ASU Students, Alumni Push Ram Ball Player into Finals for NCAA #Elite89

#VoteGoggin before 7 p.m. Thursday.  Vote here: http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/media-center/honoring-achievement-and-field-2014-15

David Goggin has won the semifinals of the Elite 89 Fan Favorite contest, but now is when he needs his #RamFam to "Raise Your Voice" the most. 

Vote totals are now reset and another two-day round has started and will end at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The contestant who receives the most votes in the final round will be named the winner and will be celebrated with multiple posts from NCAA social media platforms on Friday. Get updates and information at www.twitter.com/AngeloSports; and www.facebook.com/AngeloStateSports.

Goggin received 520 votes during the two-day semifinal round which was ahead of Virginia baseball player Thomas Woodruff who had 482 votes and Michigan State basketball player Colby

Wollenmen who received 455 votes during the second round of the contest which started with 91 student-athletes and is now at 10. Goggin, who will be a senior majoring in the chemistry department at Angelo State this year, is now propelled into the finals of the NCAA officially-sponsored tournament as the favorite after he won the second round.

"This has been a very special time for me throughout this contest," Goggin said. "When they started the contest I knew that we had a really strong fan base, but this has been amazing. There are so many social media sites from different groups on campus and around the community that I've seen. It really shows that our support base is just as strong or stronger than Division I programs. It's a really great feeling knowing that we have the support of the campus and the community. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to vote for me."

Along with Goggin, Woodruff and Wollenman, the finals includes Carrington Motley (MIT), Margaret Guo (MIT), Jonathan Zirna (Springfield College), Amy Viti (Misericordia), Carson Wentz (North Dakota State), Tyler Logan (Florida Southern) and Margaret Thorwart (Millersville).

A Red Wing, Minnesota native, Goggin was named the Lone Star Conference's Fred Jacoby Academic Athlete of the Year after his junior season along with being named the LSC Baseball Academic Player of the Year with his 3.97 GPA as a chemistry major at Angelo State. Goggin was named the NCAA Division II Baseball Elite 89 winner at this year's NCAA DII Championships in Cary, North Carolina. Goggin had the highest GPA among all student-athletes at the baseball national tournament. He was previously honored as the LSC Freshman of the Year in 2013 and to the LSC second-team as sophomore. He is a .276 career hitter for the Rams with 123 hits and 69 RBI in his career going into his senior season. Goggin is currently playing summer baseball with the Jamestown Jammers of the Prospect League.

The ELITE 89, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 89 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 89 championships. The NCAA announced the semifinalist on Friday morning and reported that 7,753 votes were cast during the first round.

Kimberly Adams, Director, Development and Alumni Services, wrote this report.

Update July 24, 8 a.m.

Goggin placed third in the contest