MAC Names Women's Swimming Academic Team

21 student-athletes are honored in voting by league's faculty athletic representatives

Mar 4, 2008

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Mid-American Conference released its 2008 Academic All-MAC Women’s Swimming and Diving team as voted on by the league’s faculty athletic representatives. A total of 21 student-athletes were named to the team. The number of honorees on the Academic All-MAC Team are the number that is set for the specific sport or 33 percent of the number of nominees, whichever is greater.

Eight of the selections are repeat performers from last year’s academic squad - Katie Carter (Akron), Michelle Huang (Ball State), Hannah Burandt (Eastern Michigan), Madeleine Pilchard (Eastern Michigan), Becky Renkola (Eastern Michigan), Melissa Roemmele (Miami), Allison Stevens (Miami) and Michaela Hahn-Lawson (Ohio).

Eastern Michigan led the way with six selections while MAC Champion Ohio placed four honorees on the 2008 academic team. Representing the Eagles, in addition to Burandt, Pilchard and Renkola, are Ashley Durand, Leeza Moser and Alissa Ricard. The Bobcats’ Hahn-Lawson was joined by teammates Chelsey Bower, Lindsey DeStefano and Leah Giancarli.

Toledo and Miami garnered three honorees each with Jennifer Parker, Jill Reighard and Samantha Telljohann representing the Rockets, and Roemmele, Stevens and Karen Frazier representing the RedHawks. Akron had two honorees in Carter and Stephanie Zielinski. Also named were Meili Carpenter from Buffalo, Michael Carriaga of Bowling Green and Ball State’s Huang.

To be nominated, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award. Outstanding academic and athletic accomplishments from the current season only are considered.

2008 Academic All-MAC Women’s Swimming and Diving Team

Name School Year GPA Major

Katie Carter# Akron Jr. 3.70 Graphic Design

Stephanie Zielinski Akron So. 3.56 Nursing

Michelle Huang# Ball State Sr. 3.62 Chemistry/Premed

Michael Carriaga Bowling Green Sr. 3.35 Psychology

Meili Carpenter Buffalo So. 3.83 Psychology

Hannah Burandt# Eastern Michigan Jr. 3.88 Math Secondary Ed.

Ashley Durand Eastern Michigan Jr. 3.65 Biology

Leeza Moser Eastern Michigan So. 3.70 Communications

Madeleine Pilchard# Eastern Michigan Sr. 3.91 Accounting

Becky Renkola# Eastern Michigan Sr. 3.64 Political Science

Alissa Ricard Eastern Michigan Jr. 3.54 Exercise Science

Karen Frazier Miami So. 3.36 Chemical Engineering

Melissa Roemmele# Miami Jr. 3.94 Linguistics and Psychology

Allison Stevens# Miami Jr. 3.75 Journalism and Marketing

Chelsey Bower Ohio So. 3.77 Finance

Lindsey DeStefano Ohio Sr. 3.54 Early Childhood Education

Leah Giancarli Ohio So. 3.26 Communications

Michaela Hahn-Lawson# Ohio Sr. 3.29 Political Science/Pre law

Jennifer Parker Toledo Sr. 3.81 Speech Pathology

Jill Reighard Toledo Sr. 3.59 Environmental Science