Horizon League Announces Academic All-League Teams for Winter Sports

April 17, 2007

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INDIANAPOLIS -- The Horizon League experienced a highly successful season of competition this past winter. That success continued in the classroom, as well, as the League announced its 2006-07 Winter Academic All-Horizon League teams on Tuesday (April 17).

A total of 82 student-athletes from six sports were honored in balloting by the League's faculty athletics representatives and sports information directors. The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee led the way with 12 selections apiece, followed by Butler University and Youngstown State University, each with 11. Wright State University had ten student-athletes recognized, two more than the University of Illinois at Chicago (eight). The University of Detroit Mercy and Loyola University Chicago each boasted seven honorees, with Cleveland State University receiving five awards.

For the second consecutive year, Butler featured three members of the men's basketball Academic All-League team. Junior A.J. Graves was a First-Team Academic All-America selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) last month, and received All-America Honorable Mention after averaging 17 points per game for the Bulldogs, who won a League-record 29 games and reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Championship. He owns a 3.394 grade-point-average, majoring in actuarial science.

Junior teammates Julian Betko (3.858, business administration) and Drew Streicher (3.947, chemistry/pre-med) joined Graves as repeat choices on the honor roll, with Streicher earning the award for a third consecutive year.

Wright State senior Drew Burleson (3.228, communications studies) and UW-Green Bay sophomore Mike Schachtner (3.844, general studies) rounded out the men's basketball list. Burleson averaged 8.6 points per game to help lead WSU to its first-ever League title and a berth in the NCAA Championship, while Schachtner posted a rate of 14.9 points per contest for the Phoenix, hitting nearly 46 percent of his shots from three-point range.

In women's basketball, three of the five honorees were repeat selections from last year's rolls, led by Butler senior Jackie Closser. The First-Team All-League performer was sixth on the loop scoring charts at 14.6 points per game while also handing out 3.74 assists per contest for fourth place on that list. In the classroom, Closser carries a 3.616 GPA as an elementary education major.

UW-Green Bay senior Amanda Popp (3.793, psychology/human development) and Wright State junior Whitney Lewis (4.000, psychology) were also named to the Academic All-League team for the second year in a row. Popp averaged 10.2 points per game, helping the Phoenix to a 29-4 overall record which included the Horizon League title as part of a 26-game winning streak, while Lewis posted 11.4 points per contest for the Raiders. UW-Green Bay junior Kayla Groh (3.610, business administration) led the circuit with a .859 free-throw percentage, with Youngstown State junior Lauren Branson (3.93, special education) ranking second with her rate of 4.32 assists per contest.

In men's swimming, UIC's Blake Booher led a quartet of Flames on the Academic All-League list. The senior was named the League Athlete of the Year after winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events at the 2007 Horizon League Championships and helping UIC to first-place finishes in two relay events. Booher, a two-time recipient of the League's U.S. Army Scholar-Athlete of the Week award, is an Academic All-League choice for the third year in a row and owns a 3.29 GPA as a political science major.

Flame teammates Mike Conroy (3.37, business) and Mark Pappalardo (3.49, secondary education/mathematics) also earned their third Academic All-League awards, along with fellow senior Andrew Johnston (3.766, business administration) of UW-Green Bay. Johnston was one of four Phoenix representatives on the Academic All-League squad, along with senior Dan Lindstrom (3.50, urban and regional studies), a repeat selection from last year. Cleveland State's four honorees included repeat honoree and 2006 League Athlete of the Year Bjorn Schantz (3.89, marketing and international business).

Wright State senior Ryan Klasmeier (3.481, mechanical engineering) and UW-Milwaukee senior Karl Winderl (3.953, accounting) were honored for the second year in a row as part of the 18-member group.

The women's swimming team also features 18 student-athletes, with ten repeat selections including a trio of three-time honorees. UW-Milwaukee senior Lindsay Caldwell leads that group after winning the 50-, 100- and 200-yard freestyle events at the League Championships to garner Swimmer of the Meet honors for the third year in a row. Caldwell owns a 3.573 GPA as a journalism/mass communications major. UW-Green Bay seniors Kristin Carlson (3.79, business administration) and Mary Schoen (3.945, human biology) also were honored for the third consecutive season.

