IWU’s Anderson Track Academic All-American of the Year

June 25, 2008

Illinois Wesleyan’s Rachel Anderson has been chosen as the College Division Academic All-America of the Year on the ESPN The Magazine Academic All–America women’s track & field and cross country teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Go here for complete CoSIDA story, team members.

She is the first Illinois Wesleyan female athlete to earn the Academic All-America of the Year distinction. Previous winners have been Keelan Amelianovich (men's basketball, 2006), Korey Coon (men’s basketball, 1999 and 2000), James Rinne (baseball, 1998) and Lon Erickson (football, 1997).

Anderson, a Clinton (Ill.) High School graduate, was also a repeat selection to the first team of the Academic All-America squad. She graduated in May with a 3.80 grade-point average as a business major and plans to attend pharmacy school. She was an academic all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection, a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and serves as an ambassador for the IWU Admissions Office.

The winner of an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, Anderson was one of 11 candidates for the the 2007-2008 Division III Athlete of the Year, sponsored by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards and American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

She was named 2008 NCAA Division III Female Track Athlete of the Year as she helped her IWU women’s team win both the national NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor championships as well as the school’s first CCIW track title.

A 15-time Division III All-American in her career, she was the national indoor and outdoor champion in the 400 this year, the 200 outdoor champion, and ran on the indoor 4x400 relay team that placed first nationally.

To be considered for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® squads, players must be of at least sophomore standing, have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.2 (of 4.0), and be a starter or first-line reserve. A voting board representing the 1,800 members of CoSIDA chooses the teams.

Anderson’s selection gives Illinois Wesleyan 110 Academic All-America berths since the program began, a total eclipsed by only eight other schools, including Nebraska, Notre Dame, Penn State, UCLA and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206