Press release
On the field or in the classroom, Derrick Willies is a leader for the football team at Trinity Valley Community College.
The 6-4, 205-pound wide receiver for the SWJCFC-leading Cardinals was named the college’s Outstanding Student-Athlete of the month Monday afternoon at the Cardinal Pride Luncheon at Tilo’s Cuisine and Bakery.
Willies, who is currently the nation’s top receiver in yards per catch (25.3) and first in the conference with 10 receiving touchdowns, carries a cumulative 3.9 GPA from the spring and summer semesters. He was one of only four TVCC student-athletes to record a perfect 4.0 GPA in the spring.
“Derrick brings an intensity and focus to the weight room, practice field and film room and is always ready to work,” said TVCC athletic director/head football coach Brad Smiley of the Iowa University transfer. “He is a great example for any young student-athlete that aspires to be successful at this or any level.”
Willies was also one of 33 student-athletes named to the 3.0 Club for maintaining a 3.0 GPA in the 2015 spring semester.
Also recognized were:
FOOTBALL – Desmond Branch, Ryan Cottingame, Matthew Darwin, Alex Funches, Jamal Jones, Nick Jones, Rex Printz, Marcel Thomas, Jacob Williams
SOFTBALL – Kaitlyn Allen, Jasmine Alcazar, Carly Castaneda, Kayla Diaz, Darci Griffin, Angela Minjarez, Nicole Parnell, Heather Perry, Samantha Sevier, Micah Shaw, Cayla White, Samantha Williams
VOLLEYBALL – Alyssa Aringer, Priscila Castro, Cory McCulloch
CHEER – Kateln Angel, Shawn Deguire, Sabrina Garcia, Megan Gunter, Haley Hood, T.J. Ollison, Keegan Schaar, Ryan Shorter
Kris Baumann, associate athletic director/head men’s basketball coach, presented Graphic/Print Design Coordinator Brian Spurling with the Outstanding Faculty/Staff Member of the Month award. Spurling is a 20-plus-year employee at the college and was previously Public Information Officer.
The next Cardinal Pride Luncheon is scheduled Monday, Nov. 9, at Cotton Patch. It will begin at noon.
