Horizon League Announces Academic All-League Teams for Spring Sports

June 29, 2006

June 26, 2006

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INDIANAPOLIS -- As one of its platforms, the Horizon League stresses the importance of academic achievement. That emphasis was evident Wednesday (June 26) with the announcement of its 2006 Spring Academic All-Horizon League teams.

The League honored 86 student-athletes from eight sports following balloting by the League's faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors. Youngstown State University topped the charts with 18 selections, followed by the University of Detroit Mercy (15) and Butler University (13). Cleveland State University featured ten honorees, with Loyola University Chicago and Wright State University each boasting eight. The University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee each received five awards, with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay claiming four.

Youngstown State's four choices in baseball included Second-Team CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America choice Brandon Caipen. The senior catcher---also a First-Team All-League selection on the field---owns a 3.82 grade-point-average as an integrated social studies education major, and was joined on the League academic squad by teammates Brian Boone (3.61, exercise science), Josh Page (3.90, middle childhood education) and Ryan Sellman (3.68, integrated social studies education).

Wright State captured the League championship in part through the contributions of its Academic All-League choices---senior Amin Abusaleh (3.296, organizational leadership) plus seniors Chris Snyder (3.479, accountancy) and Second-Team All-League pick Justin Wilson (3.269, finance). Snyder and Caipen each won Academic All-League accolades for the third time, while Page and Wilson were second-time selections.

Horizon League Player of the Year Kaleigh Rafter (3.72, criminal justice) of Detroit and Pitcher of the Year Grace Luginbuhl (3.72, chemical engineering) of Cleveland State highlighted the Academic All-League softball team. Rafter and Luginbuhl were two of seven First-Team All-League players also earning all-academic honors, while Luginbuhl's credentials also included First-Team CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America mention. CSU teammate J.J. Thornberry (3.92, graphic design) was a Third-Team Academic All-America pick by CoSIDA and joined Luginbuhl plus UIC senior Joyce Cathey (3.64, criminal justice)---another First-Team All-League pick on the field---as three-time Academic All-League honorees.

Other First-Team All-League selections named to the academic team included a pair of Detroit representatives in junior Sarah Dickey (3.57, criminal justice) and sophomore Katrina Klemp (3.45, communications) plus Cleveland State junior Michele Penney (3.80, anthropology). Dickey received her second consecutive Academic All-League certificate, as did UW-Green Bay senior Anna Nieznanski (3.69, human biology).

The men's tennis team included two players from Butler's League championship team, with senior Andy Bartish (3.357, chemistry) and junior Evan West (3.819, chemistry) each earning Academic All-League honors for the second time to join the UW-Green Bay sophomore tandem of Mark Goldin (3.50, psychology) and Tim Prudlow (3.459, human biology) in the spotlight. Prudlow was also an All-League selection on the courts in 2006.

Cleveland State featured two of the six women's tennis honorees as junior Morgan Ungerott (3.66, secondary education) and Christine Vogelgesang (3.81, communications) earned Academic All-League status, while UIC's Grace Gill-Morlis (3.58, business economics) added this award after helping the Flames to a tenth consecutive League title. Wright State junior Audra Beckett (4.00, political science) was the lone repeat honoree as the six-player group featured three sophomores and three juniors.

Detroit's Mark Sommerfeld, the League men's golf Player of the Year, headlined that sport's Academic All-League team. His 3.29 GPA as an international business major earned him a spot alongside sophomore teammate Mikhial Pasic (3.98, business) while Butler also had a pair of honorees in sophomore Michael Poteracki (3.77 finance) and senior Will Turner (3.765, finance). Turner lost a playoff for medalist honors at the League Championship last month. Turner and Youngstown State senior Josh Zarlenga (3.85, accouting) each received a third Academic All-League citation, while Cleveland State junior Ben Grandy (3.74) won his second award after helping the Vikings to their first League title since 1998.

In women's golf, sophomores Niki Garden (3.833, pre-pharmacy) and Paige McCracken (3.759, English writing) plus junior Sarah Swanson (3.486, finance) represented League titlist Butler on the academic list, while Cleveland State senior Kristen Obush (3.38, civil engineering) completed a career which included four All-League accolades and a third consecutive Academic All-League certificate.

Swanson received her second Academic All-League award, as did Youngstown State junior Bonnie Sherman (3.89, accounting). Four of the seven academic honorees also were All-League picks on the links, including Garden, McCracken, Obush and Detroit sophomore Mandi Dupuis (3.50, business administration).

