CAMBRIDGE, MASS. -- The America East Conference office tabbed 11 field hockey student-athletes to the 2011 All-Academic Team on Tuesday afternoon. These student athletes, who excel both academically as well as athletically, represent the best of the America East Conference.
There are six repeat selections, including two-time America East Goalkeeper of the Year Kristi Troch from University at Albany. Troch is also one of three student-athletes voted to both the all-academic squad and the all-conference first team, joined by Fairfield University senior Marit Westenberg and University of Vermont senior Mackenzie Williams.
The all-academic team also includes five second-team all-conference members: University of Maine sophomore Alex Binnendijk, University of New Hampshire sophomore Megan Bozek, Albany junior Taylor Luke, Maine senior Jocelyn Mitchell and UNH senior Katherine Nagengast.
Rounding out the list of scholar standouts are Vermont senior Emily Bastiaanse, UNH junior Emma Erler and Albany junior Brianna Schwoyer.
Luke, Nagengast, Troch and Westenberg were voted unanimous selections to the team.
The All-Academic squads are a product of the June 2005 Athletics Directors meeting where faculty representatives and athletics directors from each of the conference’s nine member institutions decided to honor the league’s top student-athletes, who excel equally in the classroom as they do on the playing field.
For the third straight year, America East will select the All-Academic teams using CoSIDA’s Academic All-America program as a model. Student-athletes worthy of consideration are nominated by member sports information directors and voted on by a committee of SIDs, academic advisors and faculty representatives from all nine member institutions.
All-Academic squads for team sports are based on the number of athletes that participate in a contest at one time (e.g., 11 on the field for field hockey) but can be more if there is a tie in voting. To be nominated for the distinction, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve for their team and participate in at least 50 percent of their team’s games or competitions. In the classroom, student-athletes must have a 3.30 GPA and have completed at least one calendar year at their institution. Freshmen are not eligible for consideration.
2011 America East Field Hockey All-Academic Team
Name Cl. School Hometown/High School GPA Major
Emily Bastiaanse Sr. Vermont Granby, Conn./Granby Memorial 3.44 Nursing
Alexa Binnendijk So. Maine Den Haag, Holland/VCL 3.41 Mass communication
Megan Bozek So. New Hampshire Cortlandt Manor, N.Y//Lakeland 3.33 Secondary math education
Emma Erler^ Jr. New Hampshire New Hampton, N.H./Newfound 3.73 Environmental horticulture
Taylor Luke*^ Jr. Albany Martinsville, N.J./Bridgewater-Raritan 3.69 Human biology
Jocelyn Mitchell^ Sr. Maine Kanata, Ontario/Earl of March Secondary 3.35 Kinesiology & Physical education
Katherine Nagengast* Sr. New Hampshire Westborough, Mass./Westborough 3.73 Pedagogy
Brianna Schwoyer^ Jr. Albany Telford, Pa./Christopher Dock Mennonite 3.89 Human biology
Kristi Troch*^ Jr. Albany Lehighton, Pa./Lehighton 3.62 Human biology
Marit Westenberg*^ Sr. Fairfield The Hague, Netherlands/Maeriant Lyceum 3.88 International studies
Mackenzie Williams Sr. Vermont Rome, N.Y./Rome Free Academy 3.40 Elementary education
* Unanimous selection
^ 2010 All-Academic honoree