Both Hope College women’s and men’s cross country teams and seven individual Hope runners have been honored nationally for athletics and academics.
The women’s and men’s teams have been named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association NCAA Division III 2013 Scholar Teams of the Year.
Coach Mark Northuis’ Flying Dutch recorded a 3.55 GPA to earn the USTFCCCA recognition for the 24th consecutive time, a feat unmatched in Division III women’s cross country. Teams must have a GPA 3.1 or higher to qualify for the award.
Hope has the longest streak of USTFCCCA Scholar Teams in Division III. The Flying Dutch are one of 215 Division III teams to receive the award.
Individually, Hope had four athletes claim individual recognition with a GPA of 3.3 or higher and a finish in the top 25 percent at their regional meet:
Senior Sheri McCormack of Holland (West Ottawa HS) carries a 3.91 GPA while pursuing majors in chemistry and Spanish.
Senior Meredith Busman of Coopersville (Coopersville HS) owns a 3.86 GPA while majoring in biology. She is being honored for the third time in her career.
Freshman Erin Herrmann of Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton-Warrenville South HS) has a 3.65 GPA in her major of education.
Senior Camille Borst of Allendale (Allendale HS) carries a 3.58 GPA in her major of nursing. She is being honored for the fourth time in her career.
McCormack, Busman, Herrmann and Borst were among 308 individual Division III honorees.
Last fall, Hope finished ninth at the NCAA Division III Championships for the second-highest finish in school history. Individually, McCormack placed 17th for the third-best performance by a member of the Flying Dutch. Hope also finished runner-up at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships.
Coach Mark Northuis’ Flying Dutchmen recorded a 3.32 GPA to be one of 146 teams nationally to earn the USTFCCCA recognition. Teams must have a GPA 3.1 or higher to qualify for the award.
Individually, Hope had three athletes claim individual Scholar Athlete recognition with a GPA of 3.3 or higher and a finish in the top 25 percent at their regional meet:
Senior James Rogers of Saginaw (Valley Lutheran HS) owns a 3.89 GPA while majoring in communication.
Junior Ben Zank of Midland (H.H. Dow HS) carries a 3.72 GPA while majoring in business.
Senior Samuel Pederson of Mt. Prospect, Ill. (Prospect HS), has a 3.61 GPA while majoring in education.
Rogers, Zank and Pederson were among 228 individual Division III honorees.
Last fall, the Flying Dutchmen finished ninth at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional and runner-up in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.