20 Standouts Named to 2017 #AEXC All-Academic Teams
BOSTON – Twenty of America East’s top cross country student-athletes were named to the 2017 All-Academic teams on Wednesday. The squads consist of student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically.
On the women’s side, New Hampshire Wildcat and All-American Elinor Purrier highlighted the team. It is the third America East cross country All-Academic honor for the 2016 Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Purrier will compete in NCAA Cross Country Championships on Saturday.
Joining Purrier were teammates Riley Gilmore, Alyson Messina and Shannon Murdock, UMass Lowell’s Rachel Eatherton, Kathryn Loughnane, Allie Morris and Alli Wood, Vermont’s Anna Kaplan and Albany’s Cara Sherman.
The men’s side was highlighted by 2017 individual champion Paul Hogan of UMass Lowell. Hogan will also compete in this year’s NCAA Championships. He was joined on the All-Academic Team by teammates Christopher Alfond, Josh Fontaine and Chris Skelly, Stony Brook’s Cameron Avery, Albany’s Kyle Gronostaj, Vermont’s Will Hopkins, UMBC’s Matthew Kane and Maine’s Daniel Lesko and Jacob Terry.
To be eligible for All-Academic, student-athletes must have sophomore athletic eligibility, attain a 3.30 minimum grade-point average and be a contributor on their team. The squad is voted on by a committee made up of America East student-athlete support and athletic communications administrators as well as faculty athletic representatives.
America East is proud to have one of most comprehensive academic awards programs in the country. In addition to the All-Academic program, Elite 18 Awards are bestowed in each of the conference’s sponsored sports. Additionally, a Scholar-Athlete, someone who distinguishes himself/herself as the top student-athlete in his/her sport, is awarded. From that group, one male and one female are selected the America East Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The conference also recognizes all student-athletes who achieve at least a 3.0 GPA on its Academic Honor Roll, with those achieving a 3.50 average or better receiving Commissioner’s Honor Roll status. The Presidential Scholar-Athlete award recognizes graduating student-athletes who compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher as an undergraduate student. Finally, the Academic Cup is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point average during that academic year.
- #3Pillars – Building the Complete Student-Athlete -