2001 WIAC Women's Cross Country Headlines

2001 WIAC Women's Cross Country Headlines

Six Earn Academic All-America Women's Track/Cross Country Honors

RELEASED: Thursday, June 20, 2002

Madison, Wis.--Six Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-America Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. La Crosse's Ellen Findlay and Jocelyn Loe received first team honors, while Whitewater's Tabitha Fendrick and Oshkosh's Susan Hardtke were named to the second team. Stevens Point's Jody Butkowski and Oshkosh's Jessica Marx captured third team recognition.

The Verizon Academic All-America Team includes all female track and field and cross country athletes from Division II, Division III and NAIA.

Findlay, a senior from Whitewater, Wis., is a therapeutic recreation major and psychology minor with a 3.98 grade point average. She was named to the Verizon Academic All-America Second Team last year and is a five-time USTCA scholar-athlete. Findlay was named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Women's Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete earlier this year.

Findlay is a five-time All-American in the pole vault, including a fifth-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. She placed second at the 2001 indoor national meet and fifth at the outdoor meet. Findlay was fourth indoors and third outdoors in 2000.

Loe, a junior from Oshkosh, Wis. (West), is a chemistry major with a 4.00 grade point average. She was one of three individuals on the 15-member first team to achieve a perfect grade point average.

Loe is an eight-time All-America honoree, including a third-place finish as a member of the 4x100 meter relay at the 2002 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. She has earned all eight of her All-America honors as a member of the Eagles' relay squads.

Fendrick, a senior from Marinette, Wis., is majoring in social work with a 3.86 grade point average. She received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this season.

Fendrick is a six-time All-American, having earned the honor three times in discus and three times in the shot put. She finished third in the discus at the 2002 outdoor championships after winning the national crown in 2000.

Hardtke, a senior from Kewaunee, Wis., is majoring in elementary education with a 3.97 grade point average. She helped the Titans to a second-place finish at the 2002 national indoor meet by running a leg on the winning distance medley relay team. Hardtke was also a member of the distance medley relay team that finished first at the conference meet this season.

Butkowski, a senior from Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH), carries a 3.82 grade point average in english and was an All-American in the triple jump for the Pointers at the 2002 outdoor national championships with a sixth-place finish. It was her third career All-America honor.

Butkowski is a two-time indoor All-American in the triple jump, placing second at the 2001 championships and eighth at this year's indoor national meet.

Marx, a senior from Mukwonago, Wis., is majoring in elementary education with a 3.91 grade point average. She helped the Titans to a second-place finish at the 2002 national indoor meet by running a leg on the winning distance medley relay team. Marx was also a member of the distance medley relay team that finished first at the conference meet this season.

The Verizon Academic All-America Teams are selected by a vote of the 1,800-member CoSIDA. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are named to district teams prior to being voted upon the national level.

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Eight Earn Academic All-District Women's
Track/Cross Country Honors

RELEASED: Wednesday, May 29, 2002

Madison, Wis.--Eight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) student-athletes have been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District V Women's Track and Field/Cross Country Team. UW-La Crosse's Ellen Findlay and Jocelyn Loe, Oshkosh's Susan Hardtke and Jessica Marx, Stevens Point's Jody Butkowski and Whitewater's Tabitha Fendrick were named to the first team. Stevens Point's Becky Lebak and Stout's Laura Verdegan earned second team recognition.

Findlay, a senior from Whitewater, Wis., is a therapeutic recreation major and psychology minor with a 3.98 grade point average. She earned Verizon Academic All-America Second Team honors last year. Findlay was named the 2002 WIAC Judy Kruckman Indoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete.

Findlay is a five-time NCAA Division III All-American in the pole vault. She placed fifth at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships, second at the 2001 indoor national meet and fifth at the outdoor meet. Findlay was fourth indoors and third outdoors in 2000. Additionally, she is a two-time league champion in the pole vault, winning the indoor and outdoor titles in 2001.

Loe, a senior from Oshkosh, Wis. (West), is a chemistry major with a 4.00 grade point average. She is an eight-time NCAA III All-American and has earned all eight of her All-America honors as a member of the Eagles' relay squads. She won the 400-meter dash conference outdoor title this season and was a member of the winning 4x100 and 4x400-meter relay teams.

Hardtke, a senior from Kewaunee, Wis., is majoring in elementary education with a 3.97 grade point average. She helped the Titans to a second-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Indoor Championships by running a leg on the winning distance medley relay team. Hardtke was also a member of the distance medley relay team that finished first at the conference meet this season.

Marx, a senior from Mukwonago, Wis., is also majoring in elementary education with a 3.91 grade point average. She helped the Titans to a second-place finish at the 2002 NCAA Indoor Championships by running a leg on the winning distance medley relay team. Marx was also a member of the distance medley relay team that finished first at the conference meet this season.

