CSR (Avery, Edwards and Kok Named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans)

REPORT FOR JUNE 22, 2004

Avery, Edwards and Kok Named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans

GRAND RAPIDS, MI * During the 2003-04 academic year, Tim Avery, Hendrik Kok and Matt Edwards made their mark in cross country course and in track and field. Now all three have made their mark in the classroom as they have been named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.

Avery and Kok have both been selected to the CoSIDA Academic All-America first team in the college cross men's country/track and field division while Edwards has been named to the third team. All three individuals are receiving CoSIDA Academic All-America accolades for the first time.

It marks just the fourth time in Calvin history that three individuals from one team have been named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in the same year. The last time Calvin achieved the feat was in 2002 when Joel Klooster, Dan Hoekstra and David Ritsema were all so honored in the cross country/track and field division.

The award is indeed significant for Avery, Kok and Edwards as they are one of only 45 cross country/track and field athletes selected as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in the college division which represents a broad spectrum of more than 750 colleges or universities at the NCAA II, III and NAIA levels.

Sports information directors could nominate a maximum of three individuals for the cross country/track and field division and Calvin is the only school to have three individuals selected as (college division) CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.

The CoSIDA Academic All-America teams are selected by the College Sports Information Director's Association of America (CoSIDA). To be eligible for nomination, an individual must be a starter or a key reserve with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.20. In addition, student-athletes must have completed one full academic year at their respective institutions.

Avery is from Rochester, New York and is a graduate of Gates-Chili High School. This past fall, Avery helped lead the Calvin men's cross country team to a national title as he placed 15th at the NCAA III Championships to garner an individual All-America certificate (top-35 finish). A three-time first team All-MIAA selection in cross country, Avery has also been a two-time All-MIAA selection in track and field.

 At the MIAA Track and Field Championships, Avery captured the league crown in the 5,000 meters. He later qualified for the NCAA III Championships in the 10,000 meters where he finished 12th.

Avery was graduated from Calvin this past May with a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English and a minor in physical education. He carried a 3.84 grade point average at Calvin and was an eight-time member of the Calvin Dean's List and has been a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and College Cross Country Coaches All-Academic team four times.

Avery was recently selected as the recipient of Calvin's Bere' Memorial Award - given to the top senior male student-athlete at Calvin College.

Kok is from Lynden, Washington and is a graduate of Lynden Christian High School.

A two-time NCAA III Cross Country All-American, Kok also played a key role in Calvin's national title this fall as he took eighth at the NCAA III Championships. At the Great Lakes Regional meet one week prior, Kok took first place and was later named Great Lakes Regional Cross Country Athlete of the Year for the second straight season.

This spring, Kok qualified for the NCAA III Track and Field Championships in the 5,000 meter run for the third time in his Calvin career. He placed 15th at the national meet. Kok is a three-time All-American in track and field.

A biology major, Kok carries a 3.65 grade point average and plans to return to Calvin next fall for his final season of cross country eligibility. Kok is a two-time member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll, the College Cross Country Coaches All-Academic team and the United States Track and Field Coaches All-Academic team.

Edwards hails from Grand Blanc and is a graduate of Grand Blanc High School. Edwards recently completed a superb senior season of distance running as he garnered All-America accolades in track and field with a fifth place finish in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA III Championships.

Edwards just missed another All-America certificate in the 5,000 meters as he placed ninth. At the Hillsdale Gina Relays April 23, Edwards posted the fastest time in the 10,000 meters in NCAA III track and field this spring as he clocked in at 29:48. Edwards was later the MIAA champion in the 10,000 meters and earned a spot on the All-MIAA team.

Earlier this fall, Edwards was part of six Calvin cross country All-Americans as he placed 30th at the NCAA III Cross Country Championships. He was also a member of the All-MIAA first team and Great Lakes All-Region team in cross country, placing in the top 10 at the MIAA Championships and Great Lakes Regional meet.

Edwards was recently graduated from Calvin with a degree in engineering. He carried a grade point average of 3.38.

Calvin has now had its athletes recognized as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans 55 times including 29 times in the last seven years.

                                        -end-

Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Tue Jun 22 12:11:26 2004