Flames tops on academic teams

Alex Gruenwald and teammate Joey Begel represent UIC on the Horizon League’s academic team for baseball. Photo: Steve Woltmann

Nineteen UIC student-athletes were named to the Horizon League’s Spring Academic All-League Teams.

UIC and Valparaiso tied for the most students honored in the conference.

“Our student-athletes enjoyed another very impressive semester in the classroom,” said Jim Schmidt, director of athletics.

“The last five semesters have been some of the best in school history, and it’s nice to be recognized as one of the most successful programs in the Horizon League when it relates to academic consistency.”

The women’s track and field team boasted a department-high five students honored. Seniors Andrea Crump and Aimee Schuh, juniors Mariya Denisenko and Sharon Mwale, and sophomore Valere Guertinall were named to the team.

Men’s track and field, softball and women’s tennis each had three student-athletes with All-Academic recognition.

Senior Roy Mwale, older brother of Sharon, junior Angelos Karkalis and sophomore Cody Lee represented the Flames on the men’s track and field team.

Players honored on the softball team included seniors Kara Komp and Coryn Schmit, and junior Jacki Fletcher. In women’s tennis, senior Haley Craig and juniors Jana Knoppe and Kathryn Sharples earned spots on the squad.

On the baseball team, seniors Joey Begel and Alex Gruenwald represented the Flames, while men’s tennis senior Gautham Oroskar and junior Alexander Raa were selected.

Sophomore Kayla Stueland, a communication major with a flawless 4.0 GPA, was the first All-Academic selection for women’s golf program,  now in its second year.

The Horizon League recognizes student-athletes with seasonal Academic All-League Teams in each of its 19 championship sports.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.20 or higher (based on a 4.00 scale) and completed at least one year at the member institution, with 24 semester-hour or 36 quarter-hour credits.