Ten of Youngstown State's honors came from outdoor track and field, with five men and five women gaining recognition. On the men's side, YSU seniors Dave Mealy (3.57, integrated social studies) and Nick Smith (3.49, geology) each were named for the second year in a row. Smith won the steeplechase competition at the League Outdoor Championships, making him one of three event winners named to the all-academic rolls. Graduate teammate Jarrod Davis (4.00, computer information systems) captured the javelin and hammer throw titles to win Field Performer of the Year recognition and was a First-Team CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America selection earlier this month.

Loyola's Sean Conroy (3.53, international studies) won the League 1,500-meter title on the way to his third consecutive Academic All-League honor, joining senior teammate Andrew McQuillan (3.31, finance) and UW-Milwaukee senior Josh Nygren (3.930, political science) in that group.

For the women, five competitors won events at the League Outdoor Championships, including YSU sophomore Bethany Anderson (3.44, health), whose hammer throw and shot put titles helped the Penguins secure a third consecutive League crown. Teammate Katy Williams (3.75, French) won the discus throw at the League summit and earned Academic All-League recognition for the third year in a row, joining UW-Milwaukee seniors Katie Slamka (3.795, kinesiology) and Anna Christian (3.713, architecture) as three-time honorees. Slamka captured the 400-meter hurdles championship, while Loyola juniors Amanda Domich (3.26, elementary education) and Marcia Faustin (3.49, biology) claimed top honors in the 10,000 meters and high jump, respectively.

UIC senior Sara O'Mara (4.00, pre-elementary education) placed in all three throwing events (second in the hammer throw, third in the shot put, eighth in the discus throw) to garner Academic All-League honors and become a Second-Team CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America selection. Wright State junior Jill Britton (3.825, accountancy) and Detroit senior Andrea Karl (3.525, elementary education) each won Academic All-League recognition for the second year in a row.

The Horizon League recognizes student-athletes with Academic All-League teams in each of its 19 championship sports. To be eligible for Academic All-Horizon League consideration, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.25 or higher (based on a 4.00 scale) and have completed at least one year at the member institution, having earned 24 semester-hour or 36 quarter-hour credits.

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Comprised of nine public and private institutions of higher learning, the Horizon League is an NCAA Division I athletics conference that sponsors 19 intercollegiate championship sports and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The League and its member institutions aspire to teach young people, through athletic competition, the value of learning, service to others and personal responsibility.

Academic All-Horizon League Teams -- Spring 2006

Baseball
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Amin Abusaleh * Wright State * Sr. * 3.396 * Organizational Leadership * West Hills, Calif. (Chaminade)
Brian Boone * Youngstown State * Sr. * 3.61 * Exercise Science * Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington)
Brandon Caipen * Youngstown State * Sr. * 3.72 * Integrated Social Studies Education * Tallmadge, Ohio (Tallmadge)
Jon Dages * Butler * So. * 3.30 * Finance * Indianapolis, Ind. (Lawrence North)
Jed Dolske * UW-Milwaukee * Sr. * 3.289 * Communications * Ripon, Wis. (Ripon)
Theo Hudson * Cleveland State * So. * 3.48 * Psychology/Pre-Law * Cleveland, Ohio (John Marshall)
Ryan Martin * UIC * Sr. * 3.30 * Finance * Missoula, Mont. (Sentinel)
Josh Page * Youngstown State * So. * 3.90 * Middle Childhood Education * Plain City, Ohio (Jonathan Alder)
Ryan Sellman * Youngstown State * So. * 3.68 * Integrated Social Studies Education * Twinsburg, Ohio (Twinsburg)
Chris Snyder * Wright State * Sr. * 3.479 * Accountancy * Dayton, Ohio (Northmont)
John Westra * Cleveland State * Jr. * 3.76 * History and Education * Sturgis, Mich. (Sturgis)
Justin Wilson * Wright State * Sr. * 3.269 * Finance * Greenville, Ohio (Franklin-Monroe)

