The MIAA has set a record for the highest number of its student-athletes receiving Capital One NCAA Division III Academic All-America® recognition in a single academic year, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Eighteen student-athletes received Academic All-America® recognition during the 2014-15 academic year, including four who were named Tuesday to the Academic All-America® track and field/cross country team. Olivet senior Jalen Weaver was named to the men’s first team, while Calvin senior Erik Holstege was named to the second team. Trine’s Trisha King and Alma’s Kaitlyn Arnold were named to the women’s third team.
Weaver (pictured top left), a senior from Albion (Albion HS), is being honored as an Academic All-America® selection for the second time, having been named to the second team last year. Weaver graduated from Olivet in May with a degree in exercise science, finishing with a 3.83 grade point average. He was a two-time MIAA champion in the men’s 800-meter run, winning the event this year and the year before. He earned Division III All-American honors in indoor track last winter, finishing sixth in the 800.
Holstege (pictured top left center), a senior from Keswick, Va. (Monticello HS), is also being honored for the second time on the Academic All-America® team. A third team Academic All-America® selection last year, he recently graduated from Calvin with a 3.79 GPA as a biochemistry major. A five-time MIAA champion and three-time All-MIAA selection, he was named the conference’s Most Valuable Field Athlete last year and again this year. He won the men’s 110-meter hurdles each of the last three years, and also won the long jump this year and the triple jump in 2014.
King (pictured top right center), a senior from Archbold, Ohio (Archbold HS), earned third team Academic All-America® recognition for the second consecutive year. She graduated from Trine in May with a degree in math education, finishing with a 3.89 GPA. A two-time All-MIAA selection, she won the women’s 400-meter dash at MIAA Field Day in 2012 and the 800-meter run last year. She earned Division III indoor track All-America honors in 2014 as she finished fifth in the 800.
Arnold (pictured top right), a sophomore from Jackson (Northwest HS), was a first team All-MIAA selection in cross country last fall, finishing fourth at the conference championships. A integrative physiology and health sciences major at Alma, she has a 4.00 GPA.
To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Here are the other MIAA student-athletes who received Academic All-America® recognition during the 2014-15 academic year.
Kirby Crook, Hope, Football, First Team
Aaron Wolf, Trine, Football, First Team
Maggie Kamp, Calvin, Volleyball, First Team
Julie Sobieski, Hope, Softball, First Team
Lucy Mailing, Kalamazoo, Soccer, Second Team
Travis Vegter, Calvin, Soccer, Second Team
Jenna Grasmeyer, Hope, Volleyball, Second Team
Jordan Brink, Calvin,Basketball, Second Team
William Guedes, Kalamazoo, Swimming & Diving, Second Team
Joe Silvestri, Albion, Lacrosse, Second Team
Carli Capestany, Hope, Tennis,,Second Team
Elise Biesboer, Calvin, Volleyball, Third Team
Sarah Sheridan, Hope, Swimming & Diving, Third Team
Morgan Brandt, Adrian, Softball, Third Team
Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America® honors on more than 20,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.
The Capital One Division III Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structure, to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2014-15 Division III Academic All-America® teams program.
