June 15, 2005

LOGAN, Utah - Once again, Utah State led the Big West Conference in spring academic all-conference selections as the Aggies landed 32 student-athletes on the teams that were announced on Wednesday.

To qualify for the teams a student-athlete must have a cumulative 3.2 grade point average, be a sophomore academically and participate in 50 percent of his or her games.

Among the selections was four-time honoree Mike Nielson, a senior from Bellevue, Wash. Nielson has been one of the Aggies' top distance runners in his career and most recently competed in the NCAA Championships in the 5,000 meters where he finished 24th.

After USU's 32 selections, UC Santa Barbara was second with 28 picks, while Long Beach State, UC Irvine and Idaho each had 21 selections.

For the year, Utah State produced 57 academic all-Big West selections to top the league for the sixth time in the last seven years. UC Santa Barbara was second overall with 52 honorees during 2004-05, while Cal Poly was third with 48.

In addition to the Big West Conference nominees, USU had 10 gymnasts earn academic all-Western Gymnastics Conference honors. Football players earning all-academic honors in the Sun Belt Conference, will not be announced until the end of the summer.

USU's Spring Academic all-Big West Honorees

Men's Tennis

Roshan Rasekhi, Sr., Physical Education, Salt Lake City, UtahHannes Schenk, Jr., Finance, Meran, Italy

Women's Tennis

Andrea Barker, Jr., Physical Education, Sandy, UtahLauren Monson, So., Physical Education, Salt Lake City, UtahCarolyn Stephens, Sr., Nutrition and Food Sciences, Logan, Utah

Men's Track

Clark Bryner, Jr., Bioregional Planning (graduate program), Logan, UtahDavid Danley, Sr., Fisheries & Wildlife, Heber, UtahScott Faldmo, Jr., Finance, Farmington, UtahYance Fawcett, Jr. Math Education, Henefer, UtahReese Hulbert, So., Physical Education, Taylorsville, UtahKenny Murdock, Sr., Psychology, Spanish Fork, UtahMike Nielson, Sr., Finance, Bellevue, Wash.

Women's Track

Carolyn Andrus, So., Elementary Ed, Orem, UtahDayna Barrett, Sr., Physical Education, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaCaroline Berry, So., Undeclared, Salt Lake City, UtahSarah Dimmick, Sr., English, Wasilla, Ore.Amy Egan, So., English, Latrobe, Pa.Kaylene Gastaldi, So., Special Ed & Elementary Ed, Shingle Springs, Calif.Emily Hillam, Sr., Physical Education, Kearns, UtahAshley Johnson, So., Physical Education, Hyrum, UtahAmber Judd, So., Family, Consumer and Human Development, Midvale, UtahLida Ripplinger, Sr., Physical Education, Salt Lake City, UtahKatrina Smart, So., Elementary Ed, Logan, UtahJill Steele, Jr., Physical Education, Kenmore, Wash.Tiffany Strickland, Jr., Elementary Ed, Orem, UtahCrystal Thiselle, Sr., Finance, Missoula, Mont.Cachet Webb, So., Physical Education, Blackfoot, Idaho

Softball

Shawn Bjarnson, Jr., Business Information Systems, Provo, UtahJessica Garnett, So., Physical Education, Temecula, Calif.Quela Leonhardt, Jr., Physical Education, Sandy, UtahJenna McCartney, So. Physical Education, Hamilton, Mont.Roxanne Ritchie, So., Physical Education, Henderson, Nev.