Athletes named academic all-stars
Coryn Schmit, one of eight UIC student athletes named to the Horizon League’s Spring Academic All-League Teams, is an honors student in kinesiology with a 3.98 GPA. Photo: Steve Woltmann
Eight UIC student athletes were recognized for achievements in and outside the classroom with a place on the Horizon League’s Spring Academic All-League Teams.
“Our student athletes have achieved three straight semesters with a collective 3.0 GPA, and the athletes named to this spring’s All-Academic Teams are some of our department’s standouts, both on and off the field,” said athletic director Jim Schmidt.
Four members of the women’s tennis team were recognized: Mariya Kovaleva, Linda Hricistova (3.83 GPA), Jana Knoppe (3.66 GPA) and Haley Craig (3.30 GPA).
Kovaleva, who graduated this spring with a 3.51 GPA in finance, was named Horizon League Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive year.
Hricistova scored nearly 30 percent of UIC’s doubles wins last season. Knoppe and Craig combined for 46 singles wins, including a combined 19-1 singles record against Horizon League opponents. Craig was named to the Horizon League’s Second Team.
Joey Begel, a right-handed starting pitcher, ranked third in Horizon League wins last season. Along with his 3.37 cumulative GPA in the College of Business Administration, he pitched 98.2 innings this season and helped the Flames make an impressive run to the championship game of the Horizon League Tournament.
Softball’s Coryn Schmit, who has a cumulative 3.98 GPA as an honors student in kinesiology, has been UIC Female Student-Athlete of the Year the last two years. She was named to the Second-Team All-Horizon League this year.
Mariya Denisenko, women’s track and field, tallied three top-five finishes in the long jump during the outdoor season, including fourth place at the Horizon League Outdoor Championship. A kinesiology major, she has a 4.0 GPA.
Anthony Crawford, men’s track team, recorded four top-10 finishes in the 100-and 200-meter dash during the outdoor campaign. He has a 3.2 GPA in kinesiology.
