ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team
Selected by CoSIDA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Contact: Dick Lipe, Bentley College, 781-891-2334 or rlipe@bentley.edu
M.I.T.s Orji, Florida States Johnson Top 200506
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Mens Track/Cross Country Teams
WALTHAM, Mass.-- Senior Uzoma Orji of M.I.T. and graduate student Garrett Johnson of Florida State University walked away with top honors on the ESPN The Magazine Academic AllAmerica mens track & field and cross country teams announced Tuesday.
Orji, who carries a 3.81 grade point average as an electrical science and engineering major, outpaced runnerup Ryan Koch of St. Cloud State as college division Academic AllAmerican of the Year. Johnson, who helped Florida State to the NCAA Division I national championship outdoors, also carried a 3.81 GPA as a graduate student in public administration. He held off Nathan Brown of Wisconsin and Jaanus Uudmae of Arkansas for the university division title.
Both Orji, who earned first team honors in 2005, and Johnson, a second team selection last season, were repeat members of the ESPN The Magazine Academic AllAmerica mens track & field and cross country teams. Each recently captured NCAA individual championships in the shot put. Orjis stellar career has included four Division III individual titles and 12 All-America awards. Johnson, a Rhodes Scholar from Tampa, Fla., also was the Division I indoor national champion in the shot.
Orji, whose hometown is Matawan, N.J., was one of nine repeat winners at the college division level. Topping that list was first team member Nick Johnson of Augustana (Ill.) College who earned his third Academic AllAmerica award and second first team trophy.
Other repeat winners at the college division level included Gordon Coffin of Nebraska Wesleyan, Ryan Koch of St. Cloud State, John Mercuri of the University of Scranton and Jesus Solis of Adams State. All were first team picks.
Coffin tied Orji as the top votegetter in the main voting. First team members Coffin and Jed Droge were two of three Nebraska Wesleyan student-athletes on the college division teams, the most of any school. Solis and James Hajek represented Adams State on the first team.
Other college division first team selections were Jason Finkelstein (Muhlenberg College), Nathan Fleming (Westmont College), Michael Herb (Rochester Inst. Of Technology), Stephen Hrdina (Case Western Reserve), Harrison Jorritsma (Calvin College), Grant Scott Haverford College), Eric Svestka (UWLa Crosse) and P.J. Theisen (Univ. of St. Thomas)
In a twist from the Academic AllAmerican of the Year voting, Brown was the top votegetter in the main voting at the university division level, which is composed of NCAA Division I institutions only. John Tumbleston of Elon finished second and Johnson was third.
In addition to Johnson, Tumbleston, Brown and Uudmae, the University division first team included Brian Babcock (Morehead State), Chris Brandriff (Virginia Military Institute), Michael Breshears (Missouri State), Jarrod Davis (Youngstown State), Javier Garcia-Tunon (Florida State), Jimmy Grabow (Long Beach State), Donovan Kilmartin (Texas), Tom Lancashire (Florida State), Ian Mayne (Tennessee-Chattanooga), Galen Rupp (Oregon) and Andrew Young (Oregon).
Brown, Tumbleston and Uudmae were all first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans in 2005 while Breshears, Johnson, Lancashire and Young were on the second team and Mayne was a third team pick.
The Academic All-America Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA (the College Sports Information Directors of America), a 2,000 member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
To be eligible, a student-athletes must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the programs inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.
ESPN The Magazine winner of the 2006 and 2003 National Magazine Award for General Excellence is a provocative and innovative sports publication. Full of insight, analysis, impact and wit, the oversized bi-weekly with a circulation of 1.9 million looks ahead to give fans a unique perspective on the world of sports.
For more information about the Academic All-America Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com or email rlipe@bentley.edu.
2005-06 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Mens Track & Field/Cross Country Teams (University Division) as selected by CoSIDA
FIRST TEAM
NAME SCHOOL DIS YR HOMETOWN GPA MAJOR
Brian Babcock Morehead State IV Sr. Sand Point, Id. 4.00 University Studies
Chris Brandriff VMI III Sr. Chesapeake, Va. 3.91 Civi; Engineering
Michael Breshears Missouri State VII Jr. Excelsior Springs, M. 4.00 Administrative Management
Nathan Brown Wisconsin V Sr. Madison, Wis. 3.95 Biochemistry
Jarrod Davis Youngstown St. IV Gr. E. Canton, Ohio 3.70 Computer Info. Systems
Javier Garcia-Tunon Florida State III Sr. Tallahassee, Fla. 4.00 Business Management
Jimmy Grabow Long Beach State VIII Sr. Running Springs, Ca. 4.00 History
Garrett Johnson Florida State III Gr. Tampa, Fla. 3.81 Public Administration
Donovan Kilmartin Texas VI Jr. Eagle, Id. 3.48 Petroleum Engineering
Tom Lancashire Florida State III Jr. Bolton, England 3.93 Exercise Science
Ian Mayne UT-Chattanooga IV Sr. Pickering, Ont. 3.86 Pre-Med
Galen Rupp Oregon VIII So. Portland, Ore. 4.05 Pre-Business
John Tumbleston Elon III Sr. Boone, N.C. 4.00 Physics/Science Education
Jaanus Uudmae Arkansas VI Gr. Tallin, Estonia 4.00 Computer Science Eng.
