By Tim Stried, SID
May 8, 2003

The Bluffton College men's and women's cross country teams have both been named Academic All-American by the NCAA Division III Cross Country Coaches Association.

The status of Academic All-American is given to those colleges/universities who have a total team roster cumulative grade point average of 3.10 or higher. The Bluffton men's team achieved a 3.12 GPA to be one of 65 men's teams across the country to be named Academic All-American, while the Bluffton women's team achieved a 3.33 GPA to be one of 110 women's teams across the country to be so honored.

The BC women's squad was also named Academic All-American last season.

"To all the student-athletes on behalf of the coaches in NCAA Division III Cross Country, you are to be commended for your hard work in the classroom and on the course," said Jim Pennington, head women's cross country coach at Springfield College and statistician for the NCAA Cross Country Coaches Academic All-American Committee. "This shows a higher level of dedication, commitment and accomplishment and is truly the mark of the total student-athlete in Division III."

"We are a program where academics comes first," said Bluffton College head cross country coach Derek Stanley. "The academic program here will never be compromised and it's nice to be competitive both athletically and academically."

Holding the men's highest GPA is senior Steve Borga (New Philadelphia), who owns the highest GPA among all of Bluffton's varsity student-athletes, while juniors Rachel Noirot (Wauseon) and Rachael Szydlowski (Toledo/Woodward) carry the women's highest GPA.