The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) have recently released a list of intstitutions with the highest number of Academic All-Americans over the past three years (since the 2000-01 school year). Gustavus Adolphus College ranks 14th on a list of over 1,000 institutions that compete at the NCAA Division I, II and III and NAIA levels. The Golden Gusties have had 15 student-athletes receive Academic All-America honors during that period (six in 2000-01, five in 2001-02, and four in 2002-03).
CoSIDA selects All-America teams in 12 programs: football, volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s track and field/cross country, baseball, softball, men’s and women’s at-large. To qualify for Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average for his/her career. No athlete is eligible until he/she has reached sophomore athletic and academic standing.
Gustavus has a long history of student athletes earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. The Gusties currently rank 16th in Division III for number of Academic All-Americans All-Time with 45. Baseball players Jim Mortinson and Brad Baker were the first Gustavus student athletes to earn Academic All-America honors in the spring of 1980. At least one Gustie student athlete has earned Academic All-America honors in 14 of the past 17 years.
List of institutions with most CoSIDA Acadmic All-Americans over the past three years:
SCHOOL TOTAL
Emory University 30
University of Nebraska 30
University of Notre Dame 23
Pennsylvania State University 21
University of Alabama 20
Truman State University 20
Augustana College (IL) 18
University of Indianapolis 18
Nebraska Wesleyan University 18
Pittsburg State University 18
Arizona State University 17
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 17
University of Saint Thomas 16
Gustavus Adolphus College 15
Purdue University 15
Stanford University 15
University of Arkansas 14
University of Dayton 14
Duquesne University 14
Massachusetts Institute of Technology 14
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 14
Gustavus athletes that have received Academic All-America honors during this period include:
Brian Bergstrom, Football – Fall of 2000
Andy Kopperud, Football – Fall of 2000
Brian Bergstrom, Football – Fall of 2001
Stacy Horner (Track), Women’s At-Large – Spring of 2001
Ellen Anderson (Tennis), Women’s At-Large – Spring of 2001
Tommy Valentini (Tennis), Men’s At-Large – Spring of 2001
Robb Trenda (Golf), Men’s At-Large – Spring of 2001
Tommy Valentini (Tennis), Men’s At-Large – Spring of 2002
Sarah Moe (Hockey), Women’s At-Large – Spring of 2002
Ellen Anderson (Tennis), Women’s At-Large – Spring of 2002
Brad Mazer, Baseball – Spring of 2002
Andy Traetow, Football – Fall of 2002
Ben Spilseth, Football – Fall of 2002
Christina Diller, Softball – Spring of 2003
Amanda Parker (Gymnastics), Women’s At-Large, Spring of 2003