Starr and LaFrance Earn Academic All-District Recognition from CSC

College Sports Communicators Academic All-District logo with a ball and soccer players' legs in background
November 30, 2023

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Two Willamette University student-athletes have been chosen to the 2023 NCAA Division III Academic All-District Men's Soccer Team, as voted by the College Sports Communicators (CSC). Willamette's Academic All-District choices were Jett Starr (Sr., F, Portland, OR/Cleveland HS) and Krisna LaFrance (Jr., F, Seattle, WA/Ballard HS). Starr and LaFrance were named Academic All-District for the second year in a row.

A panel of CSC members will determine which Academic All-District honorees are eligible to be voted onto the NCAA Division III Academic All-America Men's Soccer Team. The Academic All-America Team will be released on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Players nominated for the CSC All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative grade point averages of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. They played in 90% of their team's games or started at least 66% of the games. Each nominated student-athlete was at least a sophomore in academic and athletic standing.

Willamette concluded the 2023 season with an 8-11-1 overall record and an 8-7-1 record in the Northwest Conference (25 points, 4th place). WU scored 41 goals in its 20 games and registered four shutout wins. Over the past seven years, the Bearcats have accumulated a 74-33-15 (.668) record with a 62-22-10 (.713) conference record, including an NWC co-championship in 2017 and an outright NWC title in 2022. 

NCAA Division III Academic All-District

Headshot of Jett Starr Jett Starr (Sr., F) was chosen First Team All-NWC for the second consecutive season this fall. He led the Bearcats and was fourth in the NWC with 11 goals. He added one assist for a team-high 23 total points. He scored one goal in each of 11 games during a 14-game span from Sept. 17 through Oct. 29.  Starr was second for Willamette with 45 total shots and ranked first with 21 shots on goal.

At WU, Starr has recorded 22 goals and three assists for 47 total points. He has taken 96 shots with 45 shots on goal. He has played in 61 games, including 43 starts. Starr owns a 3.51 cumulative grade point average and is majoring in Civic Communication and Media. He is participating in WU's 3+2 BA/MBA program.

Headshot of Krisna LaFrance Krisna LaFrance (Jr., F) finished the 2023 season with three goals and two assists for eight total points. His speed and ability to control the ball made him a difficult attacking player for other teams to control or mark. He earned career highs with 24 total shots and 11 shots on goal during the season.

At Willamette, LaFrance has competed in 49 games with 31 starts for the past three seasons. He played in all 20 games this year. He has scored 5 goals and 6 assists for 16 career points, while providing WU with 52 shots, including 22 shots on goal. LaFrance has achieved a 3.82 cumulative GPA. He is majoring in Exercise and Health Science.