Eastern Michigan Athletics
Women's Cross Country Places 12 on Academic All-MAC Team
11/18/2016 10:36:00 AM | Women's XC
The Eagles had the most recipients in the conference with 12
MAC Release
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The No. 24 Eastern Michigan University women's cross country team landed 12 student-athletes on the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team, the league announced Friday, Nov. 18.
The Eagles led the conference with 12 selections, while Central Michigan came in second with 10 selections. Behind the Chippewas, Kent State totaled nine, and Bowling Green had eight to round out the top-four.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. Freshmen are not eligible for the award.
Earning the honor for the Eagles were: redshirt junior Anna Aldrich (Fremont, Ind. - Fremont), junior Danielle Bentzley (Birmingham, Mich. - Seaholm), senior Alsu Bogdanova (Kazan, Russia - Lyceum #83), redshirt sophomore Rebekah Branham (Circleville, Ohio - Circleville), redshirt sophomore Natalie Cizmas (Clinton Twp., Mich. - Chippewa Valley), redshirt junior Sofie Gallein (Gits, Belgium - University of Leuven), junior Jordann McDermitt (Davison, Mich. - Davison), junior Claire Mesa (Rockford, Ill. - Rockford Lutheran), sophomore Sydney Meyers (Zionsville, Ind. - Zionsville Community), junior Lauren Pottschmidt (Granger, Ind. - Penn), sophomore Leah Wallace (Reynoldsburg, Ohio - Reynoldsburg), and junior Jenna Wyns (Londerzeel, Belgium - Sportschol KA2).
Aldrich, who holds a 3.93 GPA in nursing, took part in six meets throughout the year, including running in both the MAC Championships, Oct. 29, and the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, Nov. 11. At the conference championships, she took 14th, clocking in at 21:50.5, while she placed 98th at the regional in 22:06.3. Based on her performance at the MAC Championships, she earned Second Team All-MAC honors.
Bentzley competed in seven meets throughout the year, including running in the postseason. At the MAC Championships, she brought home 47th-place after crossing the finish line in 22:55.0. She opened the season with back-to-back sixth-place finishes at the George Dales Invite and the Titan Invite, posting times of 18:11.2 and 18:42.0, respectively. Following the EMU Fall Classic, Oct. 21, she earned her first career MAC Runner of the Week honor. Bentzley maintains a 3.70 GPA while majoring in elementary education.
Bogdanova took part in a total of six meets throughout the year, including strong performances in the postseason. She took home the bronze at the MAC Championships, clocking in at 20:59.3 to earn First Team All-MAC honors. She also turned in a top-20 performance at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, nabbing 18th in 20:30.2, giving her all-region honors for the second straight year. Bogdanova, in her second year at EMU, has a 3.90 GPA in an individualized studies program.
Branham, a sport management major with a 3.68 GPA, ran in six meets throughout the year, highlighted by an 11th-place finish at the George Dales Invite, Sept. 2, clocking in at 18:56.9. She also brought home a top-15 finish the following weekend at the Titan Invite, Sept. 10, posting a time of 18:59.0 to take 14th.
In her first season running cross country, Cizmas had a number of very strong performances, including a fourth-place finish at the MAC Championships, clocking in at 21:10.4 to secure First Team All-MAC honors. At the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, Cizmas brought home a 14th-place finish in 20:23.8, giving her all-region honors. She also kicked off the season with a second-place finish at the George Dales Invite, posting a time of 17:24.6. At the Notre Dame Invite, Sept. 30, Cizmas placed 12th with a time of 16:41.0. Cizmas holds a 3.63 GPA while studying exercise science.
Cizmas had a breakout season for the Green and White, bringing home a 70th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, Nov. 19, after clocking in at 20:41.1. She was also named an all-region honoree for her performance at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, finishing 14th in 20:23.8. At the MAC Championships, Cizmas brought home fourth-place, crossing the finish line in 21:10.4 to earn First-Team All-MAC honors. The redshirt sophomore currently holds a 3.63 GPA while studying exercise science.
Gallein, who maintains a 3.79 GPA in an individualized studies program, ran in five meets throughout the year, including two in the postseason. At the MAC Championships, she took 12th in 21:43.6, while she also nabbed 40th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, posting a time of 21:02.9. Based on her MAC Championship performance, she was named Second Team All-MAC. Gallein made her season debut at the Commodore Classic, Sept. 17, clocking in at 17:50.6 to take 31st.
