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Student-Athletes Continue to Excel in the Classroom | Westerwinds Picked Second in Preseason Poll | Donaldson, Rowan and Williams--Players of the Year

Student-Athletes Continue to Excel in the Classroom

Fall 2008 grade report shows student-athletes continuing to exceed general student body; softball, men’s golf earn team honors

For the third consecutive semester, Western Illinois University student-athletes have compiled an overall grade point average higher than the general student population, helped in part to the softball team which earned a 3.42 GPA and the men’s golf team which earned a 3.249 average.

According to the Fall 2008 grade report, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics combined for an overall grade point average of 2.939, slightly higher than the overall campus GPA of 2.88. More than 10 percent (43) of the 413 student-athletes recorded a perfect 4.0 GPA, nearly 24 percent (98) earned semester honors with a 3.6 or better average, and 52.5 percent (217) had at least a 3.0 mark.
 
"Once again our student-athletes have proved success can be earned in the classroom and on the field of competition,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Tim Van Alstine. “Western’s coaches continue to recruit the high quality Division I student-athletes who match our University’s core value of Academic Excellence.”

The softball team edged out the tennis squad (3.40 GPA) for the highest grade point average among women’s teams, while the golf team narrowly beat out the basketball team (3.231) on the men’s side.

Additionally, 56 student-athletes earned recognition on The Summit League’s Academic All-League Team (men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball), more than all but one league school, and five were nominated to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic Team. In order to be selected to the Academic All-Summit League Team, a student-athlete must have a 3.0 or better grade-point average in the semester in which they compete and must use a year of eligibility.

Westerwinds Picked Second in Summit League Preseason Poll

The Western Illinois softball team was picked to finish second in The Summit League’s preseason poll of the league’s nine head coaches.

North Dakota State received seven first-place votes and 63 total points to take the top spot in the poll. The Bison finished the 2008 season in first place with a 14-2 league record.

The Westerwinds received the other two first-place votes and 56 total points to finish second in the poll.

“We know it’s going to be a tough road through conference play and it’s great to have the respect of our peers to vote us second in the pre-season poll,” said Western Illinois head coach Holly Van Vlymen '00 MS-ED '08. “However, this will motivate us to work hard to defend our Summit League NCAA berth last season and to capture the regular season title. Predictions are nothing more than a measure of potential and I’m confident we will fulfill our potential.”

To read the complete story, click here.

Donaldson, Rowan, Williams Repeat as Western Illinois’ Players of the Year at Annual Football Banquet

Senior running back Herb Donaldson, placekicker Taylor Rowan and linebacker Jason Williams each repeated as Western Illinois University’s player of the year at his respective position during the annual football awards banquet held in January.

Paced by the Missouri Valley Football Conference player of the year and consensus all-American at running back, the Leathernecks’ rushing unit ranked sixth in the country. The Leathernecks’ total offense and scoring offense were also among the national leaders, contributing to one of the best overall offenses in Western Illinois’ modern era.

On the other side of the ball, the Leathernecks put together the best rushing defense in the school’s NCAA history, allowing the fewest yards since 1969, and established the best total defense mark in eight years. They ranked among the country’s top teams in every category and produced the nation’s leader in forced fumbles for the second time in three years.

To read the complete story and watch the banquet video, click here.

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