Feb. 8, 2011

Logan, Utah - The Western Athletic Conference announced its fall all-academic teams recently and Utah State had 45 student-athletes recognized from the sports of cross country, football, soccer and volleyball to lead the WAC.

Of its 45 academic all-WAC selections, Utah State had 18 student-athletes from football honored, along with 10 student-athletes from soccer, seven from volleyball, six from women's cross country, and four from men's cross country. Football's 18 honorees were the second-most in the conference in that sport behind Boise State, while soccer and volleyball both tied for the second-most.

Following Utah State's WAC-leading 45 all-academic honorees was Boise State with 44, Fresno State with 43, New Mexico State with 42, San Jose State with 38, Idaho with 35, Louisiana Tech with 31, Hawai'i with 29 and Nevada with 28.

Senior Kim Quinn, who competes in cross country, and both indoor and outdoor track, has now earned academic all-WAC honors seven times in her career, as has senior cross country/track athlete Brian McKenna. Junior track athletes Jessie Chugg and Ruth Hilton both earned academic all-conference honors for the sixth time, while track athletes Steven Atkinson and Daniel Howell earned their fifth academic all-WAC honors.

Student-athletes who are earning academic all-WAC honors for the fourth time include soccer players Lauren Hansen and Stefani Shiozaki, and volleyball player Katie Astle. Three-time honorees include football players Kellen Bartlett and Patrick Scales, soccer players Heather Pond, Chandra Salmon and Summer Tillotson, and volleyball player Liz McArthur.

Furthermore, of the 45 student-athletes to earn fall academic all-WAC honors, 31 are receiving the accolade for at least the second time.

To be eligible for the fall academic team, a student-athlete must have completed one academic year, have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's contests.

Fall Academic All-WAC HonoreesFootballKellen Bartlett, Jr., Interdisciplinary Studies, 3.13McKade Brady, So., Exercise Science, 3.44Rajric Coleman, Sr., Interdisciplinary Studies, 3.03Forrest Dabb, So., Business, 3.23Jacob Doughty, R-Fr., Mechanical Engineering, 3.36Josh Flores, Jr., Psychology, 3.70Chris Harris, Jr., Interdisciplinary Studies, 3.02Devin Johnson, Sr., Interdisciplinary Studies, 3.49Gavin Jones, Jr., Interdisciplinary Studies, 3.48Jamie Markosian, R-Fr., Civil Engineering, 3.42Eric Moats, Jr., Marketing, 3.22Cache Morgan, So., Exercise Science, 3.00Tanner Richins, So., Liberal Arts, 3.18Patrick Scales, Sr., Master Business Administration, 3.25Eric Schultz, R-Fr., Exercise Science, 3.29Brad Theurer, R-Fr., Undeclared, 3.91Travis Van Leeuwen, R-Fr., Exercise Science, 3.23Connor Williams, R-Fr., Sociology, 3.21
SoccerJamee Dyches, So. Journalism, 3.34Shantel Flanary, Jr., Physical Education/Teaching, 3.02Lauren Hansen, Sr., Physical Education/Teaching, 3.31Ellen Larsen, Jr., Health Education - School Health, 3.60Molli Merrill, Jr., Family Consumer Science, 3.59Natalie Norris, So., Nutrition and Food Sciences - Dietetics, 3.91Heather Pond, Sr., Pre-Physical Therapy, 3.15Chandra Salmon, Jr., Exercise Science, 3.39Stefani Shiozaki, Sr., Exercise Science, 3.29Summer Tillotson, Jr., Exercise Science, 3.57
VolleyballKatie Astle, Sr., Finance and Economics, 3.73Laurel Bodily, So., Communication Disorders and Deaf Education, 3.26Shantell Durrant, Sr., Psychology, 3.59Kassi Hargrove, So., Undeclared, 3.45Elizabeth McArthur, Jr., Family, Consumer and Human Development, 3.77Shay Sorensen, So., Exercise Science, 3.41Josselyn White, So., Exercise Science, 3.60
Men's Cross CountrySteven Atkinson, Jr., Entrepreneurship and Human Resource Management, 3.85Daniel Howell, Jr., Wildlife Science, 3.94Brian McKenna, Jr., Psychology, 3.25Kyle McKenna, R-Fr., Music, 3.95
Women's Cross CountryStephanie Burt, So., Undeclared, 3.05Kaylee Campbell, So., Social Work, 3.28Jessie Chugg, Jr., Nutrition and Food Sciences, 3.72Brittany Fisher, R-Jr., Elementary Education, 3.26Ruth Hilton, Jr., Mathematics Education, 3.77Kimberly Quinn, Sr., Environmental Studies, 3.02

-USU-