Beavers pace Pac-12 in GPA
February 22, 2016 | Women's Cross Country
Corvallis, Ore. – The 2015 Oregon State cross country team had the highest team grade-point average in the Pacific-12 Conference and the fifth-highest in the country for the fall academic term, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced.
The Beavers had a combined GPA of 3.760 and earned USTFCCCA All-Academic Team status for the 10th year in a row. OSU has placed in the top-10 nationally every year over that span, and in the top 5 three times.
“This is impressive when you think of 20 on the roster, their majors, the time they each spend on their academics, internships, community service, leadership programs that a lot of us are unaware of, and their commitment to their teammates, program and sport!” coach Kelly Sullivan said.
“When you see any of them, take a moment and congratulate them. I work with them every day and they truly are an amazing group, following in the footsteps of the others we have had” in the program before the current team.
“You add this to the fact our entire team of 45 on roster last spring had a track & field team GPA of 3.59, we are fortunate. No question this group is one to 'Think, want answers, question, ponder, discuss among themselves.'
“They are very bright and will be doing some great things in the future, as they are truly doing in the present!”
Nine members of the 2015 team earned Pacific-12 Conference all-academic honors.
Redshirt juniors Monica Anderson, Kira Kelly and Maureen Tremblay were first-team selections. Redshirt juniors Morgan Anderson and Samantha Lewis earned second-team honors; senior Adrienne Demaree, junior Holly Cavalluzzo, redshirt junior Macaulay Wilson and redshirt sophomore Kristiane Width earned honorable mention.
Other team members whose GPAs were included in the rankings are graduated senior Kelsi Schaer; redshirt junior Emily Weber; sophomores Sam McKinnon, Gwyneth McMorris and Kala Kopecek; redshirt freshmen Nicole Goecke, Dakota Steen and Kimberly Solberg, and freshmen Kaely Gordon, Rachel Johnson and Juliana Mount.
Wisconsin-Green Bay (3.83) led the nation, followed by South Carolina (3.826), Georgia State (3.78), Bowling Green (3.765) and the Beavers.
For more information on the Oregon State track and field program, follow the Beavers on Facebook at Facebook.com/OSUTrackCrossCountry, or on Twitter at twitter.com/@beavers_track.
