University of Massachusets Athletics
Hoagland, Spiess Named UMass Spring Scholar-Athletes
May 10, 2006 | Men's Track & Field
May 10, 2006
AMHERST, Mass. - Junior Erik Hoagland (Belchertown, Mass.) and junior Michele Spiess (Stuggart, Germany) were named the UMass Male and Female Spring Scholar-Athletes today at the weekly Sports Luncheon. Hoagland is a three-time Atlantic 10 champion in the long jump and triple jump, while maintaining a 3.7 GPA in architectural design. Speiss was the A-10 Women's Tennis Performer of the Year and holds a 3.9 GPA in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Hoagland is in his first season with the UMass track and field team after walking on to the team this past fall. After being completely out of the track and field world for two years, he was set the UMass school records in the outdoor triple jump and the indoor triple jump. He also ranks among the top-five all-time in the indoor and outdoor long jump. During the indoor track season, he became the first UMass student-athlete to ever win both the long jump and triple jump in one meet.
He was presented by Joseph Krupczyanski, professor of architecture, and head coach Ken O'Brien.
Spiess was named the Atlantic 10 Performer of the Year in Tennis this season after posting a 24-4 record at No. 1 singles play and a 21-4 record at No. 1 doubles (with Masha Pozar). She was also named to the Atlantic 10 All-Conference Team and to the Academic All-Conference Team. This marks her second consecutive season as an All-Conference selection.
Ever since Spiess has joined UMass from Louisville, she has enjoyed unparalleled success. She was named Atlantic 10 Player of the Week four times and UMass Athlete of the Week two times. Spiess did not lose during the A-10 Championships, going 3-0 in singles play and 1-0 in doubles play.
She was presented by Iuliana Ismailescu who is a Ph.D. Candidate in Finance at the Isenberg School of Management and head coach Judy Dixon.