Release courtesy of Tom Lewis USTFCCCA Communications Manager

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NEW ORLEANS –  Findlay’s Derrick Vicars was named Scholar Athletes of the Year in Division II for the 2012 men’s track & field seasons by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The group represents collegiate track & field’s best in both athletics and academics. In addition, 164 student-athletes were tapped as USTFCCCA All-Academic honorees.

Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards are determined from among those who earned All-Academic status and placed highest in individual events at the most recent NCAA Championships. Those who earn multiple individual championship titles rank higher in the tie-breaking process, and cumulative GPA is weighed as the final tiebreaker to establish a winner. Separate awards are given to track athletes and field athletes for the indoor and outdoor seasons, resulting in four categories.

A native of Genoa, Ohio, Vicars carries a 3.35 cumulative GPA and was the NCAA Outdoor Champion with the shot put this spring. He was also the USTFCCCA’s Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year.

164 Earn All-Academic Status

In addition to the Scholar Athletes of the Year, the USTFCCCA also announced the men’s 2012 Division II All-Academic Track & Field team. A total of 164 student-athletes representing 64 institutions compose the group. Nebraska-Kearney and Grand Valley State each had eight named to the list to lead all squads. For GVSU, it was their second-straight year as the leading team. Findlay and Ashland followed with seven each on the roll.

The GLIAC is the top league in terms of those named to the All-Academic list, having 34. The RMAC (24) and PSAC (23) were next.

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 reached a provisional or automatic qualifying standard for the NCAA Championships in either indoor or outdoor seasons.

USTFCCCA 2012 Division II Track & Field All-Academic Honorees, MEN