Butkowski, a senior from Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH), has a 3.82 grade point average with an english major. She earned All-America honors at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships with a sixth-place finish in the triple jump. Butkowski is a two-time indoor All-American in the triple jump, placing second at the 2001 championships and eighth at this year's national meet.

Fendrick, a senior from Marinette, Wis., is majoring in social work with a 3.86 grade point average. She received the WIAC Judy Kruckman Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete Award this season.

Fendrick is a six-time All-American, having earned the honor three times in discus and three times in the shot put. She finished third in the discus at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships after winning the national crown in 2000.

Lebak, a senior from Burlington, Wis., is majoring in dietetics with a 3.47 grade point average. She finished sixth in 10,000-meter run at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships after finishing fourth in the same event last season. She is a six-time league champion, winning outdoor titles in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter runs each of the last two seasons, and winning the indoor titles in the 3,000 and 5,000-meter runs in 2001. Lebak placed seventh at the 2001 NCAA Cross Country Championship after winning the individual conference crown.

Verdegan, a sophomore from Tony, Wis. (Flambeau), posts a 3.97 grade point average in dietetics. She placed fifth in the triple jump at the 2002 NCAA Outdoor Championships and finished third in the same event at the indoor national meet. Verdegan was the WIAC champion in the outdoor triple jump this season and placed second at the indoor league meet.

The academic all-district teams are selected from all Division II, Division III and NAIA schools in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Indiana. Individuals on the first team will advance to the national ballot.

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Cross Country Teams and Individuals Earn
Academic All-America Honors

The NCAA Division III National Cross Country Coaches Association has recognized a number of WIAC teams and student-athletes for their performances in the classroom and on the terrain.

On the women's side, UW-Platteville (3.551), UW-Stout (3.387), UW-Oshkosh (3.34), UW-Stevens Point (3.30) and UW-Eau Claire (3.179) were among 104 schools cited for athletic and academic accomplishments last fall. Otterbein College (Ohio) posted a team-best 3.818 cumulative grade point average, leading the honorees.

Individually, Eau Claire's Jane-Marie Ovanin was one of 14 student-athletes to post a 4.00 cumulative grade point average or better with a 4.00 mark. Also recognized were Oshkosh's Sue Hardtke (3.968), Sara Holewinski (3.752) and Elizabeth Woodworth (3.563), Platteville's Amanda Troy (3.766) and Stevens Point's Isabelle Delannay (3.75).

On the men's side, UW-Stevens Point (3.47), UW-Platteville (3.164), UW-Oshkosh (3.146) and UW-Stout (3.121) were among 66 schools honored. Earlham College (Ind.) posted a team-best 3.67 cumulative grade point average, leading the honorees.

Men's individuals recognized included Oshkosh's Eamon McKenna (3.952) and Jon Peterson (3.549), along with Stevens Point's Mark LaLonde (3.87).

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Holewinski and Lebak Named Co-Scholar-Athletes

RELEASED: Thursday, November 1, 2001

Madison, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Sara Holewinski and UW-Stevens Point’s Becky Lebak have been named 2001 Judy Kruckman Women’s Cross Country Co-Scholar-Athletes, it was announced recently by WIAC Commissioner Gary Karner.

Holewinski, a senior from Hazelhurst, Wis. (Lakeland Union HS), is majoring in elementary education with a 3.73 grade point average. She is a three-time Academic All-American and a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Holewinski has been named to UW-Oshkosh’s Dean List numerous semesters and has achieved three perfect 4.0 semesters.

Holewinski, a two-time team captain, placed fourth at the WIAC Championship last weekend to help the Titans to a second-place finish. She finished 12th at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional last season and guided the Titans to a fourth-place finish at the national championship.

Holewinski is a member of the UW-Oshkosh Student Athlete Advisory Committee and ADVOCAP. She is also a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) and the Student Wisconsin Education Association Council (SWEA).

Lebak, a junior from Burlington, Wis., is majoring in dietetics and carries a 3.40 grade point average. She has earned Cross Country Academic All-American honors and has been named to UW-Stevens Point’s Dean’s List and Honor Roll numerous semesters.

Lebak won the individual title at the 2001 WIAC Championship with a time of 18:00.50 to help the Pointers to a third-place finish. She placed eighth at the 2000 NCAA Division III Championship to earn All-America honors. In addition, Lebak placed second at last season’s conference championship and finished seventh at the 1999 league meet. She was also named her team’s Co-MVP following the 2000 season.

Lebak is a member of the Dietetics Club and was a Residence Hall Association Representative in 1999.

Also nominated for the scholar-athlete award were: La Crosse’s Janelle Curtis and Ann Kowieski, Oshkosh’s Rosette Buening and Susan Hardtke, Stevens Point’s April Raykowski, Stout’s Amy Arndt and Meredith Nordberg, Superior’s Ann Abell and Whitewater’s Maureen Cavanagh.

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is sponsored by Culver’s. In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average, be in their last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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