McDermitt had a very strong season for the Eagles, finishing no worse than 18th in six meets throughout the year. She won the MAC individual title at the MAC Championships, clocking in at 20:34.0 to secure the title. She also brought home fifth at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, posting a career-best time of 19:59.5 to nab all-region honors. McDermitt placed seventh on the national stage at the Notre Dame Invite, clocking in at 16:33.1. In total, the Davison, Mich. native was named MAC Runner of the Week a whopping four times this season. Not only is McDermitt successful on the course, but she also has a perfect 4.00 GPA in exercise science.
Mesa, an exercise science major with a 3.35 GPA, ran in six meets for EMU throughout the season, with her best finish coming at the George Dales Invite, nabbing 12th with a time of 19:31.0. She also took home 25th at the Titan Invite with a time of 19:37.5.
Meyers had a very strong sophomore season, running in seven meets, including the postseason. At the MAC Championships, she brought home a seventh-place finish in 21:11.7, while she took 25th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, in 20:39.9. Based on her performances, she was named First Team All-MAC and all-region. Meyers, who is in her second year studying marketing with a 3.81 GPA, also brought home a 45th-place finish at the Notre Dame Invite, crossing the finish line in 17:05.7.
Pottschmidt ran in a total of five meets throughout the year for the Eagles. Her top finish came at the George Dales Invite, where she took 25th after posting a time of 21:30.3. At the Titan Invite, she took 47th in 20:34.1, while at the EMU Fall Classic, she took 49th after clocking in at 19:21.0. Pottschmidt currently holds a 3.43 GPA while majoing in general business.
Wallace, who holds a flawless 4.00 GPA in secondary education, participated in four meets for the Eagles throughout the year. Her best finish came at the George Dales Invite, posting a 16th-place finish with a time of 19:59.5. She also nabbed 40th at the Titan Invite, with a time of 20:19.8. She closed her season at the EMU Fall Classic, bringing home 65th in 20:08.5.
Finally, Wyns ran in a total of six meets for EMU this season, including a pair of postseason races. At the MAC Championships, Wyns took 24th with a time of 22:04.0, while she also nabbed 96th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, clocking in at 22:05.0. Her top finish came at the George Dales Invite, where she took fourth with a time of 18:03.9. Wyns holds a 3.30 GPA while majoring in psychology.
The Eagles close out the 2016 season with the NCAA Championships this weekend, Saturday, Nov. 19, in Terre Haute, Ind.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (EMUEagles.com) -- The No. 24 Eastern Michigan University women's cross country team landed 12 student-athletes on the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Team, the league announced Friday, Nov. 18.
The Eagles led the conference with 12 selections, while Central Michigan came in second with 10 selections. Behind the Chippewas, Kent State totaled nine, and Bowling Green had eight to round out the top-four.
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics. To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. Freshmen are not eligible for the award.
Earning the honor for the Eagles were: redshirt junior Anna Aldrich (Fremont, Ind. - Fremont), junior Danielle Bentzley (Birmingham, Mich. - Seaholm), senior Alsu Bogdanova (Kazan, Russia - Lyceum #83), redshirt sophomore Rebekah Branham (Circleville, Ohio - Circleville), redshirt sophomore Natalie Cizmas (Clinton Twp., Mich. - Chippewa Valley), redshirt junior Sofie Gallein (Gits, Belgium - University of Leuven), junior Jordann McDermitt (Davison, Mich. - Davison), junior Claire Mesa (Rockford, Ill. - Rockford Lutheran), sophomore Sydney Meyers (Zionsville, Ind. - Zionsville Community), junior Lauren Pottschmidt (Granger, Ind. - Penn), sophomore Leah Wallace (Reynoldsburg, Ohio - Reynoldsburg), and junior Jenna Wyns (Londerzeel, Belgium - Sportschol KA2).
Aldrich, who holds a 3.93 GPA in nursing, took part in six meets throughout the year, including running in both the MAC Championships, Oct. 29, and the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, Nov. 11. At the conference championships, she took 14th, clocking in at 21:50.5, while she placed 98th at the regional in 22:06.3. Based on her performance at the MAC Championships, she earned Second Team All-MAC honors.
Bentzley competed in seven meets throughout the year, including running in the postseason. At the MAC Championships, she brought home 47th-place after crossing the finish line in 22:55.0. She opened the season with back-to-back sixth-place finishes at the George Dales Invite and the Titan Invite, posting times of 18:11.2 and 18:42.0, respectively. Following the EMU Fall Classic, Oct. 21, she earned her first career MAC Runner of the Week honor. Bentzley maintains a 3.70 GPA while majoring in elementary education.
