BUIES CREEK, N.C. –
Gideon Betz of Campbell University has been named to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America® men's soccer first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The 2018 Big South Conference men's soccer scholar-athlete of the year and Big South tournament MVP, Betz owns a 4.0 grade-point average as a business administration major.
A two-time, first-team all-conference performer, Betz played in 19 matches with 18 starts, missing two games due to injury for the 2018 Big South Conference champion. He played more than 87 minutes per outing in the central defense or right back.
The junior co-captain from Schluchtern, Germany played all 110 minutes in CU's 0-0 draw Wednesday at No.-13 and top-seeded High Point in the Big South semifinals; then converted the team's first penalty kick in the shootout that sent the Camels to their first title game since 2008. He scored the game-winning golden goal in the 99th minute of the Big South final at Presbyterian.
Betz scored three times and assisted on another goal in 2018 for the Camels, who earned their first NCAA postseason berth since 2007. He played full-time in 14 of his 19 matches and helped the Camels post seven shutouts, including three-straight in Big South tournament play.
"This is a tremendous honor for Gideon and our program," said Campbell head coach
Dustin Fonder. "We constantly express to our guys to strive for excellence on the field, in the classroom and as ambassadors of the program. Gideon as our Captain sets this standard daily and embodies what it truly means to be a student-athlete. As we continue to grow the profile of the program hopefully more team trophies and individual accolades will become the standard."
Twice named to the Big South Presidential Honor Roll, Betz was named to the 2018 Big South all-academic team in addition to gaining first-team all-conference honors.
He was one of two Big South Conference players to earn Academic All-America recognition. Brian Stepanek of Gardner-Webb was named to the Academic All-America second team.
Betz' recognition marks the first time a Campbell men's soccer player has received Academic All-America recognition since 2006 when Devin Sheppard was a first-team honoree. At least one Campbell student-athlete from the program's 21 sports has earned Academic All-District honors in each of the last 25 years.
2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America® Men's Soccer Teams
NCAA DIVISION I
Academic All-American of the Year: Simon Spangenberg, University of New Mexico
FIRST TEAM
Pos. / Name / School / Yr. / GPA / Major
GK / Hendrik Hilpert / Syracuse / Sr. / 4.00 / Finance & Economics
D / Gideon Betz / Campbell / Jr. / 4.00 / Business Administration
D / Kyle Hiebert / Missouri State / Sr. / 4.00 / Accounting
D / Callum Montgomery / Charlotte / Sr. / 3.97 / Biology
D / Henrik Mueller / Coastal Carolina / Jr. / 4.00 / Management
M / Ivo Cerda / Michigan / Sr. / 3.87 / Cellular & Molecular Biology
M / Christopher Holmes / Central Arkansas / Sr. / 4.00 / Health Services Administration
M / Simon Spangenberg / New Mexico / Sr. / 4.20 / Computer Science & Applied Math
F / Anthony Bowie / Western Michigan / Jr. / 4.00 / Sales & Business Marketing
F / Sven Koenig / Creighton / Sr. / 4.00 / Finance
F / Andre Shinyashiki / Denver / Sr. / 3.63 / Marketing
F / Thomas Ueland / Notre Dame / Sr. / 3.95 / Biological Sciences
SECOND TEAM
GK / Jake Chasteen / Appalachian State / Sr. / 3.91 / Exercise Science
D / Ivan Blaskic / UMass Lowell / Jr. / 3.86 / Computer Science
D / David Grana / Saint Joseph's / So. / 4.00 / Biology
D / Simon Waever / Evansville / Jr. / 4.00 / Management
D / Dylan Waugaman / Valparaiso / Sr. / 4.00 / Accounting
M / Jack Casey / Notre Dame / Jr. / 3.96 / Economics & Political Science
M / Marcel Fahrenholz / Elon / Sr. / 4.00 / Business
M / Luka Prpa / Marquette / Jr. / 3.94 / Biomedical Sciences
F / Ahu Obhakhan / Fairleigh Dickinson / Sr. / 3.92 / Business Management & Leadership
F / Brian Stepanek / Gardner-Webb / Jr. / 4.00 / Computer Science
THIRD TEAM
GK / Michael Creek / Missouri State / Jr. / 3.99 / Accounting
D / Alex Comsia / North Carolina / Sr. / 3.67 / Business Administration
D / Austin Day / Grand Canyon / Jr. / 4.00 / Business Administration
D / Marius Kullmann / Loyola Chicago / Jr. / 3.95 / International Business
D / Collin Liberty / Stanford / Gr. / 3.75/3.47 / Management, Science & Engineering
M / Nils Bruening / North Carolina / Sr. / 3.63 / Business Administration
M / Niko Klosterhalfen / Old Dominion / Sr. / 3.88 / Psychology
M / Rikard Lindqvist / Northern Kentucky / Jr. / 4.00 / Management
F / Ryder Bell / William & Mary / Sr. / 3.77 / Economics
F / Tyrone Mondi / Coastal Carolina / Jr. / 4.00 / Accounting
F / Daniele Proch / Duke / Jr. / 3.70 / History
