NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Willamette University men's and women's track and field teams have received All-Academic status from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for the 2015 season.
The USTFCCCA honored 170 women's track and field teams and 99 men's track and field teams in NCAA Division III for their academic success. Each All-Academic team needed at least a 3.1 cumulative team grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
On its way to claiming All-Academic status, the Willamette women's team earned a 3.38 cumulative GPA. The Bearcat men's team ended the spring semester with a 3.27 cumulative GPA.
Saint Vincent College (Pa.) topped the list of All-Academic Division III women's teams with a 3.65 cumulative GPA. Amherst College (Mass.) led all men's teams with a 3.55 cumulative GPA.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse was selected indoor and outdoor Men's Track and Field Scholar Team of the Year, as well as indoor and outdoor Women's Track and Field Scholar Team of the Year. The Eagles won the NCAA indoor and outdoor women's titles, placed first at the men's outdoor championship, and took second place at the men's indoor championship. UWL athletes attained a women's team GPA of 3.40 and a men's team GPA of 3.16.
Scholar Team of the Year honors go to the men's team and the women's team placing the highest at the most recentNCAA Championships while also receiving All-Academic status.
In addition to Willamette recording All-Academic honors for both teams, four WU women's track and field athletes were chosen for individual All-Academic honors. Earning All-Academic recognition were Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS), Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS), Olivia Mancl (So./Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) and Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS).
During the season, both of Willamette's track and field teams placed third at the Northwest Conference Championships. WU won four men's events and four women's events. Freeby, Ostrander, Mancl and Bressler represented the Bearcats at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.
Olivia Mancl competed at the NCAA Championships in the 1,500-meter run this spring. In addition, she was the NWC champion in the 1,500.
Tyler Higley placed third in the Northwest Conference in the shot put and the hammer throw.
