June 21, 2005
ENGBERS, KOK & MECKES NAMED ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
During the 2004-05 academic year, Hendrik Kok, Nate Meckes and Jeff Engbers made their mark as collegiate athletes. Now all three have made their mark in the classroom as they have been named ESPN the Magazine Academic All-Americans selected by CoSIDA ®.
Kok and Meckes have both been selected to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America second team in the college cross men's country/track and field division while Engbers has been named to the third team. Kok is receiving Academic All-America honors for the second straight year as he was named to the first team last spring. Engbers and Meckes are receiving Academic All-America honors for the first time.
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 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 one of only two schools to have three individuals selected as (college division) Academic All-Americans. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute also had three individuals so honored.
The ESPN the Magazine 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.
Kok is from Lynden, Washington and is a graduate of Lynden Christian High School. A two-time NCAA III cross country All-American, Kok played a key role in Calvin repeating as national champions this fall as he took 39th at the NCAA III Championships and served as Calvin's fourth finisher. At the Great Lakes Regional meet one week prior, Kok took fourth place and landed a spot on the Great Lakes All-Region team for the third straight year. He also earned a spot on the All-MIAA first team in cross country as he helped Calvin capture its 18th straight MIAA title.
A two-time Great Lakes Regional Athlete of the Year in cross country, Kok is also a three-time NCAA III All-American in track and field. A biology major, Kok carried a 3.68 grade point average and was graduated from Calvin this past December. He is currently attending graduate school in Arizona with plans to become a physician's assistant.
Engbers is from Whitsinville, Massachusetts, and is a graduate of Whitinsville Christian High School. This past fall, Engbers helped lead the Calvin men's cross country team to its second straight national title as he led Calvin's finishers at the national meet with a 23rd place finish that was good for an All-America berth. During the year, he also landed spots on the All-MIAA first team and Great Lakes All-Region team.
A two-time national qualifier in track and field, Engbers then picked up All-America honors in the 1,500 meters last month at the NCAA III Track and Field Championships with a sixth place finish that helped the Calvin men finish sixth in the final team standings.
A secondary education major with an emphasis in physical education, Engbers was recently graduated from Calvin with a 3.52 GPA. He will enter graduate school next fall at Western Michigan University where he has received a graduate assistantship in its physical education department.
Meckes is from Bay City and is a graduate of Lutheran Westland High School. A three-year member of the Calvin men's track and field team, Meckes is coming off a record-setting spring.
During the 2005 outdoor season, Meckes established new Calvin records in the shot put (58-7 1/2) and discus (194-10) as well as setting new MIAA records in both events. At the MIAA Field Day this spring, Meckes was crowned as league champion in both the shot put and discus while also placing fourth in the javelin. A week ago, he was named the Division III Great Lakes Regional Athlete of the Year in men's track and field for the second time in three years. He then collected a pair of All-America certificates, placing second in the discus and fourth in the shot put. His second place throw of 194-10 in the discus marked the second-best throw in NCAA III track and field history and also qualified him for this week's USTAF National Championships in Carson, California. He is scheduled to compete in the discus Thursday night. Meckes is now a four-time NCAA III track and field All-American, a three-time All-MIAA selection and has received the MIAA's award as Most Outstanding Field E!
vent Performer twice.
Meckes carries a double major in physical education and psychology and holds a 3.41 grade point average. He plans to return to Calvin next fall as a fifth-year senior. He did not compete during the 2004 season and holds one year of track and field eligibility.
Meckes is one of several Division III throwers to receive Academic All-America accolades as Dan Austin of Williams, Jon Shofstall of Baldwin-Wallace, Cody Brotherton of McMurry and Uzoma Prji of M.I.T. were also selected as 2005 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-Americans.
Calvin has now had its athletes recognized as ESPN the Magazine Academic All-Americans 60 times including 34 times in the last eight years.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Tue Jun 21 16:38:42 2005
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