CALVIN SPORTS REPORT FOR JUNE 22, 2006
SMITH AND HENDRICKS NAMED ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS
GRAND RAPIDS - A pair of Calvin athletes have been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American ® Women's Cross Country/Track and Field Teams in the college division.
Missy Smith and Christine Hendricks have both been selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America first team.
The college division includes schools from the NCAA II and III ranks as well as NAIA institutions.
Smith is receiving Academic All-America honors from ESPN The Magazine for the second straight year. She was a third team selection a year ago. Hendricks is receiving the award for the first time in her collegiate career.
Smith is from Ada and is a graduate of Grand Rapids Christian High School. She is making her third straight appearance on the all-district first team. Smith was recently graduated from Calvin with a double-major of German and Asian Studies while carrying a minor in art history. She carried a 3.92 grade point average and will attend the the University of California at Berkley's graduate school of architecture next fall. Smith spent a portion of her academic career studying overseas in southeast Asia. During her studies overseas, Smith helped design an orphanage in the country of India.
In track and field, Smith was a three-time All-American in the pole vault including a four-time (outdoor) national qualifier in the event. She placed fourth at the 2004 NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the pole vault, fifth in 2005 and third in 2006.
A four-time All-MIAA selection in track and field, Smith was also three-time MIAA champion in the pole vault and is the league and Calvin record holder in the event.
Smith is now one of six Grand Rapids Christian High School graduates that have received Academic All-America awards at Calvin. Other individuals to have done so include Steve Honderd (basketball), Chris Knoester (basketball), Sam Glass (soccer), Melanie Bolt (softball) and Becky Weima (swimming and diving).
Hendricks is from Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a graduate of Turpin High School. Hendricks recently concluded her track and field career as a three-time All-American in the heptathlon, finishing eighth at the 2003 NCAA III Championships, third in 2005 and then first at the 2006 NCAA III Championships with an NCAA III Championships record point total of 5,012 points. Hendricks is the eighth individual national champion in Calvin women's track and field history.
Hendricks was a four-time All-MIAA selection in track and field, a three-time league champion in the javelin and a two-time MIAA Most Valuable Field Event Performer choice. She was also named the Great Lakes Region Field Event Athlete of the Year prior to the NCAA III Track and Field Championships.
Hendricks was recently named the recipient of Calvin's Kay Tiemersma Award - given to the top senior female student-athlete at the college. A two-sport standout at Calvin, Hendricks was also a four-year member of the Calvin volleyball team and an honorable mention Division III All-American this fall.
Hendricks was graduated from Calvin last month with a degree in mathematics while carrying a 3.69 grade point average. She is currently pursuing a career in actuarial science and is employed by the Auto Owners Insurance Group in Lansing.
Calvin has now had its athletes receive Academic All-America accolades 68 times including 42 times in the last nine years.
During the 2005-06 academic year, six Calvin athletes have received Academic All-America honors as Lisa Winkle was a second team pick in women's basketball, Becky Weima a second team choice in women's swimming and diving, Harrison Jorritsma a first team pick in men's cross country/track and field and Nate Meckes a third team selection in men's cross country/track and field.
The Academic All-America ® Teams program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America; a 2,000-member organization consisted of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.
ESPN the Magazine - winner of the 2003 National Magazine Award for Generall Excellence - is a provocative and innovative sports publication. Full of insight, analysis, impact and wit, the oversize bi-weekly with a circulation of 1.85 million looks ahead to give fans a unique perspective on the world of sports.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Thu Jun 22 09:28:12 2006
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