ATLANTA (June 18, 2021) - The Southern Athletic Association (SAA) announced that recent Rhodes graduate, Toler Freyaldenhoven, has been named 2020-21 Jacaruso Enterprises SAA Man of the Year.
The SAA Man of the Year, presented by Jacaruso Enterprises, is the highest honor the league bestows for a male student-athlete.
"On behalf of our eight SAA institutions, I would like to congratulate Toler on this award," said SAA Commissioner Jay Gardiner. "He joins a long-list of outstanding student-athletes that have won this honor. He embodies what an SAA and NCAA Division III student-athlete is about. Not only did he have success as a competitor, but his record in the classroom and in the community truly stood out among a number of outstanding nominees."
In the classroom, Freyaldenhoven graduated from Rhodes with a 3.93-grade point average (GPA) in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. He was a four-time All-SAA Academic Honor Roll selection in both cross country and track and field.
"Toler, a three-time All-Region honoree with four NCAA appearances, led our cross country program from a strong regional contender to a consistently nationally ranked team," said head coach Robert Shankman. "His teamwork and never-give-up attitude during the 2021 SAA Championships was unrivaled as he helped guide the Lynx to their third straight SAA Championship. Toler's work ethic, leadership, selfless demeanor, and no non-sense approach is the standard for our team today."
Freyaldenhoven earned all-conference honors each year and was the first cross country All-American and CoSIDA Academic All-American in program history. He earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors twice, was twice named SAA individual champion in both cross country and track & field and helped the Lynx to three SAA Championships in cross country as well as three SAA Championships in track & field. Freyaldenhoven has totaled 11 All-SAA honors across the two sports and was also tabbed SAA Newcomer of the Year in 2016. He helped guide the Lynx to their highest finish (17th place) in program history at the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
At the 2020 Rhodes Awards Convocation, he was recognized by the faculty as the outstanding senior in the field of Biochemistry and Molecular Biochemistry. And in 2021, he was honored with the Walter E. Gay Award, presented to the top male senior for their athletic success during their tenure at Rhodes.
Outside of the track, course, and classroom, Freyaldenhoven took the time to make a difference in the community. The Lynx leader spent time volunteering with the Little Lynx Running Team, Step Ahead, Best Buddies, and the Exception Foundation.
More comments from Coach Shankman:
"Diligent, dependable, and hardworking, Toler cares about his teammates more than himself. He is the first one to congratulate the competition or take time to mentor a younger athlete. He is considerate of others in every aspect of his life and easily empathizes with those less fortunate. He is well liked and respected by the entire campus – faculty, staff, and students.
Toler's involvement with the Little Lynx Running Team is indicative of his character and selfless nature. Although heavily involved with the initial organizing process, it was his work with the children that was so impressive. The group grew to include 25 children with autism and their families. Toler had established a unique bond with his 8-year-old Little Lynx buddy. Within weeks, improvements in the areas of communication and engagement were incredible. I believe Toler looked forward to Sunday Little Lynx meetings as much as competing as a Rhodes athlete.
Toler truly embodies the definition of an NCAA Division III student-athlete and his demonstrated academic excellence, nationally-achieved athletic success, and his connection to community members, represents the founding principles of the SAA. Toler will continue to represent Rhodes and the SAA well for years to come as he continues to put others ahead of himself."
In a joint effort to honor the Southern Athletic Association's most elite student-athletes, Jacaruso Enterprises and the SAA partnered to create the annual SAA Man and Woman of the Year. The awards, selected by a committee comprised of Jacaruso and SAA representatives, are given to the senior class male and female nominees who best exemplify traits of leadership, character, athletic and academic success.
The criteria for SAA Man and Woman of the Year nominees included that they must be a senior with no eligibility remaining, they must have been named First Team All-SAA in the sport in which in the participated during their athletic careers, and they must have qualified for the SAA Academic Honor Roll during their tenure as a student-athlete. Additionally, SAA Man and Woman of the Year candidates are expected to be involved in their local community in some meaningful way.