Andrew Young Oregon VIII Sr. Newberg, Ore. 3.83 Human Physiology
SECOND TEAM
NAME SCHOOL DIST YR HOMETOWN GP MAJOR(S)
Danny Alge Clemson III Sr. Summerville, S.C. 3.82 Biosystems Engineering
Andy Allstadt Albany I Gr. Endicott, N.Y. 3.67 Ecology
Joe Detmer Wisconsin V Jr. Lodi, Wisc. 3.52 Computer Engineering
Robert Healy Duquesne II Gr. Pittsburgh, Pa. 3.45 Communication Studies
Chris Helwick Tennessee IV Jr. Greeley, Colo. 3.60 Business/Economics
Frank Hemingway New Mexico VI Sr. Las Cruces, N.M. 4.04 Electrical Engineering
Aaron Hill Northeastern I Sr. Ben Wheeler, Texas 3.94 Electrical Engineering
Greg Liebl North Dakota St. VII So. Montevideo, Minn. 4.00 Business Administration
Travis Mack Missouri State VII Gr. Liberty, Mo. 4.00 Master of Bus. Admin.
Sean ODonnell Notre Dame V Gr. Kansas City, Mo. 3.48 M.B.A./Mechanical Eng.
Aaron Plas Nebraska VII Sr. McCook, Nebr. 3.60 Business Education
Nate Probasco Nebraska VII Jr. Scriber, Nebr. 3.76 History
Zach Sabatino Tennessee IV Sr. Charleston, W.V. 3.79 Sport Management
Matt Scherer Oregon VIII Sr. Sumner, Ill. 3.57 Business
Heath Smith North Texas VI Jr. Lake Dallas, Texas 4.00 Criminal Justice
THIRD TEAM
NAME SCHOOL DIST YR HOMETOWN GP MAJOR(S)
John Albert Minnesota V Sr. Bloomington, Minn. 3.78 Business
Jesson Baumgartner Southern Utah VIII Jr. Cedar City, Utah 3.89 Chemistry
Keith Bechtol William & Mary III Jr. Alexandria, Va. 3.95 Physics
Martin Bingisser Washington VIII Gr. Bellevue, Wash. 3.87 Philosophy
Brett Carter Portland VIII Sr. Naches, Wash. 3.95 Biology
Thomas Chamney Notre Dame V Jr. Tipperary, Ireland 3.52 History/Film
John Crews North Carolina St. III So. Glasgow, Va. 4.00 Mechanical Engineering
Kevin Dick Western Kentucky IV Sr. Bowling Green, Ky. 3.91 Electrical Engineering
Nathan Egger Michigan State IV Sr. Mason, Mich. 3.97 Physiology
Bret Ferrier Weber State VIII So. Winnemucca, Nev. 3.97 Computer Engineering
Adam Grossman UMBC II Sr. Baltimore, Md. 3.68 Environmental Science
Andrew Heath Auburn IV Sr. Marietta, Ga. 3.84 Civil Engineering
Jon Korhonen Massachusetts I Sr. Gardner, Ma. 3.95 Communication
Tim Moore Notre Dame V Sr. Novi, Mich. 3.38 Finance/Mathematics
Adam Perkins Arkansas VI Jr. Liberty, Mo. 3.40 Finance
Caleb Wells U.S. Military Acad. I Sr. Spearfish,, S.D. 3.65 Systems Engineering
Nicholas Wilson U.S. Air Force Acad. VII Sr. Jacksonville, Fla. 3.45 Mechanical Engineering
Bryan Wolfe UT-San Antonio VI Sr. Raymondville, Texas 3.66 Acturial Science
ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Team Member of the Year: Garrett Johnson, Florida State
2005-06 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Mens Track & Field/Cross Country Teams (College Division) as selected by CoSIDA
FIRST TEAM
NAME SCHOOL DIS YR HOMETOWN GPA MAJOR
Gordon Coffin Nebraska Wesleyan VII Jr. Osceola, Neb. 3.94 Communication Studies
Jed Droge Nebraska Wesleyan VII Jr. Pawnee City, Neb. 3.75 Athletic Training
Jason Finkelstein Muhlenberg II Sr. Wayne, N.J. 3.96 Political Science
Nathan Fleming Westmont VIII Sr. Chico, Calif. 3.94 Biology and English
James Hajek Adams State VII Jr. Tucson, Ariz. 4.00 Sociology
