Bowling Green State University Athletics
Falcons Earn All-Academic Honors; Men Carry Nation's Best Grades
February 13, 2017 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
USTFCCCA Release
NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Bowling Green State University men's cross country team finished the 2016 season with the highest grade point average among all Division I teams, while the women's team placed fourth overall. Both teams were named 2016 Division I All-Academic Teams. The announcement was made on Thursday by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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"Academic success is a major pillar of our program. We strive to have the highest team GPA in the MAC and rank consistently in the top 25 nationally. Our athletes work very hard in the classroom to achieve at such a high level," said BGSU cross country head coach Lou Snelling.
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The men's cross country team led the country with a 3.71 grade point average. Five of the ten members of the team earned a perfect 4.0 during the Fall 2016 semester, and all ten members carry cumulative averages of 3.23 or better. The team has led the Mid-American Conference and finished in the top five nationally for two consecutive years. The Falcons earned a 3.754 GPA during the 2015 season, which ranked second nationally.
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The women's cross country team carried a 3.76 grade point average for the 2016 season. That mark ranked fourth nationally, and both figures repeat the team's performance from the 2015 season. BGSU led all 12 MAC schools. Five members of the women's team earned 4.0 averages for the most recent term, and all ten have cumulative grades of 3.0 or better. Redshirt sophomore Rachel Walny, who owns a 4.0 cumulative GPA, was named a Division I All-Academic Individual for the second consecutive year.
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"I am beyond proud of both teams and the positive skills they have developed to make this happen. Of course, a lot goes on behind the scenes to help us achieve at such a consistently high level. I would like to thank Student-Athlete Services and the faculty for helping us accomplish our goals," said Snelling.
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The Bowling Green cross country teams have been the class of the MAC in academics under Snelling. The men's team has now led the league in grade point average four times in the last five years and finished second in 2011 and 2014. The women's team has led the MAC for three consecutive years.
Following the 2016 season, sixteen members of BGSU's cross country teams (eight from each) were named Academic All-MAC. Three members of the men's team and six members of the women's team were also named MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes.
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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Bowling Green State University men's cross country team finished the 2016 season with the highest grade point average among all Division I teams, while the women's team placed fourth overall. Both teams were named 2016 Division I All-Academic Teams. The announcement was made on Thursday by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
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"Academic success is a major pillar of our program. We strive to have the highest team GPA in the MAC and rank consistently in the top 25 nationally. Our athletes work very hard in the classroom to achieve at such a high level," said BGSU cross country head coach Lou Snelling.
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The men's cross country team led the country with a 3.71 grade point average. Five of the ten members of the team earned a perfect 4.0 during the Fall 2016 semester, and all ten members carry cumulative averages of 3.23 or better. The team has led the Mid-American Conference and finished in the top five nationally for two consecutive years. The Falcons earned a 3.754 GPA during the 2015 season, which ranked second nationally.
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The women's cross country team carried a 3.76 grade point average for the 2016 season. That mark ranked fourth nationally, and both figures repeat the team's performance from the 2015 season. BGSU led all 12 MAC schools. Five members of the women's team earned 4.0 averages for the most recent term, and all ten have cumulative grades of 3.0 or better. Redshirt sophomore Rachel Walny, who owns a 4.0 cumulative GPA, was named a Division I All-Academic Individual for the second consecutive year.
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"I am beyond proud of both teams and the positive skills they have developed to make this happen. Of course, a lot goes on behind the scenes to help us achieve at such a consistently high level. I would like to thank Student-Athlete Services and the faculty for helping us accomplish our goals," said Snelling.
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The Bowling Green cross country teams have been the class of the MAC in academics under Snelling. The men's team has now led the league in grade point average four times in the last five years and finished second in 2011 and 2014. The women's team has led the MAC for three consecutive years.
Following the 2016 season, sixteen members of BGSU's cross country teams (eight from each) were named Academic All-MAC. Three members of the men's team and six members of the women's team were also named MAC Distinguished Scholar Athletes.
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
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