AUGUSTA, Ga. – Just prior to the close of the regular season, three Clayton State student-athletes have been recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in the classroom, as well as on the field, as they were named to the 2016 Peach Belt Conference Men's Soccer All-Academic Team.
 
Sophomore midfielder Jake Stephens (Gainesville, Ga.) led the way with a 4.0 GPA as an undeclared major while senior Bilal Nakhli (Paris, France) notched a 3.52 GPA in Marketing. Graduate forward Iain Smith (Suwanee, Ga.) rounded out the team with a 3.42 GPA in Psychology.
 
In order to qualify for the Academic All-Conference Team, student-athletes must have been at their institution for one calendar year, have achieved a cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.30 or higher on a 4.0 scale and competed in at least 50-percent of their sport as a significant contributor. The GPA is calculated through the previous semester.
 
The Peach Belt Conference is home to 36 NCAA Division II National Championships, 14 institutions spanning from North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama sponsors championships in 15 sports. Each year prior to those sports championships, the PBC recognizes the academic accomplishments of the league's student-athletes.
 
2016 Peach Belt Conference Men's Soccer Academic All-Conference Team
Ivan Acimovic, North Georgia
John Clark Auer, Georgia Southwestern
Chris Avery, Georgia Southwestern
Rahmy Baky, North Georgia
Carl Brannstrom, Young Harris
Sam Choi, Young Harris
Lex Craggs, Flagler
Adria Dalmau,            USC Aiken
Nemanja Damjanovic, Flagler
Trevor Dempsey, Georgia Southwestern
Jonny Denton, Young Harris
Samba Diop, Flagler
Carl Ludwig Eriksson, North Georgia
Ian Foulger, Lander
Kevin Francis, Montevallo
Rodrigo Goncalves, USC Aiken
Alex Grant, North Georgia
Jeff Hessenberger, Montevallo
Eddie Hurst, North Georgia
Daniel Joyce, North Georgia
Nikola Klacar, Montevallo
Sam Lofts, Lander
Jonathan Mannes, Francis Marion
Marco Micaletto, Young Harris
Juan Morales, Georgia Southwestern
Bilal  Nakhli, Clayton State
William Pettersson, North Georgia
Silvio Polly, Georgia Southwestern
Steven Rocca, Montevallo
Mikie Rowe, Young Harris
Julian Rugel, Georgia Southwestern
Sergia Ruiz Gonzalez, Montevallo
Tyler Santee, UNC Pembroke
Matt Shaftoe, North Georgia
Nathan Shanko, USC Aiken
Cameron Silbar, Flagler
Andre Simmond, USC Aiken
Jarrod Smalley, North Georgia
Harrison Smith, Francis Marion
Iain  Smith, Clayton State
Jake  Stephens, Clayton State
Niklas Sundell , Francis Marion
Joshua Swift, Georgia Southwestern
Branco Theis, UNC Pembroke
Zach Tibbs, North Georgia
Ramin Varnhorn, Young Harris
Anton Viden, Young Harris
Jordan Walshaw, UNC Pembroke