Softball
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Joyce Cathey * UIC * Sr. * 3.64 * Criminal Justice * Reno, Nev. (Reno)
Sarah Dickey * Detroit * Jr. * 3.57 * Criminal Justice * Brampton, Ontario (Turner-Fenton)
Katrina Klemp * Detroit * Sr. * 3.45 * Communications * Listowel, Ontario (Listowel District)
Kat Krause * Loyola * So. * 3.69 * Arts and Sciences * Arlington Heights, Ill. (Hersey)
Grace Luginbuhl * Cleveland State * Sr. * 3.72 * Chemical Engineering * Lima, Ohio (Bath)
Jacqueline Macy * Wright State * So. * 3.798 * Athletic Training * Middletown, Ohio (Madison)
Sarah Milosek * Cleveland State * Jr. * 3.79 * Biology * Brighton, Mich. (Brighton)
Anna Nieznanski * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.69 * Human Biology * Hales Corners, Wis. (Whitnall)
Michele Penney * Cleveland State * Jr. * 3.80 * Anthropology * Ravenna, Ohio (Crestwood)
Kaleigh Rafter * Detroit * So. * 3.72 * Criminal Justice * Guelph, Ontario (St. James Catholic)
Kate Sullivan * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.34 * Human Biology * Horicon, Wis. (Horicon)
J.J. Thornberry * Cleveland State * Sr. * 3.92 * Graphic Design * New Bloomington, Ohio (Elgin)

Men's Tennis
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Andy Bartish * Butler * Sr. * 3.357 * Chemistry * Cincinnati, Ohio (St. Xavier)
Mark Goldin * UW-Green Bay * So. * 3.50 * Psychology * Bayside, Wis. (Nicolet)
Brian Meek * Youngstown State * Jr. * 3.53 * Mechanical Engineering * Youngstown, Ohio (Ursuline)
Tim Prudlow * UW-Green Bay * So. * 3.459 * Human Biology * Elm Grove, Wis. (Brookfield Academy)
Craig Smith * Wright State * Jr. * 3.531 * Nursing * Pickerington, Ohio (Pickerington)
Evan West * Butler * Jr. * 3.819 * Chemistry * Greenwood, Ind. (Center Grove)

Women's Tennis
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Audra Beckett * Wright State * Jr. * 4.00 * Political Science * Hamilton, Ohio (Edgewood)
Grace Gill-Morlis * UIC * So. * 3.58 * Business Economics * Lima, Peru (Villa Maria)
Amy Inman * Detroit * So. * 3.896 * Chemistry * Grand Rapids, Mich. (Catholic Central)
Gina Peretti * Youngstown State * Jr. * 3.89 * Political Science * Boardman, Ohio (Boardman)Morgan Ungerott * Cleveland State * Jr. * 3.66 * Secondary Education * Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (Cuyahoga Falls)
Christine Vogelgesang * Cleveland State * So. * 3.81 * Communications * Hartville, Ohio (North Canton Hoover)

Men's Golf
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Ben Grandy * Cleveland State * Jr. * 3.74 * Biology * Southgate, Mich. (Gabriel Richard)
Aaron Harter * Loyola * So. * 3.84 * Economics * Ojai, Calif. (Villanova Prep)
Mikhial Pasic * Detroit * So. * 3.98 * Business * London, Ontario (H.B. Beal)
Michael Poteracki * Butler * So. * 3.77 * Finance * Arlington Heights, Ill. (Hersey)
Mark Sommerfeld * Detroit * So. * 3.29 * International Business * Waterloo, Ontario (Bluevale)
Will Turner * Butler * Sr. * 3.765 * Finance * Auburn, Ind. (DeKalb)
Josh Zarlenga * Youngstown State * Sr. * 3.85 * Accounting * Boardman, Ohio (Boardman)

Women's Golf
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Mandi Dupuis * Detroit * So. * 3.50 * Business Administration * Tecumseh, Ontario (L'Essor)
Niki Garden * Butler * So. * 3.833 * Pre-Pharmacy * St. Albans, Mo. (St. Albans)
Paige McCracken * Butler * So. * 3.759 * English Writing * Pittsboro, Ind. (Cardinal Ritter)
Kristen Obush * Cleveland State * Sr. * 3.38 * Civil Engineering * Indiana, Pa. (Indiana)
Bonnie Sherman * Youngstown State * Jr. * 3.89 * Accounting * North Canton, Ohio (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Sarah Swanson * Butler * Jr. * 3.486 * Finance * Sheboygan, Wis. (Sheboygan North)
Rachel Sinnen * Loyola * Jr. * 3.68 * Finance * Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley)

