By Tyler Swanson – Central Christian College Sports Information Director
McPHERSON, Kan. (CCCTigers.com) – With the announcement of All Conference Honors for Baseball and Softball, we are proud to announce that Central had 13 student athletes in total receive SAC honors during the 2024-25 school year.
Starting in the fall with Women’s Volleyball, Amanda Dotter received 2nd Team All-Conference honors after posting 329 kills in 95 sets on 961 swings. She averaged 3.46 kills per set and 3.82 points per set. The senior from Walsenburg, Colorado also surpassed the 1,000 kill mark for her career earlier this year.
Celena Vanhaezebrouck, a junior from Houston, Texas, received a 2nd Team All-Conference selection for her efforts this year, she appeared in 16 matches, starting all 16 and logged 1337 minutes on the pitch. 11 of those games were started in goal where she tallied 58 saves and a .699 save percentage.
On the Men’s side, Tyler Hoxie, a senior from McPherson, Kansas received 2nd Team All-Conference honors for the 2024 season. Hoxie appeared in 14 matches for the Tigers and was a crucial anchor for their back line. He logged 1182 minutes in his 14 games, averaging almost 85 minutes a game.
Moving into the winter, Chris Whitten, a junior from Wichita Falls, Texas headlines the Tigers’ All-Conference selections with a First-Team honor. Whitten has been a dominant force for Central Christian, leading the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) in scoring with an impressive 19.8 points per game. His consistent offensive production was highlighted by a season-high 32-point performance in the season opener against Sterling. Whitten’s scoring ability was integral to the Tigers’ success this season.
Jevarrick Butler, a senior from Cleveland, Texas, was named to the Third Team. Butler has been a versatile and well-rounded contributor for the Tigers, finishing 10th in the SAC in scoring (15.8ppg), 12th in rebounding (6.1 rpg), and 2nd in steals (1.7 spg). His all-around game has made him a crucial asset for the Tigers, both offensively and defensively.
Andre Shelby, a senior from Houston, Texas, earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team. Shelby’s defensive prowess has been a key element of the Tigers’ success, as he led the team in rebounds and blocked shots. Shelby ranked 3rd in the SAC in blocked shots (1.4 bpg), 18th in steals (1.1 spg), and 9th in rebounds (6.8 rpg), showcasing his ability to dominate on both ends of the floor.
Malachi Farr, a senior from Euless, Texas, was recognized with the SAC Sportsmanship Award, an honor given by the coaches for his exemplary conduct on and off the court throughout the season. Farr’s leadership and sportsmanship have set a strong example for his teammates.
On the women’s side, Chloe Clevenger, a sophomore from McPherson, KS, had an outstanding season, earning a spot on the All-SAC Team-Honorable Mention. Clevenger led the Tigers in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals. Clevenger was one of 2 players in the SAC to rank in the top 12 in four individual categories (SAC Player of the Year Megan Nestor of Wayland Baptist was the other): 8th in scoring (15.4 ppg), 12th in rebounding (6.0 rpg), 2nd in assists (4.2 apg), and 4th in steals (2.1 spg). Additionally, Clevenger recorded six double-doubles during the season.
In the spring, three softball players and two baseball players were recognized as All-Conference Selections.
Camryn Frick, a junior from Bay City, Texas, captured a 2nd team All-Conference honor for her consistency in the leadoff spot to provide a spark for the Tigers. Frick batted .359 in 36 games played and was a perfect 29 for 29 in stolen base attempts this year.
Abby Schleisman, a junior from Elizabeth, Colorado, took home Honorable Mention honors as she hit .270 across 43 games while tallying nine extra base hits and 23 RBI’s. Her .418 slugging percentage paced the Tigers and her .300 on-base percentage was good for fourth best on the team.
Ashley Vaccaro, a junior from Lewisville, Texas, secured a Gold Glove for her efforts in centerfield this season. Her.972 fielding percentage is second best on the team and she tallied 5 outfield assists this season in addition to recording 100 putouts.
On the Baseball diamond, Nick Julian, a sophomore from Trophy Club, Texas, led the way with 1st team All-Conference Honors for his dominance on the mound this year. Julian finished top-10 in the SAC in four different categories. Julian tallied 78 innings pitched, a 4.50 ERA, a 5-5 record and struck out 96 batters. Julian helped lead the Tigers to one of their best seasons in recent years.
Kurt Ippolito, a freshman from Trophy Club, Texas, took home the SAC Freshman of the Year award and 2nd team All-Conference Honors. Ippolito appeared in 34 games, batting .402 with 13 homeruns, 45 RBI’s and 13 stolen bases. Ippolito was on pace for a record breaking season but it was derailed by an injury which forced him to miss the remaining three weeks of the season.
