annual Star Meet against Academic rival Navy, Edwards finished second in the 100 Free and trailed the lead swimmer by just 0.02 seconds. She additionally finished third in the 50-yard event.Â
Edwards also had a strong performance during the meet at Seton Hall in October. she took second in the 50 Free and anchored the winning 200 Medley Relay Team. Her career performances have placed her in Army's top-10 all-time in the 50- 100- and 200-yard freestyle events and she holds several school records as relay entries as well.
A consistent worker in the classroom, she is focused on continuous improvement and is committed to lifelong learning. She holds a 3.30 GPA as a geospatial information science major with honors distinction. One of the team's lead academic mentors, she helps organize and supervise study hall as well as the academic mentorship program.Â
Brandt Nigro, Head Swimming & Diving Coach: "Sammie brings effort and intensity to each workout and everything she does - in the pool, in the classroom, and beyond. She has competed at a high level for the team - both individually and as a member of key relay teams. She's continued to improve throughout her career and that's a testament to the work she puts in and her attention to detail. I'm looking forward to seeing her close out her career on a high note in February at the Patriot League Championships."
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Players Mentioned
Freestyle/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
F
/ Hockey
Freestyle/Butterfly
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