ATLANTA - The Atlantic Sun Conference recognized its 2023-24 Fall Winners for Life team on Thursday. The team is composed of one student-athlete from all 12 institutions and honors those who display excellence on and off the playing surface. The Winners for Life team honors a campus citizen who is respected as one who shares and/or demonstrates the ASUN Core Values: Education, Honesty, Student-Athlete Experience, Fairness, Health, Ambition, Respect, Diversity, Inclusion, Leadership, Responsibility and Sportsmanship. To be eligible for the award, the student-athlete must have competed in the current academic year in an ASUN sponsored sport and be in good academic standing at his/her university.
2023-24 ASUN Conference Fall Winners for Life Team
Victoria Case, Austin Peay - Women's Soccer
Brendan Schoemehl, Bellarmine - Men's Soccer
April Conant, Central Arkansas - Volleyball
Sarah Mitchell, EKU - Volleyball
Ashley Labbe, FGCU - Women's Soccer
Francisco Capellan, Jacksonville - Men's Soccer
Caroline Cole, Kennesaw State - Volleyball
Kiara Carter, Lipscomb - Women's Cross Country
Brandon Lee, North Alabama - Men's Cross Country
Herbie Steigelman, North Florida - Men's Soccer
Samuel Idinge, Queens - Men's Soccer
Anabelle Standish, Stetson - Volleyball
A two-year captain for the Austin Peay Women's Soccer Team as a midfielder, Case has demonstrated this commitment through her involvement in various initiatives, including Buddy Ball (Special Needs Athletic League), ASUN Canned Food Drive and APSU 1000 Blanket Drive. Tori and the soccer team volunteered at a nursing home in Florida during the post-season competition at the Loaves & Fishes food ministry, which exemplifies her selflessness and desire to uplift the lives of others. Tori was the recipient of the APSU Presidential Scholarship and last year, worked on undergraduate research with a faculty member, presenting at the SOBIE conference. Tori graduated in Spring 2023 with her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting with over a 3.9 GPA and is currently enrolled in the Master of Science program, majoring in Management with a 4.0 GPA.
Bellarmine's Brendan Schoemehl was named First Team All-ASUN, United Soccer Coaches Third-Team All-Atlantic Region and ASUN All-Tournament Team. The junior Psychology major earned a 3.54 GPA and is a two-time ASUN Honor Roll honoree. Schoemehl did volunteer work at Nazareth Home, a nursing home in Louisville and has helped clean up the building grounds along with engaging with residents and providing entertainment.
A co-captain for the Central Arkansas Volleyball team, April Conant is a three-year SAAC representative for the Sugar Bears. She is a magna cum laude graduate with a 3.86 GPA. She earned her major in General Science with a minor in Spanish and Family Consumer Science. She is an Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) SHPEP Scholar and a four-year member of the UCA Pre-Medical Club. Off the court, she volunteers at St. Joseph's Catholic Church where she is a Sunday School Teacher. She also volunteered for the Conway Kids' Triathlon in 2022 and 2023 and organized the UCA Volleyball Angel Bear Food Drive in 2022.
Sarah Mitchell was a Second Team All-ASUN selection this fall for EKU and helped the Colonels return to the ASUN Championship with their best conference finish since 2014. She was a two-time Player of the Week honoree this season and eclipsed 1,000 kills in her career on Nov. 8 against Bellarmine. She has a 3.69 GPA as she majors in Environmental Health Sciences and Sustainability with a minor in Occupational Safety. The Brea, Ky., native was named Academic All-District by College Sport Communicators (CSC). She was a participant in EKU Campus Recreations' Rec the Ravine Night and helped with the Keep Campus Beautiful initiative to pick up trash around campus.
FGCU's Ashley Labbe was named First Team All-ASUN, now a three-time First Team selection and landed on the 2023 ASUN All-Tournament Team after FGCU's thrilling come-from-behind victory in the ASUN Championship match for back-to-back conference titles. Labbe is earning a Master of Business Administration degree and finished her Bachelor of Science in Health Science degree with a 3.77 GPA. Labbe has served her community by getting involved with the FGCU Campus Food Pantry, Harry Chapin Food Bank and FGCU Women's Soccer ID Camps. Labbe has also served as team captain for the Women's Soccer, E.A.G.L.E. Leadership Institute 2021-22 Cohort Member, MLD Presidential Leadership Certificate Program.
