Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

USTFCCCA All-Academic Individuals
USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams

July 13, 2023 - In recognition of its commitment to combined excellence in academics and athletics, the North Central College men's track and field program has been recognized by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) with five All-Academic Individual awards for the 2023 season. The Cardinals also qualify as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team for the fourth consecutive year after posting its highest team grade-point average since the award came into being in 2007.
 
To qualify for the individual All-Academic award, student-athletes must have compiled a grade point average of 3.30 and have qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships or finish the season ranked in the national top 50 in an individual event or the top 35 in a relay event. 
 
Connor Riss is now a three-time recipient of the distinction, while Braden Nicholson is a two-time selection and Drew Guimond, Max Svienty and Logan Tanttu are first-time winners. North Central was also recognized as one of 139 NCAA Division III All-Academic Teams by the USTFCCCA, achieving a 3.30 cumulative GPA to achieve the team award for the eighh time in the last nine seasons.
 
Riss, a marketing major, ran on the winning distance medley relay team and placed second in the 3,000-meter run at the CCIW Indoor Championship, then earned All-America honors with a sixth-place finish at the Division III Indoor Championship. Outdoors, Riss finished first in the 1,500-meter run and seventh in the 800-meter run at the CCIW Championship and won another All-America plaque with an eighth-place finish at 5,000 meters in the Division III Outdoor Championship. 

Nicholson, also a marketing major, placed third in the 3,000 meters at the CCIW Indoor Championship before winning the 5,000 meters at the CCIW outdoor meet. Nicholson claimed All-America honors with a third-place showing in the 5,000 at the outdoor national championship. Guimond, an accounting major, won the CCIW indoor title at 5,000 meters and placed second in the 10,000 outdoor conference meet before placing 12th in the 10,000 at the national championship. After winning the 10,000 and placing fifth in the 1,500 at the CCIW Outdoor Championship, Svienty closed the season by finishing fifth in the 5,000 and ninth in the 10,000 at the Division III Outdoor Championship.

Tanttu, a graphic design major, finished second in the mile and third in the 800 at the CCIW Indoor Championship, then won the 800 at the CCIW Outdoor Championship.
 
North Central's five honorees are among 15 CCIW representatives on the All-Academic list. A total of 442 Division III athletes nationwide from 139 institutions received the distinction. 

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