Michael Herb Rochester Inst. Of Technology I Jr. Saugerties, N.Y. 4.00 Criminal Justice
Stephen Hrinda Case Western Reserve IV Jr. Fairview, Pa. 4.0 Biology
Nick Johnson Augustana (Ill.) V Sr. New Lenox, Ill. 3.98 Math
Harrison Jorritsma Calvin IV Sr. Beamsville, Ont. 4.0 Accounting
Ryan Koch St. Cloud State V Sr. Madison, Wis. 4.00 Computer Science
John Mercuri Scranton II Jr. Moscow, Pa. 3.98 Biology & Philosophy
Uzoma Orji M.I.T. I Sr. Matawan, N.J. 3.84 Electrical Sci. & Engineering
Grant Scott Haverford II Sr. Yellow Springs, Ohio 3.91 Chemistry
Jesus Solis Adams State VII Jr. Highlands Ranch, Colo. 3.91 History/Govt and English
Eric Svestka UWLa Crosse V Jr. Decorah, Iowa 4.00 Biology
P.J. Theisen St. Thomas (Minn.) V Jr. Elko, Minn. 3.90 Accounting
SECOND TEAM
NAME SCHOOL DIS YR HOMETOWN GPA MAJOR
Nathan Bates Wabash V Jr. Ossian, Ind. 3.91 Psychology
Sean Capkin Susquehanna II Sr. Wynnewood, Pa. 3.98 Elementary Ed., Spanish
Cameron Dayne Morehouse III Sr. Richmond, Va. 3.73 Business Administration
Joel Duffield Chadron State VII Sr. Morrill, Neb. 3.60 Industrial Technology
Garrett Duncanson UWRiver Falls V Sr. Mantorville, Minn. 3.99 Biology
Nathan Johnson Washington & Lee III Sr. Lexington, VA 3.79 Mathematics and Economics
Evan Knight Nebraska Wesleyan VII So. Keystone, Neb. 3.98 History and Spanish
Phil McCollam Bemidji State V Sr. Idaho Falls, Idaho 3.98 Design Technology and Art
Nate Mealy Wheaton (Ill.) V Sr. Hudson, Ohio 3.94 Political Science
Fritz Nugent Redlands VIII Sr. Chicago, Ill. 3.66 Studio Art: Sculpture & Ceramics
Nate Olson UWLa Crosse V Sr. Stevens Point, Wis. 3.53 Broadfield Science
Frank Prince III Puget Sound VIII Sr. Port Angeles, Wash. 3.98 Business Administration
Eric Sornson Pittsburg State VII Sr. Wichita, Kan. 4.00 Commerical Graphics/Computer Science
Jarod Wall Central Missouri State VII Sr. Marshalltown, Iowa 3.97 Accounting
THIRD TEAM
NAME SCHOOL DIS YR HOMETOWN GPA MAJOR
Ryan Agnew Bentley I Sr. Spencer, Mass. 3.55 Public Policy & Social Change
Kevin Balster Wartburg VII Jr. Monticello, Iowa 3.92 Mathematics/Math Ed.
Shaun Blake Kean II Sr. Cape May Court House, N.J. 3.92 Finance
Kenneth Bowling Oklahoma Christian VI Jr. Brookline, Mo. 3.57 Mathematics Education
Alex Drollinger Case Western Reserve IV Jr. Lodi, Ohio 3.96 Chemistry
Jason Foster Colby I Sr. Waterbury, Vt. 3.46 Geosciences and History
Dan Gale East Stroudsburg II Sr. Heilserville, N.J. 3.91 Health and Phys. Ed.
Bryan George Central VII Sr. Pella, Iowa 3.57 General studies
Jack Henkemeyer Gustavus Adolphus V Sr. Plymouth, Minn. 3.82 Pol. Sci. and Psychology
Geoff Kaiser Loras VII Jr. Horicon, Wis. 3.84 Sports Management
Owen Kiely Wesleyan I Sr. Athol, Mass. 3.55 Neuroscience & Behavior
Andrew Leuenberger Grove City II Jr. West Middlesex, Pa. 3.99 Molecular Biology
Nate Meckes Calvin IV Sr. Bay City, Mich. 3.43 Psychology/Phys. Ed.
Trevor Palmer Southern Oregon VIII Jr. Central Point, Ore. 3.78 Psychology
Josh Svenson BaldwinWallace IV Sr. Wadsworth, Ohio 3.98 Mathematics
Mike Vella Juniata II Sr. Hollidaysburg, Pa. 3.99 Biology
ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Team Member of the Year: Uzoma Orji, MIT