08 Jan 2025 Five Bears named Academic All-District

Posted at 6:47 PMh in Sports by

CONWAY — Five University of Central Arkansas Bears were named Tuesday to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Division I Academic All-District team.

JONESBORO, AR – August 31, 2024 – Central Arkansas Bears Deep Snapper Kyle Gasaway (#57) during the game between Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Central Arkansas Bears at Centennial Bank Stadium in Jonesboro, Arkansas Photo By Jhude Dizon

Jake Gaster, Trace Beard, Chaylin Peine, Kyle Gasaway and Malachi Henry were honored for the Bears. The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. 

Gaster was a senior placekicker from Frisco, Texas, who was 49 of 50 on point-after attempts and made 9 of 14 field goals for the Bears, scoring a combined 76 points. Beard is a junior punter who averaged 42.9 yards per punt on 42 punts, with a long of 58 yards, one of eight that went at least 50 yards.

Peine is a sophomore offensive lineman from Garnett, Kan., who played in all 12 games this season and helped the Bears’ offense average 31.8 points per game. Gasaway was a senior from Memphis, Tenn., who started for two years as the long and short snapper. He finished the season with four special teams tackles and a fumble recovery.

Henry is a redshirt freshman receiver from Van Buren, Ark., who was UCA’s No. 2 receiver with 40 receptions for 679 yards and five touchdowns.