Photo by: Tom Lynn
McDonald named USTFCCCA Scholar Athlete of the Year
February 14, 2019 | Men's Cross Country
McDonald becomes first Badger to earn national academic honor
MADISON, Wis. – After a historic season, Wisconsin standout Morgan McDonald made more history on Thursday as the senior was named the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Scholar Athlete of the Year for the 2018 cross country season, the association announced Thursday.
The 2018 NCAA Cross Country Champion, McDonald became not only the first Badger to earn the honor, but the first Big Ten Conference men's cross country standout to receive the award.
McDonald is also the first men's student-athlete since Edward Cheserek in 2014 to win both the NCAA cross country title and the USTFCCCA National Scholar Athlete of the Year.
In addition, McDonald picked up his fourth-straight All-Academic honor from the USTFCCCA. The finance, investment & banking major from Sydney, Australia won Big Ten cross country title while leading the Badgers to the team title. At the 2018 NCAA Great Lakes Regional, the captain earned All-Region honors while helping UW capture the team title before leading the Badgers to an eighth-place showing at the NCAA championships.
McDonald wasn't the only Badger to earn All-Academic honors as Ben Eidenschink, Olin Hacker and Alica Monson were named to the 2018 Division I All-Academic Team while both the men's and women's squads earned All-Academic team honors.
Eidenschink earned his third-straight USTFCCCA academic accolade on Friday. The finance, investment & banking major had an impressive cross country season, recording a 15th place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional before capping off his season at the NCAA Championships.
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Earning his second academic accolade from the USTFCCCA is Madison native Olin Hacker. Hacker, a biology major, took fifth at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and earned All-Region honors before finishing out the season at the NCAA championships.
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Monson, the 2018 Big Ten Cross Country champion, also earned her second career academic accolade from the USTFCCCA. The nutritional sciences major from Amery, Wisconsin, had a breakout cross country season, winning the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and going on to conclude her memorable season with a fourth-place finish at the national meet.
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All-Academic athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and finish in the top-25 at regionals or as an All-American in the national meet. For teams to earn honors they must have above a 3.0 grade-point average.
The 2018 NCAA Cross Country Champion, McDonald became not only the first Badger to earn the honor, but the first Big Ten Conference men's cross country standout to receive the award.
McDonald is also the first men's student-athlete since Edward Cheserek in 2014 to win both the NCAA cross country title and the USTFCCCA National Scholar Athlete of the Year.
In addition, McDonald picked up his fourth-straight All-Academic honor from the USTFCCCA. The finance, investment & banking major from Sydney, Australia won Big Ten cross country title while leading the Badgers to the team title. At the 2018 NCAA Great Lakes Regional, the captain earned All-Region honors while helping UW capture the team title before leading the Badgers to an eighth-place showing at the NCAA championships.
McDonald wasn't the only Badger to earn All-Academic honors as Ben Eidenschink, Olin Hacker and Alica Monson were named to the 2018 Division I All-Academic Team while both the men's and women's squads earned All-Academic team honors.
Eidenschink earned his third-straight USTFCCCA academic accolade on Friday. The finance, investment & banking major had an impressive cross country season, recording a 15th place finish at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional before capping off his season at the NCAA Championships.
Â
Earning his second academic accolade from the USTFCCCA is Madison native Olin Hacker. Hacker, a biology major, took fifth at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and earned All-Region honors before finishing out the season at the NCAA championships.
Â
Monson, the 2018 Big Ten Cross Country champion, also earned her second career academic accolade from the USTFCCCA. The nutritional sciences major from Amery, Wisconsin, had a breakout cross country season, winning the NCAA Great Lakes Regional and going on to conclude her memorable season with a fourth-place finish at the national meet.
Â
All-Academic athletes must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 and finish in the top-25 at regionals or as an All-American in the national meet. For teams to earn honors they must have above a 3.0 grade-point average.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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