CHATTANOOGA SPORTS INFORMATION
WOMMACK, MAYNE NAMED COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Chattanooga distance runners Shannon Wommack and Ian
Mayne were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America List in the
University Division by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Wommack, a three-time All-American from Conyers, Ga., was named to the
women’s First Team. She carries a 3.92 GPA in physical therapy and earned
her degree in May. She will continue toward her doctorate in the field.
“Shannon arrived at UTC knowing that she wanted to be a physical
therapist,” UTC Head Coach Bill Gautier said. “She had a goal in mind upon
arrival. Many people change their minds, but she knew what she wanted.”
In preparing for the postseason region and national meets this spring,
Wommack had to juggle a full class load with training. She attended classes
from 9 a.m. until around 4 p.m. before heading off to evening training
sessions wrapped around study times.
“She prioritizes what needs to be done,” Gautier said. “That sets her aside
from the rest. She is a top-tier athlete who knew that running would get
her the opportunity to earn a degree. The degree was her goal. Running was
secondary.”
“It’s taken a lot of planning and time management on my part,” Wommack
said. “It helps having a coach who stresses the importance of academics. He
changes practice times around to accommodate class schedules. That helps a
lot.”
Wommack is a six-time Southern Conference Athlete of the Year in cross
country, indoor track outdoor track with 14 league titles, three school
records and one conference record. She earned All-America status at the
2004 NCAA Cross Country Championships with a top 25 finish. She earned her
first track All-America honor in the 5000m race at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor
Track Nationals and followed that up this spring grabbing her second
finishing fifth in the 3000m steeplechase.
Mayne, a pre-med major, earned a 4.0 in each of the last two semesters and
carries a 3.81 GPA. He was awarded the 2004 Scrappy Moore Award presented
to a current Chattanooga student who excels in academics, athletics and
community service. He served on the Student-Advisory Board for three years
and was named to the Dean’s List each semester since his arrival at UTC.
“You’ve got to find that balance between academics and athletics,” Mayne
said. “I train then hit the books. Sometimes things just get put on the
back burner. If I have to sacrifice going out, then so be it. It’s paid off
for me in the long run.”
Mayne, a seven-time All-Conference performer in cross country, indoor and
outdoor track, won the conference title in the men’s outdoor track 3000m
steeplechase this spring and holds the school record in the event. While
preparing to run the steeplechase at the NCAA Mideast Region meet, Mayne
had to return home to Pickering, Ontario, to take a practice test for the
MCAT that he will take in August for admission to medical school. In order
to keep him from falling behind, Gautier emailed his training schedule to
him daily.
“He’s a very conscientious person,” Gautier said. “He has a real
intellectual ability that is very complimentary of athletics and academics.
Whatever he does, he does it 100 percent.”
Both runners will be on the roster next season as the men’s and women’s
cross country teams set out to defend the titles each won in 2004.
In order to be eligible for Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete
must have at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (on a scale of
4.0), must be a starter or an important reserve and be in at least their
second season of athletic and academic eligibility at their current school.
Forty-six male student-athletes representing 37 different NCAA Division I
institutions were honored. The women’s teams honored 45 student-athletes
from 42 schools were honored.
Prior to this year, Chattanooga had five student-athletes named to the
CoSIDa Academic All-America Teams. The last was softball pitcher Beth
Alexander who was honored in 2001 and 2002.
2004-05 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America®
Women’s Cross Country/Track And Field Teams (University Division)
FIRST TEAM
NAME SCHOOL YR HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR
Annie Bersagel Wake Forest Sr. Greeley, Colo. 3.93/Political
Science/Economics
Caroline Bierbaum Columbia Jr. New York, N.Y. 3.80/English
Kim Clark Kansas Sr. Elkhorn, Neb. 4.00/Biochemistry
Jenn Feenstra Georgia State Sr. St. Thomas, Ontario 3.94/Math
Education
Lindsey Gallo Michigan Gr. Freehold, N.J. 4.00/Accounting
Laura Gerraughty North Carolina Sr. Nashua, N.H. 3.63/Biology
Sarah Klein North Dakota State Jr. Carrington,
N.D. 4.00/Zoology
Jenny Lake South Carolina Sr. Geneseo, Ill. 4.00/Mathematics
Danielle McNaney Liberty Sr. Gardner, Kan. 4.00/Mathematics
Renee Metivier Colorado Sr. Highland Village, Kan. 3.65/Math &
Economics
Gisele Oliveira Clemson Sr. Port Alegre, Brazil 3.96/Management
Serena Ramsey Missouri Sr. Waukesha, Wis. 4.00/Human Dev. &
Family Studies
Maureen Scott Arkansas Jr. Mahomet, Ill. 4.00/Exercise Science
Faith Thompson Buffalo Sr. Niagara Falls, N.Y. 3.97/School Counseling
Shannon Wommack Chattanooga Sr. Conyers, Ga. 3.92/Physical Therapy
2004-05 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America®
Men’s Track & Field/Cross Country Teams (University Division)
THIRD TEAM
NAME SCHOOL YR HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR
Jess Baumgarnter Southern Utah So. Cedar City,
Utah 3.916/Chemistry
Aaron Castro Texas-Pan American Jr. McAllen, Texas 3.975/Business
Joe Detmer Wisconsin Jr. Lodi, Wisc. 3.604/Computer
Engineering
Nathan Egger Michigan State Sr. Mason, Minn. 3.96/Finance
Ryan French Iowa State Sr. Marion, Iowa 3.94/Economics
Matt Gund Arkansas Jr. Idaho Falls,
Idaho 3.83/International Relations
Andrew Heath Auburn Jr. Marietta, Ga. 3.76/Civil Engineering
Ian Mayne Chattanooga Sr. Pickering, Ohio 3.81/Pre-Medicine
Will Merchad UC Davis Sr. Davis, Calif. 3.90/Managerial
Economics
Lucas Meyer Yale Sr. Ridgefield, Conn. 3.38/Comparative
Literature
David Mitchell Miami, OH Sr. Woodridge, Ill. 3.78/English Literature
Sean O’Donnell Notre Dame Sr. Kansas City,
Mo. 3.854/Engineering
Aldwyn Sappleton Oklahoma Gr. Clarendon,
Jamaica 3.33/MBA (Grad.)
Matt Scherer Oregon Jr. Sumner, Ill. 3.63/Business Administration
Ryan Sheehan Saint Francis (PA) Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa. 3.44/Biology
June 22, 2005
UTC Sports Information
www.GoMocs.com
Anne C. Wehunt
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Women's Sports Information Director
(o) 423-425-4618
(f) 423-425-4610
(c) 423-505-2353
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