Four of the Academic All-League selections captured event titles at the League summit, with repeat honoree Colleen Dougherty of UIC (3.91, psychology) helping the Flames set League records in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays, while Wright State junior Catalina Martinez (3.352, biomedical engineering) won the 1,000- and 1,650-yard events. Wright State sophomore Kelsey Cooper (3.733, English) was the top finisher in the 100-yard backstroke, with UW-Milwaukee senior Crystal Szymanski (3.432, Spanish) posting a blue-ribbon performance in one-meter diving.

The other repeat honorees included Youngstown State senior Becky Bertuzzi (3.85, business marketing), Wright State seniors Dani DiMasso (3.705, language arts education) and Amanda Mueller (3.955, marketing), WSU junior Jessica Weidert (4.000, modern languages), UW-Milwaukee junior Emma McKeith (3.948, education), and UW-Green Bay senior Janet Weidert (3.794, human development). WSU and UW-Green Bay each boasted a League-high five honorees.

Detroit had six of the 18 honorees in men's indoor track and field, including repeat winners in senior Zack Bolton (3.729, mechanical engineering) and junior Andrew Hayner (4.000, political science/history). Youngstown State senior Drew Weizer (3.80, health) garnered recognition for the third consecutive year.

The 18-member women's indoor track and field team included five representatives from Loyola and four from Youngstown State. Junior Bethany Anderson (3.35, health) is part of the Penguin contingent, winning her second Academic All-League award after capturing the shot put and weight throw crowns to claim Outstanding Field Performer honors at the League Championships.

Another two-time academic honoree---Butler senior Genni Gardner---won Outstanding Running Performer accolades at the League summit for her first-place efforts in the 1,000 meters and one-mile run. Gardner, who boasts a 3.47 GPA as a communications disorders major, joined Anderson among five event champions on the Academic All-League squad, along with UW-Milwaukee sophomore Jenni Saarinen (3.808, elementary education), who claimed top honors in the pentathlon. Loyola senior Marcia Faustin (3.48, biology) received her third academic citation after winning the high jump, while Rambler sophomore Pam Staton (3.61, biology) broke the tape in the 800 meters.

Four additional performers received academic recognition for the second consecutive year. Wright State senior Jill Britton (3.797, accountancy), Youngstown State senior Lindsay Cobey (3.64, physical education) and Loyola junior Rachel Hansen (3.96, biology) joined UIC senior Lisa Petty (3.72, teaching of history) in that group of two-time selections.

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 3.20 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.

Academic All-Horizon League Teams -- Winter 2006-07

Men's Basketball
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Julian Betko-% * Butler * Jr. * 3.858 * Business Administration * Ruzomberok, Slovakia (Sharon, Pa.)
Drew Burleson * Wright State * Sr. * 3.228 * Communications Studies * Wheelersburg, Ohio (Wheelersburg)
A.J. Graves-% * Butler * Jr. * 3.394 * Mathematics/Actuarial Science * Switz City, Ind. (White River Valley)
Mike Schachtner * UW-Green Bay * So. * 3.844 * General Studies * Somerset, Wis. (Somerset)
Drew Streicher-# * Butler * Jr. * 3.947 * Chemistry (Pre-Med) * Washington, Ind. (Washington)

Women's Basketball
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Lauren Branson * Youngstown State * Jr. * 3.93 * Special Education * Cincinnati, Ohio (Archbishop McNicholas)
Jackie Closser-% * Butler * Sr. * 3.616 * Elementary Education * Alexandria, Ind. (Alexandria-Monroe)
Kayla Groh * UW-Green Bay * Jr. * 3.610 * Business Administration * Elkhart Lake, Wis. (Glenbeulah)
Whitney Lewis-% * Wright State * Jr. * 4.000 * Psychology * Lynchburg, Ohio (Lynchburg-Clay)
Amanda Popp-% * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.793 * Psychology, Human Development * Brillion, Wis. (Brillion)

