The Hope College men’s cross country team, along with two Flying Dutchmen student-athletes, have claimed national academic distinction from the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association for the 2021 season.
Hope was selected as one of 137 USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams after recording a 3.42 team grade point average.
Individually, senior accounting major Nick Hoffman (Holland, Michigan / Holland HS) and freshman Connor Vachon (Jenison, Michigan / Jenison) received All-Academic honors.
In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, student athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-25 percent of their respective regional championship meet. There were 248 individuals from 91 institutions recognized.
In order to qualify for All-Academic distinction, teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, among other qualifiers.
Led by head coach Mark Northuis, the Flying Dutchmen finished ninth at the NCAA Division III Great Lakes Regional and runner-up at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Championships. Hoffman qualified for nationals as an individual and finished 152nd.
Hope is an USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for the 31st time since the award program began 32 years ago.