Indiana State University Newsroom

A total of 24 Indiana State University student-athletes have been recognized as Academic All-Americans since 1971 by the College Sports Information Directors of America. In addition, 33 student-athletes have received Academic District V awards since 2002.

The Sycamore football team has had six Academic All-Americans including first team selections Gary Brown (1971) and Michael Eads (1972), and second team selections Mark Maley (1973) Jeff Miller (1985), Eric Christensen (1991) and Ryan Patrick (2007).

Men's basketball has had four Academic All-Americans including second team selection Dan Bush (1972), third team selection Mike Roule (1976), second team selection Greg Thomas (1993) and second team selection Matt Renn (2001).

Baseball has had two Academic All-Americans, both first-teamers, in Wally Johnson (1979) and Marty Martino (1981).

Softball has had four Academic All-Americans including first team selection Krista McFarren (1983) who was also an at-large third team selection in field hockey. Connie Fiems and Angle Fruits were both first team selections in 1990 with Fiems repeating as a first-team selection in 1991.

Women's Basketball has had four Academic All-Americans including Laura Rudolphi, who was a third team selection in 2007 and a first-team selection in 2008. Amy Hile was an honorable mention in 1986 while Melanie Boeglin was a first team selection in 2006 and Kelsey Luna was a second team selection in 2009.

Doug Reifsteck was first team at-large selection in 1983 for wrestling, Barbara Malone was a second team at-large selection in 1988 for track and field, Angie Menser a third team at-large selection in 1998 for track and field, and Jessica Crowder was a second team selection for track and field/cross country in 2005.

All District V Academic Honors (Since 2002)

Baseball
2006 First Team: Nevin Ashley.
2008 First Team: Christopher Schmidt.

Football
2002 First Team: Sosepriala (Soso) Dede, RB; Tim Brillhart, DL; Max Matthews, LB; Ryan Merriwether, LB; Mike Gilbert, DB. Second Team: Jake Shields, RB; Adam Vogel, OL.
2003 First Team: Jake Shields, RB; Marc Phillips, OL; Tom Brillhart, DL.
2004 First Team: Jake Shields, RB; Tom Brillhart, DL.
2006 First Team: Bryan Jackson, DB.
2007 Second Team: Ryan Patrick, DB.
2008 First Team: Bryan McCulley, RB; Ryan Patrick, DB.

Men's Basketball
2007 First Team: Trent Wurtz.

Women's Basketball
2003 First Team: Kourtney Mennen.
2006 First Team: Melanie Boeglin. Second Team: Kristen Weddle.
2007 First Team: Laura Rudolphi; Second Team: Rachel Maenpaa.
2008 First Team: Laura Rudolphi.
2009 First Team: Kelsey Luna.

Men's Track & Field/Cross Country
2008 First Team: Sean Bowman; Scott Keeney.

Women's Track & Field/Cross Country
2005 First Team: Jessica Crowder.

Women's Soccer
2004 First Team: Nichole Tiggs.
2005 Second Team: Nichole Tiggs.

Softball
2006 First Team: Jackie Chomikci.

Women's At Large
2006 First Team: Joanne Schickerling (Tennis).
2008 Second Team: Joanne Schickerling (Tennis).

Missouri Valley Conference Dr. Charlotte West Award

Jessica Crowder was selected the recipient of the 2005 Dr. Charlotte West Award by the Missouri Valley Conference faculty representatives. Crowder excelled in cross country and track & field at Indiana State while compiling a 3.96 cumulative grade point average in English education. She was ISU's first All-American in cross country after a 47th place finish in the 2003 National Championship. She was a four-time All-MVC selection, the 2003 MVC cross country champion and was a two-time All-Great Lakes Region selection. The award honors a student-athlete for academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership.

John Nay was selected the recipient of the 2006 Dr. Charlotte West Ward by the Missouri Valley Conference faculty representatives. Nay, a four-year letter winner on the ISU cross country team, maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average while majoring in mathematics with a chemistry minor. Nay helped the Sycamores to back-to-back Valley championships in 2004 and 2005 and was one of 38 MVC student-athletes to earn the President's Council Academic Excellence Award for 2005-2006.

State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Good Neighbor Award

Several Indiana State athletes have received the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Good Neighbor Award which honors academics along with demonstration of good citizenship through good sportsmanship and significant community service. Shae Fehribach, a senior women's soccer player, received the honor for Fall 2007, Laura Rudolphi, a senior member of the women's basketball team, received the honor for Winter 2007-2008; Kyle Walsh, a senior on the men's track & field team, received the honor for Spring 2008; and, Kelli Whitaker, a junior on the volleyball team, received the honor for Fall 2008.

2005-2006: Eight Indiana State student-athletes were selected to receive the Presidents Council Academic Award, which honors those with a 3.8 GPA or above, the largest number honored of any MVC school. Receiving the honor were Melanie Boeglin, Ashley Clark, Lisa Verhoff and Kristen Weddle in women's basketball, Katie Freeman and Sarah Smith from volleyball, Megan Morris from women's soccer, and John Nay in men's track & field. In addition, 40 ISU student-athletes were recognized with the Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award, which recognizes those student-athletes with 3.5 GPA's or higher, with a total of 131 Sycamore student-athletes named to the MVC Honor Roll with a 3.2 GPA or higher.

Presidents Council Academic Award

2006-2007: Eight Indiana State student-athletes were selected to receive the Presidents Council Academic Award, which honors those with a 3.8 GPA or above, the largest number honored of any MVC school. Receiving the honor were David Brumagin and Christopher Schmidt in baseball, Sean Bowman in men's track & field, Laura Engle, Sarah Engle and Danielle Prince in women's track & field, Jacqueline Chomicki in softball, and Sarah Galparoli in women's tennis. In addition, 34 ISU student-athletes were recognized with the Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award, which recognizes those student-athletes with a 3.5 GPA or higher, with a 103 Sycamore student-athletes named to the MVC Honor Roll with a 3.2 GPA or higher.

2007-2008: Four Indiana State student-athletes were selected to receive the Presidents Council Academic Award, which honors those with a 3.8 GPA or above. Receiving the honor were Christopher Schmidt in baseball, David Santelik and Kyle Walsh in men's track & field, and Laura Rudolphi in women's basketball. In addition, 38 ISU student-athletes were recognized with the Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award, which honors those student-athletes with a 3.5 GPA or higher, with 132 Sycamore student-athletes named to the MVC Honor Roll with a 3.2 GPA or higher.

Intercollegiate Tennis Association

The 2004 Indiana State women's tennis team was recognized by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association as an Academic All-American Team. In addition, Logan Becker, Magda Narczewska and Samantha Yun were named Academic All-Americans by the ITA.

For the 2007 season, Sycamores Anton Tsymbalov and Michael Wenham were named ITA Academic All-Americans.

Five Sycamores were honored in 2008 with Blake Douglas and Michael Wenham named Academic All-Americans for the men's tennis team, and Marie Caujolle, Sarah Meghoufel, Jennifer Migan and Joanne Schicklering named Academic All-Americans for the women's team.

American Volleyball Coaches Association

The Indiana State Volleyball team has the longest active streak in NCAA Division I after receiving its 10th straight AVCA Team Academic Award.

Writer: Kevin Jenison, assistant director, athletics media relations, 812-237-4073 or ejenison@indstate.edu