RELEASED:  Thursday, June 26, 2008

Four Secure Academic All-America Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Recognition

Madison, Wis.--Four Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2008 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Team.

UW-Eau Claire’s Liz Faller and UW-Platteville’s Marcia Taddy were first team selections, while UW-La Crosse’s Caitlin Schetter and UW-River Falls’ Krista Hasselquist were second team picks.

This marks the first time since 2004 that the WIAC has had two individuals receive first team laurels.  UW-Oshkosh’s Elizabeth Woodworth and UW-Stout’s Laura Verdegan were recognized in 2004.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes throughout the country and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), while being sponsored by ESPN The Magazine.  To be eligible for the team, a student-athlete must maintain at least a grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at her current institution and be nominated by her sports information director.

Faller, a senior from Marinette, Wis., claimed second team accolades a year ago and is the first individual in program history to claim Academic All-America honors in back-to-back seasons.  She is majoring in kinesiology and boasts a 3.98 grade point average.

Taddy, a senior from Two Rivers, Wis., is majoring in biology and ornamental horticulture and carries a 3.62 grade point average.   She is the first individual in program history to secure Academic All-America recognition.

A junior from Kiel, Wis., Schetter sustains a 3.68 grade point average and is majoring in communication studies.  UW-La Crosse has had at least one women’s track & field/cross country student-athlete claim Academic All-America honors in 10 of the last 12 years.

Hasselquist, a senior from Osceola, Wis., is the first individual in program history to secure Academic All-America status.  She is majoring in health and human performance and upholds a 3.71 grade point average.