Jacob and Grant Woodard named Academic All-Americans
College Sports Communicators on Tuesday unveiled their list of Academic All-America selections across all levels of collegiate men's soccer. University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy had Jacob Woodard and Grant Woodard chosen as Second Team All-America selections for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
It was a career year on the field this season for Jacob Woodard. He set new Eutectics single-season records for points (34), goals (15), multiple goal games (5) and shots on goal (32). He stands at the current career leader in UHSP history in points (61), goals (28) and multiple goal games (6). Jacob recorded just the third-ever hat-trick in UHSP history when he netted three goals on Sept. 27 in a 4-3 win over Brescia. Jacob holds a 3.98 grade-point-average while majoring in Computer Science.
Grant also had a stand-out season this past year on the pitch. He set UHSP single-season marks in assists (8), shots (51) and multiple assist games (2). His 14 total points this year stand fifth all-time in UHSP history. Grant is the current career record holder in assists (21), shots (161), shots on goal (72) and multiple assist games (5). He is the only player in UHSP history to have ever recorded three assists in a single game and did it for the second time in his career on Oct. 24 when the Eutectics tied Hannibal-LaGrange, 3-3. Grant holds a 4.0 GPA while majoring in Pharmacy. The Eutectics finished the season 3-11-3.
UHSP Men's Soccer Head Coach Dan Hogan reacted to the news on Jacob and Grant Woodard saying, "We are extremely proud of Grant and Jacob's achievements both in the classroom and on the field. It is rare that that one team has two representatives to receive this award. The fact that they are brothers makes it even better. I am sure their family, teammates, friends and University are happy to hear this news. Grant and Jacob are certainly deserving of this recognition and embody what this award is all about."
The Academic All-America program recognizes outstanding student-athletes who have performed well academically and athletically while regularly competing for their institutions. The program selects an honorary sports team composed of the most outstanding student-athletes of a specific season for positions in various sports—who in turn are given the honorific "Academic All-American" status. Since 1952, College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) has bestowed Academic All-American recognition on male and female athletes in Divisions I, II, and III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as well as athletes in the NAIA, covering all championship sports. The four Academic All-America teams, totaling 126 players, have a 3.86 average grade-point average with 30 members posting a perfect 4.0 GPA.
The Woodard brothers are part of the 12-player NAIA Academic All-America Second Team. Grant and Jacob are joined on the Second Team by fellow American Midwest Conference players Guy Baskerville and Caden McLagan, both from Columbia College. Guido Cacciabue of St. Thomas (Fla.) University was part of the 11-player Academic All-America First Team and also named the NAIA's Team Member of the Year.
Jacob and Grant are the third-ever student-athletes from UHSP to be named Academic All-Americans. Grace Beyer in Women's Basketball was chosen as the Team Member of the Year for the NAIA's Academic All-America team in 2022-23.