Temple University Athletics
Five Temple Student Athletes Named 2023 CSC Academic All-District At-Large
5.23.23 | Field Hockey, Women's Rowing, Women's Fencing, Women's Gymnastics, Women's Lacrosse
PHILADELPHIA – Temple athletics student-athletes Margherita Calderaro, Megan Phillips, Katie Shallow, Brooke Donabedian, and Aine Playdon were named to the 2023 Academic All-District At-Large NCAA Division I team, selected by the College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA).
The academic teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes baseball honorees in four divisions – NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.
Student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).
Calderaro, a neuroscience major, completed her senior season with the Owls' fencing team in the spring, going 52-24 overall and finishing 17th at the NCAA regionals. The Rome, Italy native is a two-time NIWFA Individual Epee Title holder with a career record of 152-62. Additionally, Calderaro, a two-time NCAA Championships qualifier set the program record in 2021 with the highest epee finish at NCAA competition, placing sixth.
Field hockey's Phillips, a double major in public relations and communications & social influence, finished her senior season playing in 13 games, take four shots with two on target. The Owls' forward posted two goals in 2023, including a game-winner against Lock Haven. In her career, Phillips has played in 32 games with Temple but off the field the Ardmore, Pa. native has been named a four-time NFHCA Scholar of Scholar of Distinction, the top freshman, top sophomore, and top junior in the public relations program, and the 2023 Temple Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Shallow, a finance major, continued her stellar play in 2023 for the Owls' lacrosse team as she was named voted AAC Defensive Player of the Week and AAC Weekly Honor Roll on two occasions, respectively. The Havertown, Pa. native led the Owls this past season as she scooped up 43 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers. Shallow's marks ranked her third in the conference in with 2.69 ground balls per game and 1.44 caused turnovers per game. In 2022, Shallow was named second team all-conference as she led the American, in both ground balls (44) and ground balls per game (2.59). Also, the Owls' defender led the conference in caused turnovers per game (1.88) and was second in total caused turnovers (32). Additionally, the then-sophomore defender's 32 caused turnovers also ranked eighth all-time in single-season history. As a freshman, Shallow earned a 2021 AAC All-Tournament Team plaudit as she caused six turnovers in the AAC semifinal win against Vanderbilt, followed up with two ground balls and two caused turnovers against No. 8 Florida in the AAC Championship game.
Gymnastics' Donabedian, a sport recreation management major, made her second straight appearance on the national stage this past season where she tied for 18th on the floor with a 9.825 at the Pitt Regional. The Maple Valley, Wash. native earned a bid to the 2023 regional after earning the third-best NQS in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL), the sixth-best mark in the northeast region, and a No. 42 national ranking at 9.915. In her career, the junior has earned five All-EAGL nominations and is tied for first all-time in school history on the floor with a 9.950 score.
Playdon, a double major in art history and classics, has played a crucial part of the Temple Women's Rowing program, while also excelling in the classroom. Playdon was named to Temple Trustee Ten at the 2023 Stellas — the award is given to the top 10 GPAs within the athletic department. On the water, Playdon has served as a key part of Owls' four-person boats. Most recently, Playdon competed with Temple's Second Varsity Four boat at the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championship, where the Owls placed fourth with a time of 8:00.737.
The Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First, second, and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced on June 22.
For more information about CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-America Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
The academic teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes baseball honorees in four divisions – NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.
Student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).
Calderaro, a neuroscience major, completed her senior season with the Owls' fencing team in the spring, going 52-24 overall and finishing 17th at the NCAA regionals. The Rome, Italy native is a two-time NIWFA Individual Epee Title holder with a career record of 152-62. Additionally, Calderaro, a two-time NCAA Championships qualifier set the program record in 2021 with the highest epee finish at NCAA competition, placing sixth.
Field hockey's Phillips, a double major in public relations and communications & social influence, finished her senior season playing in 13 games, take four shots with two on target. The Owls' forward posted two goals in 2023, including a game-winner against Lock Haven. In her career, Phillips has played in 32 games with Temple but off the field the Ardmore, Pa. native has been named a four-time NFHCA Scholar of Scholar of Distinction, the top freshman, top sophomore, and top junior in the public relations program, and the 2023 Temple Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Shallow, a finance major, continued her stellar play in 2023 for the Owls' lacrosse team as she was named voted AAC Defensive Player of the Week and AAC Weekly Honor Roll on two occasions, respectively. The Havertown, Pa. native led the Owls this past season as she scooped up 43 ground balls and 23 caused turnovers. Shallow's marks ranked her third in the conference in with 2.69 ground balls per game and 1.44 caused turnovers per game. In 2022, Shallow was named second team all-conference as she led the American, in both ground balls (44) and ground balls per game (2.59). Also, the Owls' defender led the conference in caused turnovers per game (1.88) and was second in total caused turnovers (32). Additionally, the then-sophomore defender's 32 caused turnovers also ranked eighth all-time in single-season history. As a freshman, Shallow earned a 2021 AAC All-Tournament Team plaudit as she caused six turnovers in the AAC semifinal win against Vanderbilt, followed up with two ground balls and two caused turnovers against No. 8 Florida in the AAC Championship game.
Gymnastics' Donabedian, a sport recreation management major, made her second straight appearance on the national stage this past season where she tied for 18th on the floor with a 9.825 at the Pitt Regional. The Maple Valley, Wash. native earned a bid to the 2023 regional after earning the third-best NQS in the East Atlantic Gymnastics League (EAGL), the sixth-best mark in the northeast region, and a No. 42 national ranking at 9.915. In her career, the junior has earned five All-EAGL nominations and is tied for first all-time in school history on the floor with a 9.950 score.
Playdon, a double major in art history and classics, has played a crucial part of the Temple Women's Rowing program, while also excelling in the classroom. Playdon was named to Temple Trustee Ten at the 2023 Stellas — the award is given to the top 10 GPAs within the athletic department. On the water, Playdon has served as a key part of Owls' four-person boats. Most recently, Playdon competed with Temple's Second Varsity Four boat at the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championship, where the Owls placed fourth with a time of 8:00.737.
The Academic All-District honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First, second, and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced on June 22.
For more information about CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-America Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Fencing
/ Women's Gymnastics
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/ Field Hockey
/ Women's Rowing
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