June 13, 2000
DeWeerd and Sikkenga named GTE Academic All-Americans
GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The GTE Academic All-America teams in the men's
spring at-large division have been announced at the college level and
Calvin juniors Mark DeWeerd and Phil Sikkenga have been named third team
GTE Academic All-Americans.
The college division of the GTE Academic All-America program includes
NCAA II, NCAA III and NAIA schools. The GTE Academic All-District and
All-America teams are selected by the College Sports information
Director's Association of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible for
nomination, a player must be a starter or a key reserve with a minimum
cumulative GPA of 3.20.
A native of Hudsonville and a graduate of Unity Christian High School,
DeWeerd is receiving GTE Academic All-America honors for the first time
in his career. A three-time All-MIAA selection and three-time league
champion in the pole vault, DeWeerd took 11th in the event at the NCAA
III Championships this past May. A year ago, DeWeerd earned All-America
accolades in the pole vault as he finished eighth. A secondary education
major with an emphasis in history, DeWeerd carries a 3.81 grade point
average. He is a six-time member of the Calvin Dean's list and a
three-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
Sikkenga hails from Wheaton, Illinois and is a graduate of Timothy
Christian High School (IL). Sikkenga is receiving GTE Academic
All-America honors for the second straight year as he was also named to
the third team in 1999. A two-time MIAA MVP and a three-time All-MIAA
selection in track and field, Sikkenga was a three-time All-American at
the NCAA III Championships at North Central College this year as he took
third in
the 110 high hurdles and 200 meters and anchored Calvin's 4 x 400 meter
relay team that placed second.
In addition, Skkenga repeated as league champion in the 110 high hurdles
for the third straight and in the 200 meters for the second consecutive
year. His winning time of 14.52 established a new MIAA record. Sikkenga
also ran the anchor leg on Calvin's MIAA champion 400 meter and 4 x 400
meter relay teams. On May 13, Sikkenga established a new Calvin record
in the 200 meters with a time of 21.38 at the Len Paddock Invitational
hosted by the University of Michigan. Sikkenga holds Calvin records in
the 110 high hurdles (14.25), 100 meters (10.77) and 200 meters. He is
seeded fifth in the 110 high hurdles and ninth in the 200 meters for
this week's national met. Calvin's 4 x 400 meter relay is also seeded
sixth.
At the 1999 NCAA III Championships, Sikkenga finished fourth in the 110
high hurdles to become Calvin's first All-American in the event. A
business administration major with a 3.55 grade point average, Sikkenga
is a three-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll.
Calvin has now had its athletes recognized as GTE Academic All-Americans
38 times including 12 times in the last two years.
-end-
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