Two SAC Student-Athletes Named Finalists for CCA Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference posted two CCA National Scholar-Athlete of the Year finalists in Robbie Nallenweg from Wingate and Ashley Sarmiento of Tusculum College.  Nallenweg, who was the starting quarterback for the Bulldogs, and Sarmiento, who was the Pioneers' setter, are two of 16 Regional CCA Scholar-Athlete of the Year award winners.

Nallenweg and Sarmiento each received the South Atlantic Conference Presidents' Award, the highest individual honor that is presented yearly by the League. 

Nallenweg, a biology graduate from Asheville, N.C., was named the SAC Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year in 2013.  He earned his bachelor's degree in May, graduating magna cum laude with a 3.81 GPA.  In addition to being named the SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2013, he was named to the National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.  A two-time Capital One Academic All-Super Region 2 team selection, Nallenweg was also named to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll for the fourth consecutive year.

In the community, Nallenweg was involved with the Wingate Special Olympics Field Day and served as a Wingate Elementary School lunch buddy this year.  As a junior, Nallenweg was a nominee for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® for his role in Wingate's initiative with the Union County Boys and Girls Club.

Nallenweg was one of 28 candidates in the running for the 2013 Harlon Hill Trophy as the NCAA Division II college football Player of the Year.  Nallenweg was a second team All-SAC performer as a senior. Nallenweg led the SAC in completions per game (28.1) and completion percentage (70.3).  He was fourth in the NCAA Division II statistical rankings in both of the aforementioned categories.   His statistics line this season included 281-of-400 passes for 3013 yards and 24 touchdowns. Nallenweg completed 24-of-28 passes for 273 yards and four TDs against Brevard, passing the career 5000-yard mark in the process.

Sarmiento, a mathetmatics/math education graduate from Dayton, Ohio, also graduated Magna Cum Laude in May with a 3.92 GPA.  She was honored with the Tusculum College President's Award, which is the college's top student honor in addition to being named to the SAC Commissioner's honor roll for the fourth consecutive year.  On top of being named the SAC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2013, Sarmiento was a member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society and made the Dean's and President's Lists during her entire career at Tusculum.

On the court the setter and team captain guided Tusculum to a 21-11 overall record, a second-place finish in the League and her fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament.  Sarmiento ended her career second all-time in assists (3,849) at Tusculum and eighth in digs (1,154) and she is the only player in school history to end her career with 3,000 assists and 1,000 digs.

An active member of the Greeneville community, Sarmiento has served with groups that include Nettie Day of Service, Ride for Life, St. Charles Church, Phoenix Rising volleyball camp, Greeneville Humane Society and "The Point" Christian group.  On campus, she has had roles as an elementary school mentor, a leader with service learning classes, and as a member of the Pioneer Student-Athlete Advisory Committee's leadership team – including a term as president.