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Five Blue Devils Named NSCA All-Americans
6/30/2021 11:03:00 AM | Cross Country, Field Hockey, Men's Golf, Men's Tennis, Softball, Athletics
DURHAM – The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) recognized five Duke University student-athletes for their hard work and dedication to strength training and conditioning. Collecting NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year accolades are Steven DiLisio, Luca Keist, Grace Kim, Leigha Torino and Raine Wilson.
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The NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award program recognizes collegiate and high school athletes whose athletic accomplishments reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning.
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DiLisio was one of nine golfers to garner the award and Keist was one of five tennis athletes. Kim was one of six field hockey players while Torino was one of three cross country runners. Wilson rounded out the group, earning recognition in a group of 32 softball student-athletes.
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Steven DiLisio | Graduate Student | Swampscott, Mass.
"The golf game has changed," said Assistant Sports Performance Coach Alex Merrill. "Today the weight room is a bigger part of training for golfers than it was in the past and Steven is a true example of this. As a little freshman, he changed his body through hard work and disciple to become one of the biggest, strongest and longest players in college golf. It's been a true pleasure to watch his growth and I know he will continue to succeed at the next level in whatever he chooses to pursue.
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Luca Keist | Senior | Rothrist, Switzerland
"Luca is always working to be better," said Assistant Sports Performance Coach Jordan Bar. "Not only does he do what's required, but he goes above and beyond to become the best he can be. It's been a pleasure working with him and the men's tennis program here at Duke has been elevated by having him here to lead by example. Luca is a great competitor, hard worker and an even better person. This honor is well deserved."
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Grace Kim | Junior | Richmond, Va.
"When I took over coaching the field hockey program two years ago, I didn't know the type of athlete I was getting with Grace Kim," said Merrill. "I've learned throughout my time with her that she's capable of some truly amazing things and training is a major part of her life. She's constantly pushing herself in and out of the weight room. While Olympic lifting and the 'major lifts' aren't for everyone, Grace excels at the highest level in all of them and I'm privileged to train her."
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Leigha Torino | Senior | Citra, Fla.
"Leigha is a great example of consistency and leadership," said Bar. "She has a great attention to detail, is coachable and has a desire to do what's necessary to be the best she can be. Leigha is respected and loved by everyone around her and she's been a pleasure to work with."
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Raine Wilson | Graduate Student | Mechanicsville, Va.
"It's difficult to think of an athlete more deserving of this award than Raine Wilson," said Bar. "Raine works hard, builds up those around her, is a fierce competitor and leads by example. She is the epitome of a great athlete and teammate. Over the past four years, I've had the privilege to witness an amazing physical and mental transformation as she's become a standout performer in the weight room, on the field and in the arena of competition. Raine is such an amazing young woman and will succeed in whichever arena she competes in."
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The NSCA is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning profession around the world. The organization advances the profession by supporting strength and conditioning professionals devoted to helping others discover and maximize their strength. The NSCA community is composed of more than 45,000 members and certified professionals who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength coaches, personal trainers and other roles in related field.
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#GoDuke
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The NSCA All-American Strength and Conditioning Athlete of the Year Award program recognizes collegiate and high school athletes whose athletic accomplishments reflect their dedication to strength training and conditioning.
Â
DiLisio was one of nine golfers to garner the award and Keist was one of five tennis athletes. Kim was one of six field hockey players while Torino was one of three cross country runners. Wilson rounded out the group, earning recognition in a group of 32 softball student-athletes.
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Steven DiLisio | Graduate Student | Swampscott, Mass.
"The golf game has changed," said Assistant Sports Performance Coach Alex Merrill. "Today the weight room is a bigger part of training for golfers than it was in the past and Steven is a true example of this. As a little freshman, he changed his body through hard work and disciple to become one of the biggest, strongest and longest players in college golf. It's been a true pleasure to watch his growth and I know he will continue to succeed at the next level in whatever he chooses to pursue.
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Luca Keist | Senior | Rothrist, Switzerland
"Luca is always working to be better," said Assistant Sports Performance Coach Jordan Bar. "Not only does he do what's required, but he goes above and beyond to become the best he can be. It's been a pleasure working with him and the men's tennis program here at Duke has been elevated by having him here to lead by example. Luca is a great competitor, hard worker and an even better person. This honor is well deserved."
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Grace Kim | Junior | Richmond, Va.
"When I took over coaching the field hockey program two years ago, I didn't know the type of athlete I was getting with Grace Kim," said Merrill. "I've learned throughout my time with her that she's capable of some truly amazing things and training is a major part of her life. She's constantly pushing herself in and out of the weight room. While Olympic lifting and the 'major lifts' aren't for everyone, Grace excels at the highest level in all of them and I'm privileged to train her."
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Leigha Torino | Senior | Citra, Fla.
"Leigha is a great example of consistency and leadership," said Bar. "She has a great attention to detail, is coachable and has a desire to do what's necessary to be the best she can be. Leigha is respected and loved by everyone around her and she's been a pleasure to work with."
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Raine Wilson | Graduate Student | Mechanicsville, Va.
"It's difficult to think of an athlete more deserving of this award than Raine Wilson," said Bar. "Raine works hard, builds up those around her, is a fierce competitor and leads by example. She is the epitome of a great athlete and teammate. Over the past four years, I've had the privilege to witness an amazing physical and mental transformation as she's become a standout performer in the weight room, on the field and in the arena of competition. Raine is such an amazing young woman and will succeed in whichever arena she competes in."
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The NSCA is a nonprofit professional organization dedicated to advancing the strength and conditioning profession around the world. The organization advances the profession by supporting strength and conditioning professionals devoted to helping others discover and maximize their strength. The NSCA community is composed of more than 45,000 members and certified professionals who further industry standards as researchers, educators, strength coaches, personal trainers and other roles in related field.
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#GoDuke
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