Huskers Lead USTFCCCA All-Academic Lists

Lincoln - The Nebraska track and field team once again set the academic standard in its sport as they produced the most USTFCCCA All-Academic selections on both the men's and women's teams. Head Coach Gary Pepin's women's squad produced 19 honorees, while the Huskers tied Minnesota for the men's lead with 12 selections. The women's team has now led the nation the past three seasons after producing 19 award winners in 2009 and 18 winners last season.

Natalie Willer, who was the 2011 NU Women's Student Athlete of the Year, led the way for the Huskers and was joined by fellow seniors Samantha Musil, Karyn LaCour, Arna Erega and Rachel Butler. Stanford was next on the list with 18 honorees, while Oregon (13), Texas (12), Indiana (12), Duke (11), and West Virginia (11) followed. The Husker women represented 20 percent of the Big 12 Conference's nation-leading 95 plaudits. The Pac-10 followed with 69 and the Big East was third among the nation's conferences with 65 honorees.

Just like on the women's side, the men were led by the 2011 NU Men's Student Athlete of the Year, senior Nicholas Gordon. A two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, Gordon was joined on the USTFCCCA list by fellow academic All-Americans Bjorn Barrefors, Adam Dailey, Tyler Hitchler and Nate Polacek. After the Huskers and Gophers, Stanford and BYU were third and fourth in the nation, respectively, with 11 and 10 honorees. The men's 12 honorees led the Big 12 Conference to the national lead on the men's side as well with 45 selections, while the Big Ten and Pac-10 each followed with 41.

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either of the following athletic standards: for the indoor season, a student-athlete must have finished the regular season ranked in the national top 96 in an individual event or ranked in the national top 48 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org; for the outdoor season, a student-athlete must have participated in any round of the NCAA Division I Championships (including preliminary rounds).

Women's Award Winners
Martina Barinova (Prerov, Czech Republic)
Breanna Bussel (Jefferson City, Mo.)
Rachel Butler (Mechanicsville, Va.)
Blaire Dinsdale (Traer, Iowa)
Brooke Dinsdale (Traer, Iowa)
Arna Erega (Rijeka, Croatia)
Mara Griva (Ventspils, Latvia)
Ellie Grooters (Fargo, N.D.)
Annie Jackson (Tekamah, Neb.)
Cami Jiskra (Lincoln, Neb.)
Tara Korshoj (Omaha, Neb.)
Karyn LaCour (Humble, Texas)
Anne Martin (Waverly, Neb.)
Ashley Miller (Tipton, Iowa)
Samantha Musil (DuBois, Neb.)
Jade Siegel (Hastings, Neb.)
Morgan Wilken (Crofton, Neb.)
Natalie Willer (Elkhorn, Neb.)
Victoria Zimmerman (Arlington Heights, Ill.)

Men's Award Winners
David Adams (York, Neb.)
Bjorn Barrefors (Stockholm, Sweden)
Tommy Brinn (Otsego, Mich.)
Adam Dailey (Wahoo, Neb.)
Nicholas Gordon (Kingston, Jamaica)
Tyler Hitchler (Fremont, Neb.)
Eric Lund (Milford, Neb.)
Nate Polacek (Kearney, Neb.)
Tyler Shapland (Waterloo, Neb.)
Teran Walford (York, Neb.)
Carter Wasem (Aurora, Neb.)
Seth Wiedel (Hebron, Neb.)