That gives us 8 total Academic AA's this year...second nationally only to Navy, which has 11!
Good work Gopher Athletes!!!
Five Gophers Earn Academic All-America Nods
The five at-large honorees raises Minnesota’s Academic All-America season total to eight – the most accolades in school history.
Gophersports.com
June 9, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) – University of Minnesota student-athletes Lindsay Mable, Michael Kroells, Hannah Brandt, Lee Stecklein and Brett Pfarr have been named to the 2015-16 CoSIDA Academic All-America Division I At-Large Teams, the organization announced on Thursday.
The five at-large honorees raises Minnesota’s Academic All-America season total to eight – the most accolades in school history – with track & field/cross country honors still to come later this month. Only Navy has earned more Academic All-America honors this year with 11 while Minnesota already led the nation with a school-record 27 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors this academic year.
A member of the women’s gymnastics team, Lindsay Mable earned CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors after receiving Third Team merits one year ago. The Aurora, Colo., native earned the AAI Award, which is considered the Heisman Trophy in gymnastics, this season to close out her collegiate career. Mable was also named back-to-back Big Ten Gymnast of the Year. She boasts 18 career All-America accolades, including seven this season and won the All-Around and Beam individual titles at the Big Ten Championships. Mable is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and was named the female recipient of the Big Ten Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award. Over the course of her career at Minnesota, Mable accrued 96 individual event titles and 26 All-Around titles.
A member of the wrestling program, Michael Kroells was named CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team while continuing to maintain a near-perfect GPA as he works toward an aerospace engineering degree. In addition to his academic honors, which also include multiple awards from the Big Ten and the National Wrestling Coaches' Association, Kroells is coming off his most successful season on the mat for the Gophers. The Belle Plaine, Minn., native placed seventh in the NCAA tournament last spring, securing his second All-America season and becoming the 51st multiple-time All-American in program history. Kroells set several new career-highs last season, including wins (35) and major decisions (eight).
A member of the women’s hockey team, Hannah Brandt repeated as a CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team member this year. Brandt led the Gopher women's hockey team to the program's seventh national title in 2016. She was honored as a Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalist for the fourth-straight season along with receiving AHCA/CCM First Team All-American, All-USCHO, and All-WCHA honors. The Vadnais Heights, Minn., native is a three-time WCHA Scholar Athlete and WCHA All-Academic Team honoree and will graduate with a degree in health and wellness through the University of Minnesota's Inter-College Program.
Also a member of the women’s hockey program, Lee Stecklein picked up her first career CoSIDA Academic All-America nod with a Second Team honor. The Roseville, Minn., native is a two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and WCHA All-Academic Team honoree along with being a two-time AHCA/CCM Second Team All-American and All-WCHA First Team selection. She served as a co-captain with Brandt this season, leading the Gophers to their second-straight and seventh overall NCAA title. Stecklein posted a career-high 30 points, scoring eight goals and adding 22 assists. The junior is studying Entrepreneurial Management in the Carlson School of Management.
A member of the wrestling squad, Brett Pfarr also picked up his first CoSIDA Academic All-America accolade as a Third Team honoree. Pfarr spent much of the season ranked in the top-five at his weight nationally, finishing the season with a third-place performance at the NCAA championships to earn his first career All-America honor. On his way to the podium, Pfarr won 40 matches, becoming the first Gopher to reach that mark in nearly a decade, and finished undefeated in dual competition, including all of his conference matches. The Le Seuer Minn., native maintains a 3.78 GPA in agriculture and food business management.
2015-16 University of Minnesota CoSIDA Academic All-America Selections (8)
Lindsay Mable (Women’s Gymnastics, First Team)
Michael Kroells (Wrestling, First Team)
Brandon Lingen (Football, Second Team)
Paige Tapp (Volleyball, Second Team)
Matt Fiedler (Baseball, Second Team)
Hannah Brandt (Women’s Hockey, Second Team)
Lee Stecklein (Women’s Hockey, Second Team)
Brett Pfarr (Wrestling, Third Team)
Good work Gopher Athletes!!!
