University Credit Union Student-Athlete of the Month - March 2024

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Recognizing the outstanding achievements of our University of Southern Maine student-athletes is something we are proud to do.  Since January of 2022, Huskies' Athletics and University Credit Union have partnered up to highlight the varied and vital contributions USM student-athletes make in competition, in the classroom and in the community.  Whether its big-time performances for their team, or big steps in their academic and career goals, or our student-athletes commitment to Community Service,  the University of Southern Maine  & University Credit Union are ready to celebrate our Student-Athletes of the Month.
 
Chosen by members of the Athletic Department administration, recipients of this honor successfully embody the Five Pillars of USM Athletics: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.
 
March's UCU Student-Athlete of the Month honors the latest NCAA Division III All-American and standout from Huskies wrestling, and a sixth-year high-scoring, record-setting women's lacrosse player.  Huskies' Athletics looks forward to continuing this recognition program throughout the year and its valuable partnership with University Credit Union.
 

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Colby Frost | Junior | Health Science | Steep Falls, ME | Wrestling

 
With a gritty and outstanding performance at the 2024 NCAA Division III Wrestling Championship, junior Colby Frost became the eighth All-American in Huskies' wrestling program history.
 
Wrestling from a must-win situation after his first bout, Frost proved his mettle winning three straight bouts to secure All-America honors at 149 lbs. Opening his tourney with a loss against two-time All-American and defending national champion Baldwin Wallace's Michael Petrella, Frost bounced back defeating a pair of seeded opponents. Frost cemented his spot as an All-American with a hard-won 6-4 come-from-behind victory over fourth-seed and returning 2023 All-American Charlie Stuhl of Augsburg.
 
Frost earned his spot at the national championship picking up the third All-Region citation of his career two weeks earlier at the Northeast Regional Championship. Qualifying for nationals as a first-year, Frost went 3-0 on the first day of competition, and then battling back from a semifinal loss to earn two more wins and secure third with a hard-won 13-5 decision over Johnson & Wales Jordan Suarez.  Taking an early 3-0 lead with a takedown in the first, Frost leapt ahead 5-4 with a reversal with 22 seconds remaining.  Frost dominated the second outscoring Suarez 8-0 with an escape, takedown and nearfall for the 13-5 final.  
 
A William B. Wise Scholar Athlete, NWCA Scholar All-American, and a NEWA All-Academic Team member, Frost is pursuing a degree in Health Science.
 
 

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 Rachel Shanks | Senior | Elementary Education | Naples, ME | Women's Lacrosse

 
A two-time All-Little East Conference selection for the Huskies' women's lacrosse team, Rachel Shanks became just the second player in program history to surpass the 200 goal mark in a narrow 11-10 victory over Bridgewater State University – the first ever win for the Huskies over the Bears in series history.
 
Recently becoming the program's all-time leader in points with 249, Shanks has 205 goals, and 44 career assists in 72 career games.  Her 205 goals are presently second in USM record books behind Husky Hall of Famer Jessica Knight '10 (209 goals), while her 44 assists are tied for sixth all-time.  Shanks' 72 career games are currently second all-time in career games played.
 
Marked by record-setting achievements, Shanks is tied for the program mark in points in a game (11) set against Castleton (April 2, 2022). Her eight goals against UMass Dartmouth (April 14, 2023) are tied for second in single-game records – a list in which her name is mentioned three times.
 
Pursuing a degree in Elementary Education, Shanks is a four-time William B. Wise recipient and a four-time LEC All-Academic Team member.  
 
 

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WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY CREDIT UNION/ATHLETIC DIRECTOR STUDENT-ATHLETE OF THE MONTH?
 
Throughout each academic year as Huskies' Athletics moves from fall to winter to the spring competition, Southern Maine student-athletes are consistently recognized at the state, conference, regional and national level for their outstanding and noteworthy performances on the field of competition. 
 
Academically, Huskies are also known for their superior performances earning All-Academic team honors from a variety of awards bureaus as well as the University.  During the 2022-23 academic year, USM student-athletes combined for a department grade point average of 3.2. Each year, Husky student-athletes receive recognition for their athletic, academic and community service activities.  Last spring, USM's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee was named the University's Student Group of the Year for the fourth time in six years.  
 
Proudly supporting and emphasizing the Division III student-athlete model, Huskies' Athletics focuses its goals on five key areas for each of its nearly 450 student-athletes: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.
 
Many of USM student-athletes play big roles not only on their teams, but also in life -  as student employees, mentors, student organization leaders, civic rights activists, residence life assistants, and more. With that in mind, Director of Athletics Al Bean and University Credit Union are coming together to create a new way to honor and amplify the remarkable contributions of our student-athletes that go far beyond the stat sheet with the UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month recognition.
 
"As a department, Huskies Athletics believes in the development of the overall student-athlete. As soon as they become a Husky, we are investing in their future. The goal for a USM student-athlete is for each and every one to realize their full potential academically, athletically, personally, professional and civically.  Our student-athletes are leaders on and off of the field and in the community.  With the creation of the UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month honor, we are seeking to establish a tangible way to congratulate and encourage the work of student-athletes both inside and outside of the competitive arena."
 
The UCU Athletic Director Student-Athlete of the Month (one male, one female) will be chosen based upon Huskies' Five Key Pillars: Academic Excellence, Athletic Achievement, Personal Growth, Professional Development and Service to Community.  Members of the Huskies' Athletic Administration will nominate and choose those student-athletes to be recognized.
 
"We're excited for this new initiative and for the increased opportunities to recognize our tremendous student-athletes," said Bean.  "UCU's partnership further demonstrates their commitment to the overall growth and development of our programs."