University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Student-Athletes Earn Academic Honors
 | |
May 16, 2002
AMHERST, Mass. -- Seven University of Massachusetts student-athletes, including five from the school's softball team, have been named to various Verizon University Division Academic All-District I teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).First team honorees from the Minutewoman softball team include junior first baseman Brandi Cross (Diamond Bar, Calif.), a third team Verizon Academic All-America selection a year ago who owns a 3.96 cumulative grade point average in psychology. Cross was joined on the first team by senior pitcher Jennifer Hadley (Bristol, Conn.), a 3.46 student in sociology; junior pitcher Kaila Holtz (North Vancouver, British Columbia), a 3.82 student in exercise science and senior outfielder Teri Rooney (Visalia, Calif.), who carries a 3.53 gpa in sport management.
The women's District I at-large first team included one UMass student-athlete in tennis standout Helena Horak (Westlake Village, Calif.). She is a 3.94 student in biochemisty/biology.
Named to the District I second team in softball was junior second baseman Ashley Bakken (Phoenix, Ariz.), who carries a 3.47 gpa in exercise science. The men's District I at large second team included senior gymnast Clayton Kent (North Vancouver, British Columbia), a 3.75 student in mathematics.
To qualify for the Verizon Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore in class, a starter or key reserve on his/her team and have compiled a minimum 3.20 cumulative gpa. The District I team includes student-athletes from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
This marks the 50th year of the Academic All-America program, as the inaugural team was announced on Dec. 6, 1952. Since that time, more than 12,000 students have been named Academic All-America team members at colleges and universities at all levels for every recognized NCAA sport.
The 22 members of the original team, which included football players only, will be honored with a series of events throughout the current academic year. The program's popularity resulted in a significant expansion for the current academic year, as 816 student-athletes -- a 19 percent increase over the previous highest number -- will be selected to 12 different Academic All-America teams during the 2001-02 academic year.