Men's Swimming and Diving
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Joe Badziong * Cleveland State * Sr. * 3.32 * Accounting * Parma, Ohio (Padua)
Bobby Balow * UW-Green Bay * Jr. * 3.52 * Chemistry * Racine, Wis. (Park)
Blake Booher-# * UIC * Sr. * 3.29 * Political Science * Barrington, Ill. (Barrington)
Jason Brozek * Butler * Sr. * 3.562 * History/Chemistry * Great Bend, Kan. (Great Bend)
Mike Conroy-# * UIC * Sr. * 3.37 * Business * Hoffman Estates, Ill. (Hoffman Estates)
Raj Duggal * Butler * Sr. * 3.312 * Pharmacy * Columbus, Ind. (North)
Josh Johnson * UIC * Jr. * 3.42 * Biology * Channahon, Ill. (Illinois Math & Science Acad.)
Andrew Johnston-# * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.766 * Business Administration * Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chippewa Falls)
Ryan Klasmeier-% * Wright State * Sr. * 3.481 * Mechanical Engineering * Cincinnati, Ohio (Sycamore)
Robby Leibold * UW-Milwaukee * So. * 3.845 * Undecided * Neenah, Wis. (Neenah)
Dan Lindstrom-% * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.50 * Urban and Regional Studies * Vulcan, Mich. (Vulcan)
Nedim Nisic * Cleveland State * So. * 3.40 * International Business * Tuzia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (Gymnasium Mesa Selimovic)
Mark Pappalardo-# * UIC * Sr. * 3.49 * Secondary Education / Math * LaGrange, Ill. (Lyons Township)
Stef Potgieter * Cleveland State * So. * 3.33 * Communication * Sasolborg, South Africa (Sasolborg)
Bjorn Schantz-% * Cleveland State * Sr. * 3.89 * Marketing & International Business * Loddekopinge, Sweden (Polhemskolan)
Karl Winderl-% * UW-Milwaukee * Sr. * 3.953 * Accounting * Hubertus, Wis. (Hartford Union)
Mike Witte * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.394 * History and Political Science * Oak Creek, Wis. (Oak Creek)
David Yugo * UW-Milwaukee * Jr. * 3.657 * Business * Sun Prairie, Wis. (Sun Prairie)

Women's Swimming and Diving
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Mary Beth Arnold * Butler * Sr. * 3.689 * Journalism * Indianapolis, Ind. (Franklin Central)
Becky Bertuzzi-% * Youngstown State * Sr. * 3.85 * Business Marketing * Warren, Ohio (John F. Kennedy)
Lindsay Caldwell-# * UW-Milwaukee * Sr. * 3.573 * Journalism / Mass Communications * West Bend, Wis. (West)
Kristin Carlson-# * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.79 * Business Administration * Maple Grove, Minn. (Maple Grove)
Kelsey Cooper * Wright State * So. * 3.733 * English * Springfield, Ohio (Northwestern)
Molly Cox * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.621 * Elementary Education * Berlin, Wis. (Berlin)
Dani DiMasso-% * Wright State * Sr. * 3.705 * Language Arts Education * Cincinnati, Ohio (Sycamore)
Colleen Dougherty-% * UIC * Jr. * 3.91 * Psychology * Woodstock, Ill. (Woodstock)
Sarah Economides * UIC * Sr. * 3.61 * Movement Science * Downers Grove, Ill. (North)
Sarah Lynne Gates * Butler * So. * 3.856 * Pre-Pharmacy * Lexington, Ky. (Catholic)
Carissa Lindholm * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.665 * Elementary Education * Manitowoc, Wis. (Lincoln)
Catalina Martinez * Wright State * Jr. * 3.352 * Biomedical Engineering * Cali, Colombia
Emma McKeith-% * UW-Milwaukee * Jr. * 3.948 * Education * Madison, Wis. (West)
Amanda Mueller-% * Wright State * Sr. * 3.955 * Marketing * Mequon, Wis. (Homestead)
Mary Schoen-# * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.945 * Human Biology * Chaska, Minn. (Chaska)
Crystal Szymanski * UW-Milwaukee * Sr. * 3.432 * Spanish * Hales Corners, Wis. (Whitnall)
Janet Weidert-% * UW-Green Bay * Sr. * 3.794 * Human Development * Colbert, Wash. (Colbert)
Jessica Weidert-% * Wright State * Jr. * 4.000 * Modern Languages * Spokane, Wash. (Mead)

