Tucker and Fomina Win 2017 GSC Commissioner's Trophies
FULL GSC COMMISSIONER'S TROPHY RELEASE
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Gulf South Conference is proud to announce its male and female Commissioner’s Trophy winners for the 2016-17 academic year.
North Alabama’s Jacob Tucker and
Natasha Fomina were named the 2016-17 GSC Commissioner’s Trophy winners at the GSC Annual Awards Banquet at the Hilton Pensacola Beach in Pensacola Beach, Florida on Thursday, June 1.
It is the first time since 2004 that both the male and female winners come from the same school. Tucker and Fomina are UNA’s 12
th and 13
th Commissioner’s Trophy recipients. North Alabama is now tied with Delta State for the most Commissioner’s Trophy winners in league history.
Tucker is the seventh men’s recipient from North Alabama and the fourth football player for the Lions. Tucker pushes the number of all-time football winners to 24, which is 11 more than any other sport.
Fomina is North Alabama’s fifth woman from UNA to win the honor, with all five recipients coming from volleyball. Fomina is the second straight volleyball player to win the award, bringing the total number of volleyball winners to 12, the most of any female sport.
The Commissioner’s Trophy is the highest honor bestowed by the Conference and one of the most prestigious individual honors in Division II. The league initiated the men’s award in 1974-75 and added the women’s honor in 1982-83. The Commissioner’s Trophies were announced at the annual GSC Awards Banquet where the Conference also recognized its “Top Ten” recipients and All-Sports Trophy Champions (
Overall:
West Florida,
Men:
West Florida,
Women:
West Florida).
Jacob Tucker, University of North Alabama
Football | Quarterback
Senior | Linden, Tenn.
Biology | 3.39 Overall G.P.A.
Jacob Tucker’s patience paid off in 2016 as he took center stage for the University of North Alabama squad, leading them to their fourth consecutive GSC Title and berth in the NCAA DII Title Game. Tucker is now the second straight UNA quarterback to win the most coveted prize in the GSC.
The Linden, Tenn. native served as the back-up quarterback for fellow GSC Commissioner’s Trophy recipient for four seasons, but when his number was called he kept the winning tradition going at UNA. Tucker was named the GSC Offensive Player of the Year and he was also tabbed Regional Player of the Year by Don Hansen and the D2CCA. He finished in third place in the Harlon Hill Trophy voting and was tabbed All-American by D2Football.com and Don Hansen. The two-time GSC Player of the Week set the school record for Most Touchdowns Responsible For in a season (37) and ranked second in the league in total offense (289.8).
Tucker completed his Biology major with a 3.39 GPA and he posted back-to-back GSC All-Academic Team honors. He was twice named the UNA Athletic Director Scholar Athlete, earned the UNA Male Student-Athlete of the Year and took home the UNA Lion King as the top all-around student-athlete at the university. Tucker served as the President of the UNA SAAC and was Vice-Chair of the GSC SAAC.
Tucker served as the athletic department representative at the UNA Culture Fest and UNA “The Deal Pep Rally.” Locally, he participated in the reading programs at the Kilby School and Harlan Elementary School, the Florence Middle School Mentoring Program and the Lauderdale County Anti-Bullying Program.
Natasha Fomina, University of North Alabama
Volleyball | Outside Hitter
Graduate | Broomfield, Colo.
Professional Marketing | 3.90 Overall G.P.A.
Natasha Fomina’s work ethic and drive helped her serve as the team captain for the University of the North Alabama’s two-time GSC Champion volleyball squads, and she is now the first woman from North Alabama to claim the Commissioner’s Trophy since GSC Hall of Famer Rachel Price claimed it in back-to-back years in 1999 and 2000.
The Broomfield, Colo. native capped an impressive career at UNA, as she was named the Conference Player of the Year and Region Player of the Year by the D2CCA. Fomina also advanced as a Second Team All-American by the AVCA and the D2CCA. The league’s kills leader (3.91) was also tabbed the GSC Player of the Week twice.
Fomina’s dedication spilled over to the classroom as well, becoming a Second Team CoSIDA Academic All-American and a First Team All-District member. The two-time GSC All-Academic member finished her undergrad work with a 3.90 GPA in Professional Marketing and she is currently in the MBA program at UNA. Fomina was a UNA Presidential Scholar and was named the UNA Female Athlete of the Year and the UNA Lion Queen which is awarded to the top all-around student-athlete.
She volunteered a large amount of her free time to helping children in the Florence community, participating in the Kilby School, Harlan Elementary and Forest Hill Elementary reading programs. She entertained community youth on campus at the “Movie Night With the Lions” and “Kids Fun Night” events.