Galloway, NJ – The Stockton University men's and women's track & field squads each qualified for
All-Academic Team honors from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for the 2018 season. The Ospreys were among 185 women's teams and 106 men's teams that earned the distinction by recording a cumulative team grade point average of 3.00 or higher.
The Osprey women's squad, coached by
Todd Curll, registered a 3.56 team grade point average that ranked in a tie for 25th in the nation in GPA. The Stockton men's team, coached by
Jayson Resch, earned a spot on the list with a 3.18 team GPA that was tied for 72nd nationally.
Stockton and The College of New Jersey were the two NJAC teams on the men's list. Rowan, Ramapo and The College of New Jersey joined the Osprey women's squad as NJAC qualifiers on the women's side.
Three Stockton University student-athletes qualified for USTFCCCA
All-Academic Individual accolades. Senior
Jared Lewis (Westville/Deptford) and freshman
Olivier Paul (Mays Landing/Oakcrest) were the two Osprey males to earn recognition. Lewis earned the recognition for the third time (2015, 2017-18). Stockton's lone female qualifier was senior
Emily Higbee (Absecon/Holy Spirit), who also earned her third USTFCCCA academic honor (2015, 2017-18).
Lewis won the NCAA indoor triple jump championship and earned two All-American honors in the event this year to bring his career total to nine, the most All-American nods in school history. He also was voted NJAC Outstanding Field Athlete for the indoor season and was USTFCCCA All-Region in the indoor and outdoor triple jump.
Paul collected three all-conference honors in his rookie year (NJAC Second Team in indoor 400m & outdoor 400m hurdles, NJAC Honorable Mention in indoor 4x400). He also was a USTFCCCA All-Region performer in the outdoor 400m hurdles.
Higbee was voted NJAC Most Outstanding Athlete for the outdoor season and earned USTFCCCA All-Region status in the outdoor shot put and javelin. She was a six-time all-conference honoree this year as well (NJAC First Team in indoor weight throw & shot put, NJAC First Team in outdoor discus, hammer throw & shot put, NJAC Second Team in javelin).
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have compiled a minimum 3.30 grade point average and either finished the regular season ranked in the top 50 in the nation in an individual event or top 25 in a relay, and/or competed in the NCAA Indoor Championship or NCAA Outdoor Championship this year.
Including the Scholar Athletes of the Year, a total of 408 men and 627 women earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors during the 2017-18 track & field seasons. Nationally, 27 women and 11 men earned GPA's of 4.0 or better.
