University of Minnesota Athletics
Fourteen Gophers Named Academic All-Big Ten
12/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Dec. 9, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS -- Fourteen Gopher women's cross country student-athletes have been recognized as 2015 Academic All-Big Ten honorees, the Big Ten Conference announced Wednesday. In total, 68 student-athletes from the University of Minnesota earned league academic honors.
Courtney Alama, Liz Berkholtz, Melissa Cabak, Caitlin Dillon, Molly Eastman, Haley Johnson, Taylor Mikkalson, Patty O'Brien, Jamie Piepenburg, Kate Shelerud, Madeline Strandemo, Stacey Swatek, Kaila Urick, and Tess Wasowicz represented Gopher women's cross country on the Academic All-Big Ten list.
Berkholtz leads Minnesota as a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. The fifth-year senior completed her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in neuroscience and is currently enrolled in a graduate certificate program in addiction studies. Johnson and Urick have picked up their third Academic All-Big Ten award in cross country, while Mikkalson, Piepenburg, Strandemo, and Swatek are all two-time award recipients.
Swatek is one of at least 21 student-athletes who has maintained an unblemished grade-point average, joining fellow Gophers Foster Bush (football) and Josh Campion (football) with a 4.0 GPA. Swatek completed her undergraduate degree in kinesiology and is currently enrolled in a Master's of Education program.
In total, the Big Ten honored 1,024 student-athletes who compete in fall sports across the conference. Of the representatives chosen from the Maroon and Gold, five programs were accredited for their academic success. The football team placed 28 individuals on the list to pace the Gophers. Women's cross country (14) and women's soccer (13) touted double-digit honorees, while volleyball and men's cross country rounded out the list with eight and five, respectively.
To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be letterwinners who are in at least their second academic year at their institution and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
2015 Minnesota Women's Cross Country Academic All-Big Ten Honorees
Courtney Alama (R-Fr., Undeclared) Annandale, Minn.
Liz Berkholtz (R-Sr., Psychology/Addiction Studies) Sun Prairie, Wis.
Melissa Cabak (R-Jr., Chemical Engineering) Plymouth, Minn.
Caitlin Dillon (R-Jr., Elementary Education) Germantown, Wis.
Molly Eastman (R-Fr., Food Science) Victoria, Minn.
Haley Johnson (R-Jr., Food Science) Plymouth, Wis.
Taylor Mikkalson (R-Jr., Psychology) Mantorville, Minn.
Patty O'Brien (R-Fr., Undeclared) Maplewood, Minn.
Jamie Piepenburg (R-Jr., Genetics/Cell Biology) Alexandria, Minn.
Kate Shelerud (R-Jr., Nursing) Esko, Minn.
Madeline Strandemo (R-So., Marketing) Fargo, N.D.
Stacey Swatek (R-Sr., Applied Kinesiology M Ed.) Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
Kaila Urick (R-Sr., Journalism) Chaska, Minn.
Tess Wasowicz (R-So., Global Studies) Palatine, Ill.
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Players Mentioned