Bogdanova took part in a total of six meets throughout the year, including strong performances in the postseason. She took home the bronze at the MAC Championships, clocking in at 20:59.3 to earn First Team All-MAC honors. She also turned in a top-20 performance at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, nabbing 18th in 20:30.2, giving her all-region honors for the second straight year. Bogdanova, in her second year at EMU, has a 3.90 GPA in an individualized studies program.
Branham, a sport management major with a 3.68 GPA, ran in six meets throughout the year, highlighted by an 11th-place finish at the George Dales Invite, Sept. 2, clocking in at 18:56.9. She also brought home a top-15 finish the following weekend at the Titan Invite, Sept. 10, posting a time of 18:59.0 to take 14th.
In her first season running cross country, Cizmas had a number of very strong performances, including a fourth-place finish at the MAC Championships, clocking in at 21:10.4 to secure First Team All-MAC honors. At the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, Cizmas brought home a 14th-place finish in 20:23.8, giving her all-region honors. She also kicked off the season with a second-place finish at the George Dales Invite, posting a time of 17:24.6. At the Notre Dame Invite, Sept. 30, Cizmas placed 12th with a time of 16:41.0. Cizmas holds a 3.63 GPA while studying exercise science.
Cizmas had a breakout season for the Green and White, bringing home a 70th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, Nov. 19, after clocking in at 20:41.1. She was also named an all-region honoree for her performance at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, finishing 14th in 20:23.8. At the MAC Championships, Cizmas brought home fourth-place, crossing the finish line in 21:10.4 to earn First-Team All-MAC honors. The redshirt sophomore currently holds a 3.63 GPA while studying exercise science.
Gallein, who maintains a 3.79 GPA in an individualized studies program, ran in five meets throughout the year, including two in the postseason. At the MAC Championships, she took 12th in 21:43.6, while she also nabbed 40th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, posting a time of 21:02.9. Based on her MAC Championship performance, she was named Second Team All-MAC. Gallein made her season debut at the Commodore Classic, Sept. 17, clocking in at 17:50.6 to take 31st.
McDermitt had a very strong season for the Eagles, finishing no worse than 18th in six meets throughout the year. She won the MAC individual title at the MAC Championships, clocking in at 20:34.0 to secure the title. She also brought home fifth at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, posting a career-best time of 19:59.5 to nab all-region honors. McDermitt placed seventh on the national stage at the Notre Dame Invite, clocking in at 16:33.1. In total, the Davison, Mich. native was named MAC Runner of the Week a whopping four times this season. Not only is McDermitt successful on the course, but she also has a perfect 4.00 GPA in exercise science.
Mesa, an exercise science major with a 3.35 GPA, ran in six meets for EMU throughout the season, with her best finish coming at the George Dales Invite, nabbing 12th with a time of 19:31.0. She also took home 25th at the Titan Invite with a time of 19:37.5.
Meyers had a very strong sophomore season, running in seven meets, including the postseason. At the MAC Championships, she brought home a seventh-place finish in 21:11.7, while she took 25th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, in 20:39.9. Based on her performances, she was named First Team All-MAC and all-region. Meyers, who is in her second year studying marketing with a 3.81 GPA, also brought home a 45th-place finish at the Notre Dame Invite, crossing the finish line in 17:05.7.
Pottschmidt ran in a total of five meets throughout the year for the Eagles. Her top finish came at the George Dales Invite, where she took 25th after posting a time of 21:30.3. At the Titan Invite, she took 47th in 20:34.1, while at the EMU Fall Classic, she took 49th after clocking in at 19:21.0. Pottschmidt currently holds a 3.43 GPA while majoing in general business.
Wallace, who holds a flawless 4.00 GPA in secondary education, participated in four meets for the Eagles throughout the year. Her best finish came at the George Dales Invite, posting a 16th-place finish with a time of 19:59.5. She also nabbed 40th at the Titan Invite, with a time of 20:19.8. She closed her season at the EMU Fall Classic, bringing home 65th in 20:08.5.
Finally, Wyns ran in a total of six meets for EMU this season, including a pair of postseason races. At the MAC Championships, Wyns took 24th with a time of 22:04.0, while she also nabbed 96th at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional, clocking in at 22:05.0. Her top finish came at the George Dales Invite, where she took fourth with a time of 18:03.9. Wyns holds a 3.30 GPA while majoring in psychology.
The Eagles close out the 2016 season with the NCAA Championships this weekend, Saturday, Nov. 19, in Terre Haute, Ind.
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