Mitchell Receives WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award

The WIAC has named UW-Oshkosh's Ayla Mitchell (Sr. • New Richmond) as its 2009 Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete of the Year in the sport of women's cross country.

Mitchell captured the individual title as UW-Oshkosh finished third at the WIAC Women's Cross Country Championship held Oct. 31 in Whitewater. She also finished first at the meet in 2007 and second in 2008.

With her latest victory, Mitchell becomes the fifth UW-Oshkosh runner to claim multiple WIAC titles. She joins three-time champion Tiffany (Speckman) Ebensperger (1994, 1996-97) and two-time winners Laura Horejs (1990-91), Cheryl Niederberger (1987-88) and Liz Woodworth (2003-04).

Mitchell, who placed third in 2008 and 13th in 2007 at the NCAA Division III Women's Cross Country Championship, was named the 2008 NCAA Division III Midwest Region Cross Country Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Mitchell owns a 3.90 cumulative grade point average as an elementary education major. She was named to the 2009 CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America)/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Women’s Cross Country/Track and Field Third Team and is a two-time member of the USTFCCCA's All-Academic Team. Mitchell has been named to UW-Oshkosh's Dean's List several semesters and the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll twice since transferring from the University of Minnesota after her freshman year. She also has volunteered in area elementary schools and assisted with numerous community distance running events.

Mitchell becomes the ninth person in UW-Oshkosh history to receive the WIAC's Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award in the sport of women's cross country. Previous UW-Oshkosh winners were Joan Handziak (1982), Niederberger (1988), Marina Colby (1989), Melissa Langlois (1991), Nicole Iverson (1996), (Speckman) Ebensperger (1997), Sara Holewinski (2001) and Woodworth (2004).

Also nominated for this year’s award were Hannah Humbach of UW-Eau Claire, Zoe Browne, Alison Kolinski, Kayla La Porte, Whitney Nefstead and Katelynn Williams of UW-La Crosse, Jordan Clark-Mand (Jr. • Waupun) of UW-Oshkosh, Leah Korf of UW-River Falls, Allison Wolter of UW-Stevens Point and Katie McCabe, Jaclyn Nett, Andrea Newman and Jennifer Taylor of UW-Whitewater.