5 Hope athletes named to CoSIDA Academic All-District teams

Hope College RB Daniel Romano
Hope College RB Daniel Romano

Five fall Hope College student-athletes have been voted to the 2021 College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District® Teams for their respective sports.

Football’s Brady Eding and Daniel Romano, Volleyball’s McKenna Otto and Tracy Westra, and Women Soccer’s Jenna Mustapha all earned their all-district honors in District 6 which includes schools from Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota/

Each of Hope’s honorees advanced to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® ballot. Results will be announced next month.

Eding (Hamilton, Michigan / Hamilton HS) received CoSIDA Academic All-District® honors for the second time in his career. The senior business and classical studies major started all 10 games this fall for the Flying Dutchmen, who won a share of the MIAA regular-season championships and finished with an 8-2 overall record.

Brady Eding (64) makes a block during a 2019 playoff game
Brady Eding (64) makes a block during a 2019 playoff game

A right tackle, Eding helped Hope lead the MIAA in scoring and place second in total offense.

Romano is a first-time CoSIDA Academic All-District® recipient.

The junior biomedical/bioelectrical engineering major registered career-highs registered career-highs in rushing yards with 825, carries with 131, and rushing touchdowns with a team-high nine.

Hope's McKenna Otto hits the ball up into the air for her teammate during a game against Calvin Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at DeVos Fieldhouse.
Hope's McKenna Otto hits the ball up into the air for her teammate during a game against Calvin Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Otto claimed CoSIDA Academic All-District® honors for the second consecutive season. The senior biomedical/biomechanical engineering major made CoSIDA Academic All-America® Second Team last spring.

Earlier this week, Otto was voted to the American Volleyball Coaches Association NCAA Division III All-America Second Team. Otto averaged a team-best 3.21 kills per set this season for Hope, which posted a 25-5 overall record, advanced to the regional finals, and were MIAA regular-season champions.

Hope's Tracy Westra sets the ball for her teammate during a game against Calvin Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at DeVos Fieldhouse.
Hope's Tracy Westra sets the ball for her teammate during a game against Calvin Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, at DeVos Fieldhouse.

Westra is a first-time CoSIDA Academic All-District® honoree. The senior environmental engineering major was chosen to the AVCA NCAA Division III All-America First Team this season.

Westra topped the Flying Dutch in assists with a career-best average of 10.66 per set.

Mustapha is a chemistry major. The sophomore defender played in 19 games for the season, who finished with a 13-5-2 overall record and were MIAA Tournament champions.

Jenna Mustapha, Hope College women's soccer
Jenna Mustapha, Hope College women's soccer

Mustapha helped the Flying Dutch shut out 10 opponents this season while also scoring one goal and registering two assists.

The CoSIDA Academic All-District® teams include the student-athletes listed on the following pages and are divided into geographic districts across the United States and Canada.

The Division III CoSIDA Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2021-22 Divisions III Academic All-America® programs.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: 5 Hope athletes named to CoSIDA Academic All-District teams