Release courtesy of Shannon Wright of the USTFCCCA
NEW ORLEANS - The U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced Thursday that Ashland University was selected as the 2009 Men's Indoor Track and Field "Scholar Team of the Year" and as the 2009 Outdoor Track and Field "Scholar Team of the Year."
Ashland capped a solid indoor campaign with a fourth-place finish at the 2009 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in March. Ashland earlier claimed the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships The Eagles faired equally well in the classroom in 2009, with a 3.050 team cumulative grade point average.
Ashland earned the 2009 Outdoor Track and Field "Scholar Team of the Year" honors after finishing sixth at the 2009 Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in May. Ashland completed their GLIAC track and field sweep with a win at the conference's Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Eagles are joined on the All-Academic Team list by five additional GLIAC member institutions. The GLIAC led all conferences with six teams selected as All-Academic Teams for 2009 - Ashland, the University of Findlay, Grand Valley State University, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Technological University, and Tiffin University.
The GLIAC, which tied for the highest number of schools on the Women's Outdoor Track and Field All-Academic Team list last year, had 10 schools achieve All-Academic team honors this year - Ashland University, the University of Findlay, Grand Valley State University, Hillsdale College, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Technological University, Northern Michigan University, Northwood University, Saginaw Valley State University, and Tiffin University.
The selection of the All-Academic Indoor and Outdoor "Scholar Teams of the Year" is based on a combination of academic and athletic achievements, with the top honor going to the team that had the combination of best overall finish at the respective Division II Indoor or Outdoor National Championships and cumulative GPA.
To be nominated, the team must carry a minimum 3.000 cumulative grade-point average.
In addition to the Scholar Team of the Year, the USTFCCCA also announced the men's Division II All-Academic Track and Field Team. A total of 136 student-athletes representing 56 Division II colleges and universities made up the 2009 All-Academic team.
For the second straight year Grand Valley State led the way with the most student-athletes on the list with seven, followed by Adams State and the University of Findlay with six apiece. For conferences, the GLIAC had the most student-athletes on the list with 29 followed by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with 21, and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) with 17.
The USTFCCCA also announced the women's Division II All-Academic Track and Field Team. A total of 250 student-athletes representing 73 Division II colleges and universities made up the 2009 All-Academic team.
For the second straight year Grand Valley State led the way with the most student-athletes on the list with 20. The GLIAC had a total of 48 women student-athletes on the list.
The USTFCCCA honors Division II individuals for their academic and athletic achievements during the indoor and outdoor track and field season.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met the NCAA Division II Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.
Click here for USTFCCA release
Listed below is the full list of GLIAC Women's and Men's All-Academic Teams:
2009 USTFCCCA Division II Women's All‐Academic Track and Field Team:
Elise Bottarini Ashland University
Abby Kascandi Ashland University
Alissa Klaehn Ashland University
Michelle Stark Ashland University
Stephanie Tinney Ashland University
Christina Muir Ferris State University
Paige Onweller Ferris State University
Mikinzie Stuart Ferris State University
Katie Alfredson Grand Valley State University
Lynsey Ardingo Grand Valley State University
Lauren Buresh Grand Valley State University
Eileen Creutz Grand Valley State University
Maegan Doyen Grand Valley State University
Kelly Gibbons Grand Valley State University
Christi Kettelhut Grand Valley State University
Kellie Kieren Grand Valley State University
Monica Kinney Grand Valley State University
Amy Kolin Grand Valley State University
Megan Maceratini Grand Valley State University
Stephanie McCarthy Grand Valley State University
Karie McDonald Grand Valley State University
Emily McKerchie Grand Valley State University
Dianna Noonan Grand Valley State University
Kirsten Nozime Grand Valley State University
Sara Parks Grand Valley State University
Susie Rivard Grand Valley State University
Shaylee Vanderbaan Grand Valley State University
Heather VanderSlik Grand Valley State University
Kathryn Hunt Hillsdale College
Sarah Kauk Hillsdale College
Anna Leutheuser Hillsdale College
Amanda Putt Hillsdale College
Marta Scheiwe Hillsdale College
Jennifer Shaffer Hillsdale College
Kathleen Scott Lake Superior State University
Kristin Cameron Northwood University (Michigan)
Kylen Cieslak Northwood University (Michigan)
Leighann Dowell Saginaw Valley State University
Maggie Stalker Saginaw Valley State University
Kristen Ameling Tiffin University
Andrea Bader Tiffin University
Erin Calvelage The University of Findlay
Stephanie Charnigo The University of Findlay
Hilary Esselstein The University of Findlay
Alyssa Hatala The University of Findlay
Ashley Jennings The University of Findlay
Erin Lines The University of Findlay
Lindsey Schmitmeyer The University of Findlay
2009 USTFCCCA Division II Men's All‐Academic Track and Field Team:
Nick Bellanco Ashland University
Joe Horn Ashland University
Charles Michael Jeffery Ashland University
Brian Mozena Ashland University
Dan Tierney Ashland University
Aleksas Abromavicius Grand Valley State University
Anthony Witt Grand Valley State University
Chris Hammer Grand Valley State University
Eric Lowe Grand Valley State University
Nathaniel Smith Grand Valley State University
Tyler Patterson Grand Valley State University
Todd Schuster Grand Valley State University
Jeff Wysong Hillsdale College
Benjamin Charbonneau Lake Superior State University
Craig Borsenik Northwood University (Michigan)
Jared Fischer Northwood University (Michigan)
Sam Watson Northwood University (Michigan)
Steve Genther Saginaw Valley State University
Thomas Buxton Tiffin University
Marcus Johnson Tiffin University
Jeremy Lee Tiffin University
Keith Reiter Tiffin University
Simon Bernard The University of Findlay
James Eric The University of Findlay
John Guagenti The University of Findlay
Curtis Hoag The University of Findlay
Greg Schaible The University of Findlay
Curtis Smithey The University of Findlay