Francisco Capellan played 315 minutes as a defender for the Jacksonville Men's Soccer team. Capellan has earned a cumulative GPA of 3.88 as he is a double major in Economics and Marketing. He has also been named a JU Davis College of Business & Technology Top 25 Student in 2022-2023, Honors Program, Dean's List Fall 2020 and Spring 2021, and Jacksonville University Big Phin (Homecoming King) in 2023-24. Capellan has served as the SAAC Executive Board Member and BDA Representative, Jacksonville University Peer Advisor, Team Lead Manager at Queens Gardens Resort, and Smoothie King Brand Ambassador.
A junior majoring in Criminal Justice, Caroline Cole played in 28 matches this fall for the Kennesaw State Volleyball team. She totaled 107 sets for the Owls and ended the fall with 169 digs and seven aces on the season. A native of Lexington, Ky., the defensive specialist helped KSU reach the semifinals of the 2023 ASUN Championship in Fort Myers, Fla. She holds a 3.95 GPA and is a member of the Honors College as well as a three-time Top Flight Owl. Her community service efforts include participating in Walton Days and the Mission 1:27 Christmas Market.
Kiara Carter is a Lipscomb senior who has earned a 3.36 GPA while majoring in Exercise Science. The Nolensville, Tenn., native was named the 2023 ASUN Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year after claiming individual honors at the ASUN Championship back on Oct. 28. In addition to helping the Bisons' earn the ASUN banner with a perfect score, Carter is a Lipscomb SAAC member and a President's Student Advisory Council (PSAC) member. She also volunteers with Bison Track and Field and helps with On The Avenue - a disability and support organization - along with spending time at Carter Lawrence Elementary School.
A graduate student majoring in Sport and Recreation Management at North Alabama, Brandon Lee carries a 4.00 GPA and is on his way to earning his degree in May of 2024. He was a team captain from 2020-23 and has run in 26 career Cross Country meets for UNA. Lee participated in six races this season, including the ASUN Championship, where he finished 38th. He holds multiple UNA records with top times in the 5K, 7K, 10K, and ASUN Championship. Off the course, Lee has volunteered with the Lion Buddy Program, Night to Shine, Kilby Elementary reading, Baptist Campus Ministry Christmas, and has spent time with the UNA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
Herbie Steigelman is a defender for the North Florida Men's Soccer team and was recognized as a Second Team All-ASUN member, CSC Academic All-District Team, and matched the Division I program record for most games played in a career with 69 total. Steigelman earned his undergrad degree at UNF in the spring of 2023 with 3.68 in Business Management and Marketing. Steigelman is currently earning an MBA degree while serving as team captain for the Men's Soccer team and getting involved in the UNF Civic Engagement Day (Field Day with area elementary and middle schools).
Samuel Idinge has served as team captain for the Queens Men's Soccer team and was the only player who played every minute and started every game this fall 2023 season. After starting and playing every minute for the Royals back line, the junior from St. Petersburg, Fla. earned Second Team All-ASUN honors. Idinge is earning an Exercise and Sports Science degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.51 while getting involved in the Charlotte Eagles youth soccer club, Raise Up Ministries, SAAC Member, Resident Assistant in a first-year Residence Hall and Investing in Champions Advocate.
Stetson's Anabelle Standish played in 338 sets over 97 matches over her career as a member of the Hatters' Volleyball team. She totaled 957 kills, 755 digs, 125 total blocks, 59 assists and 51 service aces in her four seasons. A Third Team All-ASUN selection, she sits 12th in school history for career kills and tied for 14th in kills per set. An Accounting major with a 3.98 GPA, the senior was an ASUN Honor Roll member in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Off the court she has helped with DeLand's Monsters on Mainstreet event.