Morkel earns CoSIDA Academic All-America recognition

AUSTIN, TEXAS – The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) released its 2021 Division I Academic All-America At-Large Teams on Friday, with UNC Asheville's Charlie Morkel earning the honor.

Morkel is one of just 47 male student-athletes to be named to the Division I Academic All-America At-Large Team.

"I am very privileged and honored to receive this award," Morkel said. "It is one of my greatest achievements. This award means a lot to me, especially during such a difficult year in which there were so many challenges. My credo is 'never take life too seriously'!"

Competing at the No. 2 flight for the Bulldogs, Morkel went 7-6 overall in singles competition, going 3-2 against conference foes and was named Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive season. Sporting a perfect GPA of 4.0, the Cape Town, South Africa native is a three-time member of the Chancellor's List, while being a two-time member of the Dean's List and all-academic team, graduating in May with a major in mathematics and economics. Morkel served as a team captain this past season, leading the Bulldogs to their first ever Big South Regular Season Championship. During his time at Asheville, Morkel was a member of the UNC Asheville Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, volunteered as a tennis coach and interned as a State Farm agent.

The only Bulldog in program history to earn Big South Scholar-Athlete of the Year recognition twice, Morkel added nine doubles victories this past season, going a perfect 4-0 at the No. 2 flight.

The CoSIDA Academic All-America Award is given to the most accomplished student-athletes for athletic and academic achievement, and is the longest-running award for student-athletes (1952).

To view the full release from CoSIDA, click here.