Seven Huskies Named to USTFCCCA DII Cross Country All-Academic Team

NEW ORLEANS – Michigan Tech's Emily Byrd, Sophia Farquhar, Kyle Hanson, Sonja Hedblom, Robyn Holmes, Jason Saliga, and Emily Vigil have received All-Academic honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Both the men's and women's cross country teams have also been named an All-Academic Team.

Farquhar, a junior, received the All-Academic honor in 2015 as well. She maintains a 4.0 GPA majoring in computer science. Hedblom (Sr., Eagan, Minn.) is majoring in mechanical engineering with a 3.98 GPA. Vigil (Jr., Richfield, Mich.) holds a 3.85 GPA in mechanical engineering. Holmes (So., Roseville, Minn.) majors in environmental engineering with a 3.38 GPA. Byrd (Fr., Perrysburg, Ohio) majors in environmental engineering and carries a 3.90 GPA.

Saliga, a senior from Leonard, Mich., is a three-time All-Academic recipient. He majors in chemical engineering and currently holds a 3.87 GPA. Hanson, also a three time All-Academic winner from Fairbanks, Alaska, graduated in December 2016 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

The individual All-Academic Award honor is awarded to athletes who have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher and finished among the top 30 percent of eligible runners at his or her regional championships and/or the top half of the field at the NCAA Championships.

The women's teams secured a 3.41 GPA, while the men's teams held a 3.30 GPA. A total of 164 institutions secured the 2016 NCAA Division II Scholar Team honors by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. In order to qualify for the All-Academic awards, teams must hold a cumulative grade point average of a 3.0 and must have scored at an NCAA Division II regional meet.

The All-Academic honor award was introduced in 2006. This year, there were 400 women who earned honors from over 137 different institutions and 269 men from 118 different institutions gaining All-Academic honors.