RELEASED:  Wednesday, July 8, 2009

UW-Eau Claire’s Johnson and UW-La Crosse’s Vincent Lead USTFCCCA All-Academic Men’s Track and Field Team

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Sam Johnson and UW-La Crosse’s Dallas Vincent have been named 2009 NCAA Division III Scholar-Athletes of the Year by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Johnson claimed the Indoor Field Scholar-Athlete honor, while Vincent was the Indoor Field Scholar-Athlete recipient.

A senior from Deer Park, Wis. (Amery), Johnson boasted a 3.93 grade point average while majoring in physics.  He won the national title in the 35-pound weight throw, as each of his legal throws went further than any other competitor’s throws.  Johnson also secured the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) crown in the 35-pound weight throw.

Vincent, a junior from Oakfield, Wis. (Mayville), is majoring in accounting and carries a 3.85 grade point average.  He placed second at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championship in the 5,000-meter run and anchored the second-place distance medley relay squad.  At the WIAC meet, he placed fourth in the mile and second as a member of the distance medley relay.

Additional individuals from the WIAC that were named to the 186-member USTFCCCA All-Academic Team included:  UW-Eau Claire’s Tim Braunschweig, UW-La Crosse’s Jeremiah Burish, Matt Gordy, Connor Lonning, Ryan Mendez, Brad Peterson and Paul Yerhot, UW-Oshkosh’s Nick Katsandonis, Jared Morris and Ben Wizner, UW-Platteville’s Tony Fontanini, Jason Garvens, Scott Howard, Tony Kilburg, Nate Petesch and Mitch Spees, UW-Stevens Point’s Chris Petrie, Jerry Prusinski and Cory Towle and UW-Stout’s Nate Carey and Daniel Drewek.

The 23 members from the WIAC were the most from any conference, followed by the University Athletic Association with 21 and the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with 18.

The USTFCCCA honors Division III individuals for their academic and athletic achievements during the indoor and outdoor track and field season.  To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 and have met the NCAA Division III Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.

WIAC All-Americans
NCAA Championship History
Academic All-Americans