BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Former Montana State Billings men's soccer standout, Sam Charles, was named NCAA Division II West Region Conference Commissioners Association Scholar-Athlete Award winner, the Northern Sun Conference announced Tuesday.
“Sam had a truly great career,” MSUB head men's soccer coach Dan McNally said. “I'm very proud of all of his accomplishments and all the positive publicity he has generated for MSU Billings over the last four years. I think he is one of the best student-athletes MSU Billings has ever had.”
Charles is one of eight male student-athletes from across the country to receive the regional award. The national award winners will be announced in September. Fellow Great Northwest Athletic Conference student-athlete, Seattle Pacific's Jessica Pixler, won the award on the women's side for the West Region.
This award, sponsored by the Division II Conference Commissioners Association, provides the opportunity for Division II to highlight the extraordinary achievements of its student-athletes. D. II CCA President and Commissioner of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Butch Raymond noted that the award showcases the academic and athletic talent at the NCAA Division II level. “The CCA Scholar-Athlete Awards exemplify the balance between academics and athletics that is the cornerstone of Division II”, explained Raymond.
The commissioners from the regions that comprise the Division II basketball alignment selected the regional winners. To be nominated for consideration, a student-athlete must have attained a 3.0 career cumulative grade point average and possess outstanding athletic credentials.
Charles, a native of Chiswell, England, broke just about every school and numerous conference records during his historic career at MSUB. He set the school and conference record for goals in a career (69) and tallied 18 assists (school record) to go along with a school and conference record 156 career points.
He was named the Ron Lenz Daktronics Division II National Player of the Year in 2009 becoming the first Yellowjacket to be named national player of the year and the first in the GNAC to win the award. He was named GNAC Player of the Year in 2007 and 2009. Charles led the nation in goals scored as a senior with 24 and earned Daktronics West Region Player of the Year honors.
Not only did Charles excel on the field, but also in the classroom as he was named GNAC Male Scholar-Athlete of the year in 2008-09 and in 2009-2010. He was a two-time CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team selection. He was named to the GNAC Academic All-Conference team all three years and earned Academic All-Heartland Conference honors as a freshman in 2006.
He graduated this past year with a 3.6 cumulative grade point average in health and human performance. Charles returned to England after his senior year where he currently is pursuing a career in professional soccer.
Men's regional winners are: Myles Burnsides (Northwest Missouri State); Sam Charles (Montana State Billings); Orolando Duffus (St. Augustine's College); Alex Gilde (Grand Valley State); Marcus Greatens (Winona State University); Malcolm Ingram (Philadelphia University); Jon Koenigsfeld (Valdosta State); Jarrell NeSmith (Tusculum College).
The eight women's regional winners include: Cassondra Boston (Emporia State University); Anita Bulcher (Newberry College); Tori Hansen (West Liberty University); Christine Johnstone (Lynn University); Kayla Mitchell (Colorado School of Mines); Jessica Pixler (Seattle Pacific); Kyrie Timbrook (Caldwell College); Kyleigh Turner (University of Indianapolis).
