Calvin Cross Country Teams Earn Team Academic Honors from College Cross Country Association

March 28, 2002

GRAND RAPIDS, MI - The College Cross Country Coaches Association has released its NCAA Division III All-Academic Teams and for the eighth consecutive year, the Calvin men's and women's cross country teams have both been so honored. To qualify for the award, a team needed a minimum cumulative team grade point average of 3.10 on a 4.0 scale and also have competed at an NCAA III regional meet.

The Calvin women's cross country team posted a 3.42 cumulative team grade point average to rank 42nd among the 104 NCAA III women's teams that qualified for the team award. The Calvin men's cross country team posted a 3.26 cumulative team grade point average to rank 33rd among the 66 NCAA III men's teams that qualified for the team award.

Calvin is one of just 57 NCAA III schools nationwide to have both of its cross country teams receive the team all-academic award.

Adrian, Albion and Hope joined Calvin as men's honorees while Adrian, Albion and Hope also joined Calvin as women's honorees.

Calvin's men and women also had six individual honorees. To qualify for the individual cross country coaches all-academic award, an individual needed to have finished in the top 25 percent of the finishers at a regional meet and maintain a cumulative 3.50 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. Erinn Boot (Kalamazoo Christian), Jessie Lair (Southfield Christian) and Laura Medema (Grand Rapids Christian) were so honored for the Calvin women while Joel Klooster (Chatham, ON), David Ritsema (Denver, CO) and Tim Avery (Rochester, NY) were so honored for the Calvin women. Boot, Lair and Medema were among115 individuals to be so honored on the women's side. Boot ranked 36th among the individual honorees with a 3.86 grade point average. Klooster, Ritsema and Avery were among 74 individuals to be so honored on the men's side. Klooster ranks ninth among the individuals honored with a 3.98 grade point average while Ritsema ranked 12th with a 3.95 grade point average.

Coached by Nancy Meyer, the Calvin women's cross country team finished sixth at the NCAA III Championships this past November to record its 10th top-10 national finish. The Calvin men's cross country team, led by coaches Brian Diemer and Al Hoekstra, finished second at the NCAA III Championships this past November to record its fourth consecutive top-four national finish and its 13th top-10 national finish. At the national meet, Klooster earned All-America honors for the second straight year as he finished 24th individually.

Both cross country teams also captured MIAA and Great Lakes Regional crowns last fall with the Calvin women's cross country team winning the MIAA title for a record 14th straight year while the men won the league crown for a record 15th straight year. The women then continued on to win their 13th straight Great Lakes Regional title while the men won the regional crown for the sixth straight year.

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