BEVERLY, Mass. – The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) has selected three Endicott student-athletes as 2019 All-American Athlete Award recipients.
The three NSCA All-American recipients include Mackenzie Kennedy (Andover, Mass./Women's Volleyball), Kadrianna Letts (Beverly, Mass./Women's Soccer), and Kristen McCarthy (Danvers, Mass., Women's Field Hockey).
The NSCA All-America award is given to student-athletes based on athletic accomplishments and dedication to strength and conditioning. Below, Endicott Assistant Athletic Director of Athletic Performance James Daley, MS, LAT, ATC, CSCS, PES, provided his thoughts on each All-American student-athlete.
MACKENZIE KENNEDY | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL | JUNIOR | DEFENSIVE SPECIALIST
Kennedy was named Libero of the Year and First Team All-Conference by the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) this year. Followed by an Academic All-Conference and AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention nod, Kennedy has seen the dedication that she has put into strength & conditioning pay off. She recorded a conference-best 468 digs in the fall season and averaged 4.82 digs per set. She had 20+ digs in eight matches this year. Kennedy demonstrates strong leadership and effort in the athletic performance center. She drives her teammates to be better and is well respected.
KADRIANNA LETTS | WOMEN'S SOCCER | SOPHOMORE | DEFENDER
Letts epitomizes the ideals you would ask for in a complete student-athlete. Letts is a dedicated student first and works extremely hard in perfecting her athletic abilities. In addition to her leadership and dedication to strength & conditioning, she was named the CCC Defensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference. She helped to anchor a defense that allowed only 164 shots total over 18 games, leading to the first ranked team in the conference in shutouts for and shots against.
KRISTEN MCCARTHY | FIELD HOCKEY | JUNIOR | FORWARD
McCarthy has been a driving force in our athletic performance center since she transferred to Endicott College. She clearly understands the transfer of strength, power, and movement within the APC and how it directly impacts her ability on the playing surface. Her commitment to strength & conditioning and her leadership has helped create a culture within the field hockey team that led to a conference championship and an NCAA Tournament First Round victory in 2018. McCarthy was named the CCC Offensive Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference, as well as to two different All-America teams and Division III New England East Region. McCarthy is a Dean's List member at Endicott and was named to the NFHCA National Academic Squad for 2018. She finished the season ranked No. 3 in the nation for points per game, No. 7 in the nation for goals per game, and No. 11 in the nation for assists per game across all divisions.
About the National Strength & Conditioning Association
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is an international nonprofit professional association founded in 1978 and is dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning profession around the world.
The NSCA advances the profession by supporting strength and conditioning professionals devoted to helping others discover and maximize their strengths. The organization disseminates research-based knowledge and its practical application by offering industry-leading certifications, research journals, career development services, and continuing education opportunities. The NSCA community is composed of more than 45,000 members and certified professionals who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength coaches, personal trainers, and other roles in related fields.
Headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the NSCA serves as a valuable resource for its members, the fitness industry, the general public, and the media. The association provides a wide variety of resources and opportunities designed to strengthen, build, advance, and unify.
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(Photo Credit - David Le '10)