March 12, 2009

NEWMAC Student-Athletes Receive USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors

BABSON PARK, Mass. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its 2008 Cross Country All-Academic Team and the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) had 13 student-athletes qualify for the honor. In addition, eight NEWMAC teams received accolades.

MIT, which swept both the men's and women's NEWMAC Championships, led the way with six selections. Jennifer Doyle (Oakland, Calif.), Maria Monks (Hazelton, Pa.) and Jacqui Wentz (Santa Rosa, Calif.) were joined on the All-Academic team by their male counterparts, Hemagiri Arumugam (Hagerstown, Md.), Yermie Cohen (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Jake Ruzevick (Coronado, Colo.). Springfield College had a pair of men and women named, Brian Fuller (Ludlow, Mass.) and Michael Griffin (Scarborough, Maine) on the men's side and Lacey Cartier (York, Maine) and Amanda DiPaolo (Garrison, N.Y.) from the women's team. Babson first-year Kyle Fitzpatrick (Toledo, Ohio) and Christine Dzialo (Belchertown, Mass.) and Nora Youngs (Penacook, N.H.) from Smith rounded out the conference honorees.

MIT, Smith, Springfield, Wheaton and Wellesley's women's teams all received the All-Academic Team award while Babson, MIT and Wheaton were honored on the men's side.

The All-Academic award honors those student-athletes who have succeeded both academically and athletically. To be eligible for the award a student-athlete must carry a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average and must finish in the top 25 percent of the field at their respective NCAA regional meet.

For a team to be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, they must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA Regional Meet. The team must also have a minimum 3.10 team cumulative grade point average.

For more information visit http://www.ustfccca.org/.