By Tim Stried
May 6, 2003

A total of 14 Bluffton College student-athletes have been recently nominated for Verizon Academic All-America honors. Five members of the track and field squad, three softball players, four baseball players, one women's tennis player and one men's golfer have been placed on the ballot that will be up for a vote in the coming days by sports information directors across the region.

To be nominated for Verizon Academic All-America honors a student-athlete must be of at least sophomore status, participate in at least half of their team's games, be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials and hold a 3.20 cumulative grade point average or better.

Those student-athletes that are named first-team Verizon Academic All-District will then advance to a national ballot to be in the running for the title of Academic All-American.

Track student-athletes nominated include sophomore hurdler and sprinter Troy Baumer (Geneva, Ind./South Adams H.S.), senior distance runner Steve Borga (New Philadelphia), sophomore sprinter Jana Hammer (Hamler/Patrick Henry H.S.), junior hurdler and jumper Laurel Miller (Galion) and junior pole vaulter and distance runner Rachel Noirot (Wauseon).

Softball student-athletes nominated include sophomore catcher Michelle Pleiman (Yorkshire/Minster H.S.), senior infielder Stephanie Rush (Berea) and sophomore infielder Jacklyn Wells (Malinta/Patrick Henry H.S.).

Baseball student-athletes nominated include junior outfielder Jim Dwenger (Minster), senior infielder Wes Hall (Huntsville/Indian Lake H.S.), junior infielder Bob Heitkamp (Fort Recovery) and junior outfielder Scott Van Eman (Elida).

Senior women's tennis player Nikki Phillips (Shelby) and junior men's golfer Trevor Thomas have been nominated for the at-large team.