May 16, 2003
Cullowhee, N.C. - The Southern Conference has announced its TIAA-CREF Academic All-Conference team for the spring of 2003. Western Carolina University boasts 25 student-athletes on the list, one of the highest numbers in the league. A total of 202 athletes, representing all 12 SoCon institutions and softball affiliate member UNC Wilmington, were named to the team. To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and have competed in at least one-half of their team's competitions during the spring. WCU athletes represented on the team averaged a 3.50 GPA.
Representing the Catamount baseball team is senior Alan Beck with a 3.21 GPA in Sport Management. Representing the tennis team are juniors Erin Johnson (3.729), Kristin Munn (3.416) and Shannon Zalinski (3.417), as well as sophomore Kristin Cotton (3.419).
For the WCU men's golf team, sophomores Chase Kress posted a 3.5 cumulative GPA and Ryan Barry carried a 3.67 to make the list. Junior Rebecca Twiner graced the list for the women's golf team with a 3.2, while sophomores Meredith Beck (3.619), Line Cordes (3.810) and Johanna Lundberg (4.0) also made the team. Lundberg was one of five student-athletes with a perfect 4.0 to make the list.
For the men's track and field team, four sophomores were named to the list. Darius Bryson (3.305), Jason Harnett (3.597), David McCall (3.302) and Jason Stepp (3.397) all received the honor. In women's track and field, the Catamounts claimed the most athletes on the all-academic team with 10. Seniors Tricia Shepard and Kineta Rogers earned a 3.371 and 3.617, respectively. Juniors Melanie Cooper (3.837), Randi Miles (3.283), Jerrine Peeler (3.202), Michelle Velez (3.622) and Kiley Wright (3.359) received the nod and sophomores Tonya Edmonds (3.240), Leslie Martin (3.872) and Laura Tieszen (3.595) also made the list.
This is the first year that the Southern Conference has named an All-Academic team by season. The program started with winter sports All-Academic teams in basketball, wrestling and indoor track and field. The All-Academic teams are made possible by a grant from the SoCon's education partner, TIAA-CREF.
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