Men's Indoor Track and Field
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Justin Bohler * UW-Milwaukee * Jr. * 3.223 * Civil Engineering * Janesville, Wis. (Parker)
Zack Bolton-% * Detroit * Sr. * 3.729 * Mechanical Engineering * Belding, Mich. (Belding)
Ryan Byrne * Detroit * Sr. * 3.867 * Mechanical Engineering * Essex, Ontario (St. Anne's)
Larry Ehrhorn * UW-Milwaukee * Jr. * 3.310 * Education * Madison, Wis. (Memorial)
Andrew Hayner-% * Detroit * Jr. * 4.000 * Political Science and History * Royal Oak, Mich. (UD Jesuit)
Eli Kafer * Detroit * Sr. * 3.364 * Architecture * Palmyra, Mich. (Blissfield)
Andrew Lindsay * Detroit * Jr. * 3.407 * Criminal Justice * Burlington, Ontario (Notre Dame)
Shawn Lucas * Loyola * Sr. * 3.27 * HR Management / Sports Mgmt. * Elgin, Ill. (St. Edward)
Aaron Merrill * Youngstown State * So. * 3.51 * Criminal Justice * Leetonia, Ohio (Leetonia)
Dan Nemergut * Youngstown State * So. * 3.30 * Electrical Engineering * Youngstown, Ohio (South Range)
Michael Perri * Youngstown State * So. * 3.34 * Business Marketing * Chillicothe, Ohio (Chillicothe Unioto)
Oscar Pina * UIC * So. * 3.86 * Criminal Justice * Cicero, Ill. (Morton East)
Andy Sbertoli * Loyola * Gr. * 3.40 * MBA (Information Systems) * Wood Dale, Ill. (Fenton)
Adam Schleis * UW-Milwaukee * So. * 3.351 * History * Germantown, Wis. (Germantown)
John Sheppard * Youngstown State * Jr. * 3.58 * Exercise Science * Huron, Ohio (Firelands)
Sinisa Simic * Detroit * Sr. * 3.385 * Architecture * Windsor, Ontario (Kennedy Collegiate)
Chris Smith * Butler * Sr. * 3.245 * English * Chagrin Falls, Ohio (Chagrin Falls)
Drew Weizer-# * Youngstown State * Sr. * 3.80 * Health * Garfield Heights, Ohio (Trinity)

Women's Indoor Track and Field
Name * School * Yr. * GPA * Major(s) * Hometown (High School)
Bethany Anderson-% * Youngstown State * Jr. * 3.35 * Health * Jamestown, N.Y. (Southwestern)
Jill Britton-# * Wright State * Sr. * 3.797 * Accountancy * Newark, Ohio (Newark)
Jacquline Clonch * Youngstown State * So. * 3.93 * Fashion Merchandising * Newton Falls, Ohio (Newton Falls)
Lindsay Cobey-% * Youngstown State * Sr. * 3.64 * Physical Education * Canfield, Ohio (Canfield)
Sara DeMars * Loyola * Sr. * 3.67 * Biology * Grosse Point Shores, Mich. (Regina)
Amanda Domich * Loyola * Sr. * 3.36 * Elementary Education * Algonquin, Ill. (Dundee-Crown)
Marcia Faustin-# * Loyola * Sr. * 3.48 * Biology * Orland Park, Ill. (Carl Sandburg)
Darcelle Formby * Youngstown State * So. * 3.87 * General Studies * Cleveland, Ohio (Cleveland Rhodes)
Genni Gardner-% * Butler * Jr. * 3.46 * Communications Disorders * Bramley, U.K. (St. Peters)
Rachel Hansen-% * Loyola * Jr. * 3.96 * Biology * Omaha, Neb. (Burke)
Kristi Hertzler * Butler * Jr. * 3.688 * Biology * Harrisburg, N.C. (Carmel, Ind.)
Marie McVetta * Wright State * Sr. * 3.778 * Management Information Systems * Grafton, Ohio (Midview)
Kourtney Nault * UW-Milwaukee * Sr. * 3.412 * ASL / Special Education * Port Washington, Wis. (Port Washington)
Holly Nearman * UW-Milwaukee * So. * 3.619 * Journalism * Monroe, Wis. (Monroe)
Lisa Petty-% * UIC * Sr. * 3.72 * Education (Teaching of History) * Brookfield, Ill. (Lyons Township)
Jenni Saarinen * UW-Milwaukee * So. * 3.808 * Elementary Education * Lappeenranta, Finland (Kimpisen Iukio)
Ashley Schinske * Detroit * So. * 3.848 * Mathematics and Spanish * Paw Paw, Mich. (Paw Paw)
Pam Staton * Loyola * So. * 3.61 * Biology * Ingleside, Ill. (Grant Community)

% -- Academic All-Horizon League in 2006 (repeat honorees)
# -- Three-Time (2005, 2006, 2007) Academic All-Horizon League honorees