The Southwestern Community College men's and women's cross country teams were recently recognized for their success in the classroom last fall, with five student-athletes earning Academic All-America honors presented by the National Junior College Cross Country Coaches Association.

Student-athletes who earned a 3.4 grade point average or higher during the fall semester were recognized individually with Academic All-America honors. Southwestern student-athletes receiving this honor were Mazzy Hummel (4.00 GPA), Tori Reynolds (4.00 GPA), Levi Detrick (4.00 GPA), Josh Baudler (3.57 GPA), and Nicholas Mather (3.46 GPA).

The Southwestern men's cross country team was also recognized as a 2020 Division I Men's Cross Country Academic All-Scholar Team of the Year. To receive this honor, a team must have had at least five student-athletes nominated and have a team GPA of 3.20 or higher. The Southwestern men ranked fourth in the NJCAA Division I nationally with a 3.35 GPA.

"This is easily the team accomplishment from the fall I am most proud of," Southwestern Director of Cross Country/Track and Field Scott Vicker said. "I tell each of our recruits that one of my biggest goals for them is to be named Academic All-American. For us to have five of our eight cross country athletes receive that honor this year, with everything else going on in the world, is a testament to how hard our kids worked in the classroom. Our men's team ranking fourth in the country for team GPA and being named an Academic All-Scholar Team of the Year is incredible. I had high expectations for our student-athletes in my first year, and they delivered in a big way. I cannot tell them enough how proud of them I am about these accomplishments."