Ten Tar Heels Earn CSC Academic All-District Recognition

A total of 10 North Carolina student-athletes have been named to the All-District Academic All-America At-Large men's and women's teams. The award is given by CSC (College Sports Communicators) and is based on both academic and athletic performance.

At-large teams include sports that don't have specific teams of their own. The list includes the UNC-sponsored sports of men's and women's fencing, field hockey, men's and women's golf, gymnastics, men's and women's lacrosse, rowing and wrestling.

UNC's honorees for 2023-24 are:

• Paul Barton, men's lacrosse. A rising senior defenseman from Palo Alto, Calif., he is majoring in business administration. He was a preseason All-America and All-ACC pick in 2024 when he started and appeared in 11 games for the Tar Heels.

• Nick Baumstein, men's fencing. A rising junior from Brooklyn, N.Y., he is majoring in business administration. He finished fourth in men's foil at ACC Championships and was part of UNC's first men's fencing conference title since 1980.

• Julia Knower, gymnastics. A rising senior from Mandeville, La., she is majoring in media and journalism. In 2024, she competed in the all-around in all 12 meets and won six event titles, including two in the all-around. She was named to the All-ACC Championship team on floor.

• Collin Krieg, men's lacrosse. A 2024 graduate from Stony Brook, N.Y., he majored in exercise and sport science. He started in goal for the Tar Heels for four years and is just the fourth keeper in program history to make 600 or more saves.

• Gigi Maroney, rowing. A 2024 graduate from New Buffalo, Mich., Maroney completed a double major in political science and anthropology and was honored as one of UNC's Top Ten Scholar-Athletes, recognizing the top GPAs among graduates. She served as a team captain and rowed in the second varsity eight.

• Nicole Milewski, women's fencing. A rising junior from Jacksonville, N.C., Milewski is majoring in exercise and sport science. She earned a silver medal in women's epee at the 2024 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship.

• Emily Nalls, women's lacrosse. A graduate student from Glenwood, Md., she is enrolled in UNC's Kenan-Flagler MBA program and earned All-District honors for the second year in a row. In 2024, she earned first-team All-ACC and second-team All-America honors and was named a Tewaaraton Award Top-25 nominee.

• Kayla Smith, women's golf. A 2024 graduate from Burlington, N.C., she majored in exercise and sport science. After five years at UNC, she finished with the program's second-best career scoring average (73.11) after averaging 72.13 in 2024.

• Kiersten Thomassey, field hockey. A 2024 graduate from Westerville, Ohio, she majored in communication studies. She played a key role in the midfield for the Tar Heels as they won NCAA and ACC titles in 2023. She also won a gold medal with the U.S. Under-21 team at the 2023 Junior Pan American Championships.

• Elden Wood, men's fencing. A rising junior from New York, N.Y., he is majoring in psychology. He competed at 2024 NCAA Championships, placing 17^th in men's sabre, and was part of UNC's first men's fencing ACC title since 1980.

University of North Carolina Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Paul Barton

Nick Baumstein

Julia Knower

Collin Krieg

Gigi Maroney

Nicole Milewski

Emily Nalls

Kayla Smith

Kiersten Thomassey

Elden Wood

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