Wednesday, October 19, 2022

PORTLAND, Ore. – Alaska Anchorage sophomore Coleman Nash and Alaska sophomore Kendall Kramer are expected to contend for the GNAC championship. But the two are proving just as successful in the classroom as they are on the course.

The tandem leads a total of 96 selections to the 2022 Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic Team, presented by Barnes & Noble College. Forty-five men and 51 women were named to the team, recognizing student-athletes for academic and athletic achievement.

Both Nash and Kramer are among seven honorees named to the team with a 4.0 GPA. A finance major at Alaska Anchorage, Nash has been named GNAC Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week three times this season. The runner-up at the GNAC Championships and an All-American as a freshman, Nash has finished no worse than second place in the three meets he has competed in this season.

With a 4.00 GPA as a psychology major, Kramer won both the Blue & Gold Invite and the Seawolf Throwdown to open the season and posted a second-place finish at the Yellowjacket/Battlin’ Bear Invitational on Octo. 7. As a freshman, Kramer placed third at the GNAC Championships and was one of three UAF runners to compete at the NCAA Division II Championships.

Nash was the only 4.00 GPA among men’s nominees to the All-Academic Team. Joining Kramer on the women’s side with a 4.00 GPA is Seattle Pacific sophomore Annika Esvelt, Western Oregon sophomores Josie Ackerman and Kaitlyn Kruse and Western Washington sophomores Sophie Gard and Delphine Maurer.

The GNAC Cross Country All-Academic Team features 51 student-athletes, 28 men and 23 women, who are repeat selections. A total of 12 earned selection for the third time and five earned four-time selections: Alaska Anchorage senior Arielle Himelbloom, Montana State seniors Ase Ackerman, Kailee Stoppel and Logan Straus; and Simon Fraser senior Emily Chilton.

Western Oregon leads all institutions with 16 All-Academic selections (8 men, 8 women). Western Washington finished with 13 selections. Central Washington had 12 and Simon Fraser had 11.

To qualify for the GNAC All-Academic Teams, presented by Barnes & Noble College, nominees must be of sophomore eligibility or greater, have a minimum cumulative GPA or 3.20 or greater, be a letterwinner on their team and must be in their second year at the nominating institution.