Men's Outdoor Track and Field
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Zack Bolton * Detroit * Jr. * 3.705 * Mechanical Engineering * Belding, Mich. (Belding)
Sean Conroy * Loyola * Sr. * 3.53 * International Studies * Cork, Ireland (North Monastery)
Jarrod Davis * Youngstown State * Gr. * 4.00-# * Computer Information Systems * East Canton, Ohio (East Canton)
Mead Goedert * Detroit * Sr. * 3.782 * Social Work * Omaha, Neb. (Creighton Prep)
Justin Gorman * UW-Milwaukee * Jr. * 3.384 * Accounting * Spring Green, Wis. (River Valley)
Jean Harris * Detroit * Sr. * 3.528 * Mechanical Engineering * Livonia, Mich. (Churchill)
Andrew Hayner * Detroit * So. * 4.00 * Political Science and History * Royal Oak, Mich. (UD Jesuit)
Justin Malec * UIC * Sr. * 3.27 * Economics * Orland Park, Ill. (Carl Sandburg)
Andrew McQuillan * Loyola * Sr. * 3.31 * Finance * Geneva, Ill. (Geneva)
Dave Mealy * Youngstown State * Sr. * 3.57 * Integrated Social Studies * New Middletown, Ohio (Springfield)
Josh Nygren * UW-Milwaukee * Sr. * 3.930 * Political Science * Marinette, Wis. (Marinette)
John Sheppard * Youngstown State * So. * 3.59 * Exercise Science * Huron, Ohio (Firelands)
Nick Smith * Youngstown State * Sr. * 3.49 * Geology * Defiance, Ohio (Tinora)
Charles Ware * Butler * Jr. * 3.53 * Chemistry * South Bend, Ind. (Mishawaka Marian)
Drew Weizer * Youngstown State * Jr. * 3.76 * Physical Education * Garfield Heights, Ohio (Trinity)
Kent Wories * Butler * So. * 3.965 * Finance * Edwardsville, Ill. (Metro East Lutheran)
Dan Zinser * Detroit * Sr. * 3.381 * Business * Roseville, Mich. (Roseville)

Women's Outdoor Track and Field
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Bethany Anderson * Youngstown State * So. * 3.44 * Health * Jamestown, N.Y. (Southwestern)
Jill Britton * Wright State * Jr. * 3.825 * Accountancy * Newark, Ohio (Newark)
Anna Christian * UW-Milwaukee * Sr. * 3.713 * Architecture * Horicon, Wis. (Horicon)
Emily Cicero * Youngstown State * Sr. * 3.83 * Food and Nutrition * Napoleon, Ohio (Napoleon)
Emily Cole * Detroit * Sr. * 3.643 * Chemistry * Cement City, Mich. (Hudson)
Amanda Domich * Loyola * Jr. * 3.26 * Elementary Education * Algonquin, Ill. (Dundee-Crown)
Marcia Faustin * Loyola * Jr. * 3.49 * Biology * Orland Park, Ill. (Carl Sandburg)
Genni Gardner * Butler * So. * 3.90 * Communications Disorders * Bramley, United Kingdom (St. Peters)
Ashley Gibbs * Detroit * Jr. * 3.952 * Biochemistry * Canton, Ohio (Glen Oak)
Rachel Hansen * Loyola * So. * 3.95 * Biology * Omaha, Neb. (Burke)
Kristi Hertzler * Butler * So. * 3.72 * Biology * Harrisburg, N.C. (Carmel, Ind.)
Lindsey Hill * Youngstown State * Jr. * 3.55 * Early Childhood Education * Mount Vernon, Ohio (Mount Vernon)
Andrea Karl * Detroit * Sr. * 3.525 * Elementary Education * Casco, Mich. (Marine City)
Sara O'Mara * UIC * Sr. * 4.00 * Pre-Elementary Education * Hinsdale, Ill. (Central)
Katie Slamka * UW-Milwaukee * Sr. * 3.795 * Kinesiology * Racine, Wis. (Horlick)
Katie Stuckey * Butler * Sr. * 3.70 * Biology * Vincennes, Ind. (Lincoln)
Katy Williams * Youngstown State * Sr. * 3.75 * French * Randolph, Ohio (Waterloo)
Jennifer Williamson * Wright State * Sr. * 3.725 * Business Economics * Grove City, Ohio (Grove City)
Carly Youlton * Youngstown State * So. * 3.65 * Exercise Science * Chatham, Ontario (John McGregor)

# -- Graduate school GPA (3.70 undergraduate GPA)

2006 Spring Sports Academic All-League Selections by School:
Youngstown State 18, Detroit 15, Butler 13, Cleveland State 10, Loyola 8, Wright State 8, UIC 5, UW-Milwaukee 5, UW-Green Bay 4.