Mandy Heintz snatched one last honor for her record-breaking 2002 season, earning a spot on the women’s soccer All-America second-team.
Heintz is the first LSU soccer player to be named an All-American. The junior from San Antonio, Texas is foregoing her last year of eligibility to go to physical therapy school.
“This is a terrific honor for Mandy,” head coach George Fotopoulos said. “Not only is she one of the best soccer players in the country, but she has also gotten her work done in the classroom at the same time,”
Heintz scored 23 goals and 50 total points, which led the SEC, and was named the Louisiana Player of the Year. Heintz has a 3.42 GPA in kinesiology and was a second-team All-SEC selection.
“It’s very rewarding with all the time and work I put in on the field,” Heintz said. “To achieve something like this is an honor.”
Heintz holds all-time LSU records in four categories, including scoring four goals in a game, which she did twice last year. She ended the regular season as the nation’s fourth-leading scorer.
To be eligible for the award, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a 3.20 cumulative GPA. Fotopoulos said the team usually drives a person to win this type of award.
“This honor just shows the character of Mandy,” he said.
The award is a good motivator for future players, Heintz said, because other players will realize they can do well if they see other players doing it and setting a good example.
Heintz said balancing school work and practice has been a tough process, but she was able to do it by becoming disciplined.
“It was hard as a freshman, coming in and learning new things,” she said. “But now in my last year it’s not so hard because you have counselors, coaches and the Academic Center for Athletes to help.”
REED GARNERS ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN AWARD
LSU offensive tackle Rodney Reed earned the honor First Team Verizon Academic All-American, the College Sports Information Directors of America announced.
Last year, Reed, a junior from West Monroe, earned Second Team Verizon Academic All-America honors. Chad Kessler was the last LSU player to receive the honor in 1997. Including Reed, only three SEC players were named to the first team. Other first team selections from the SEC include offensive lineman Jon Stinchcomb of Georgia and linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer of Vanderbilt.
Reed has a 3.93 GPA in accounting. He was named to the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll three times and was the Outstanding Student for the LSU College of Business in 2001. Reed also is a member of the Mortar Board, Beta Sigma Gamma and Omicron Delta Kappa.
On the field, Reed started in 33 straight games for the Tigers, including all 11 this year. LSU has a 24-9 mark with Reed in the starting lineup, a record that dates back to the 2000 season.
This is the second time this season an LSU football player received an award for academic achievement.
All-America linebacker Bradie James will be honored next week in New York City as one of only 14 National-Scholar athletes from all NCAA Divisions for 2002.