RELEASED:  Monday, November 2, 2009

UW-Oshkosh’s Mitchell Named Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete

MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Ayla Mitchell has been named the 2009 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Judy Kruckman Women’s Cross Country Scholar-Athlete.

Mitchell, a senior from New Richmond, Wis., is majoring in elementary education with a minor in science and carries a 3.90 grade point average.  She was named to the 2009 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field Third Team and is a two-time member of the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team.  Mitchell has been recognized on UW-Oshkosh’s Dean’s List numerous semesters and the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll twice since transferring from the University of Minnesota after her freshman year.

Mitchell claimed the individual title at the WIAC championship for the second time in her career and placed second in 2008.  She is the sixth individual in conference history to win multiple titles.  Mitchell, the 2008 USTFCCCA Midwest Region Female Athlete of the Year, is a two-time All-American, placing third at the national meet a year ago and 13th in 2007.  She has claimed her team’s Most Valuable Player honor the past two seasons.

Mitchell has volunteered in area elementary schools and assisted with numerous community distance running events.

Also nominated for this year’s award were:  UW-Eau Claire’s Hannah Humbach (Sr., Madison, Wis./Abundant Life), UW-La Crosse’s Zoe Browne (Sr., Stevens Point, Wis.), Alison Kolinski (Sr., Rockford, Ill./East), Kayla La Porte (Sr., Fergus Falls, Minn.), Whitney Nefstead (Sr., Jordan, Minn.) and Katelynn Williams (Sr., Madison, Wis./West), UW-Oshkosh’s Jordan Clark-Mand (Jr., Waupun, Wis.), UW-River Falls’ Leah Korf (Sr., Oakdale, Minn./Tartan), UW-Stevens Point’s Allison Wolter (Sr., Kaukauna, Wis.) and UW-Whitewater’s Katie McCabe (Sr., Random Lake, Wis.), Jaclyn Nett (Sr., Hilbert, Wis.), Andrea Newman (Sr., Bruce, Wis.) and Jennifer Taylor (Sr., Whitewater, Wis.).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Judy Kruckman who served as Assistant Commissioner for the WIAC from 1996-98.  Prior to this appointment, she functioned as Commissioner of the Wisconsin Women's Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from October, 1984 - September, 1996.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average.  In addition, she must be in her last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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