Five Gophers Earn Academic All-America Nods
The five at-large honorees raises Minnesota’s Academic All-America season total to eight – the most accolades in school history.
Gophersports.com
June 9, 2016
MINNEAPOLIS (GopherSports.com) – University of Minnesota student-athletes Lindsay Mable, Michael Kroells, Hannah Brandt, Lee Stecklein and Brett Pfarr have been named to the 2015-16 CoSIDA Academic All-America Division I At-Large Teams, the organization announced on Thursday.
The five at-large honorees raises Minnesota’s Academic All-America season total to eight – the most accolades in school history – with track & field/cross country honors still to come later this month. Only Navy has earned more Academic All-America honors this year with 11 while Minnesota already led the nation with a school-record 27 CoSIDA Academic All-District honors this academic year.
A member of the women’s gymnastics team, Lindsay Mable earned CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team honors after receiving Third Team merits one year ago. The Aurora, Colo., native earned the AAI Award, which is considered the Heisman Trophy in gymnastics, this season to close out her collegiate career. Mable was also named back-to-back Big Ten Gymnast of the Year. She boasts 18 career All-America accolades, including seven this season and won the All-Around and Beam individual titles at the Big Ten Championships. Mable is a three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and was named the female recipient of the Big Ten Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award. Over the course of her career at Minnesota, Mable accrued 96 individual event titles and 26 All-Around titles.
A member of the wrestling program, Michael Kroells was named CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team while continuing to maintain a near-perfect GPA as he works toward an aerospace engineering degree. In addition to his academic honors, which also include multiple awards from the Big Ten and the National Wrestling Coaches' Association, Kroells is coming off his most successful season on the mat for the Gophers. The Belle Plaine, Minn., native placed seventh in the NCAA tournament last spring, securing his second All-America season and becoming the 51st multiple-time All-American in program history. Kroells set several new career-highs last season, including wins (35) and major decisions (eight).
A member of the women’s hockey team, Hannah Brandt repeated as a CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team member this year. Brandt led the Gopher women's hockey team to the program's seventh national title in 2016. She was honored as a Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award finalist for the fourth-straight season along with receiving AHCA/CCM First Team All-American, All-USCHO, and All-WCHA honors. The Vadnais Heights, Minn., native is a three-time WCHA Scholar Athlete and WCHA All-Academic Team honoree and will graduate with a degree in health and wellness through the University of Minnesota's Inter-College Program.
Also a member of the women’s hockey program, Lee Stecklein picked up her first career CoSIDA Academic All-America nod with a Second Team honor. The Roseville, Minn., native is a two-time WCHA Scholar-Athlete and WCHA All-Academic Team honoree along with being a two-time AHCA/CCM Second Team All-American and All-WCHA First Team selection. She served as a co-captain with Brandt this season, leading the Gophers to their second-straight and seventh overall NCAA title. Stecklein posted a career-high 30 points, scoring eight goals and adding 22 assists. The junior is studying Entrepreneurial Management in the Carlson School of Management.
A member of the wrestling squad, Brett Pfarr also picked up his first CoSIDA Academic All-America accolade as a Third Team honoree. Pfarr spent much of the season ranked in the top-five at his weight nationally, finishing the season with a third-place performance at the NCAA championships to earn his first career All-America honor. On his way to the podium, Pfarr won 40 matches, becoming the first Gopher to reach that mark in nearly a decade, and finished undefeated in dual competition, including all of his conference matches. The Le Seuer Minn., native maintains a 3.78 GPA in agriculture and food business management.
2015-16 University of Minnesota CoSIDA Academic All-America Selections (8)
Lindsay Mable (Women’s Gymnastics, First Team)
Michael Kroells (Wrestling, First Team)
Brandon Lingen (Football, Second Team)
Paige Tapp (Volleyball, Second Team)
Matt Fiedler (Baseball, Second Team)
Hannah Brandt (Women’s Hockey, Second Team)
Lee Stecklein (Women’s Hockey, Second Team)
Brett Pfarr (Wrestling, Third Team)
