Men’s Cross Country Program Cited For Academic Success

The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recognized the UW-Oshkosh men's cross country program for its academic success during the 2015 season.

Head coach Eamon McKenna's squad was one of 151 NCAA Division III teams to finish the fall semester with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.10 or better. The Titans closed the semester with a 3.17 GPA.

Ithaca College (N.Y.) edged both Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Principia College (Ill.), 3.697-3.67, for the highest team GPA. Other Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) programs honored were UW-Eau Claire (3.32), UW-La Crosse (3.199), UW-Stout (3.361) and UW-Whitewater (3.214).

UW-Oshkosh had two student-athletes, senior Jordan Carpenter and junior Charlend Howard, named to the organization's All-Academic Team for the second consecutive year. Both individuals helped UW-Oshkosh finish third at the WIAC and 13th at the NCAA Division III championships.

Carpenter is a four-time national meet qualifier who placed 13th at the NCAA Division III Championship in 2015 and 45th in 2014. He finished fifth at the WIAC Championship in 2015, third in 2014 and 17th in 2013.

Carpenter majored in economics and completed his undergraduate work with a 4.00 cumulative grade point average in December of 2014. He currently is pursuing a master's degree in business administration.

Howard finished 50th at the NCAA Division III Championship in 2015 and 26th at the WIAC Championship in 2014. He owns a 3.478 cumulative GPA as a kinesiology major.

In order to be eligible for All-Academic recognition, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of least 3.30 and finish in the top 25 percent at their respective regional. A total of 268 student-athletes received All-Academic honors, including 21 from the WIAC.

UW-Eau Claire's Josh Thorson was named Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Thorson also helped UW-Eau Claire collect the Scholar Team of the Year award.