GTE Academic All-America Women's At-Large Teams Include 10 NCAA Champions

STAMFORD, Conn., -- Ten student-athletes who won an NCAA championship in 1997 were named to the GTE Academic All-America Spring Women's At-Large Teams, announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

In the University Division, Amy Acuff of UCLA (track), a senior from Robstown, Texas (3.32/pre-biology) was the indoor and outdoor high jump champion; Kellee Booth of Arizona State (golf), a junior from Coto de Caza, Calif. (3.53/business management) was a member of the team champion Sun Devils; Heather Bowie of Texas (golf), a senior from Edmond, Okla.(3.43/finance) won the individual crown; and Stephanie Nickitas of Florida (tennis), a sophomore from Tampa, Fla. (3.68/marketing) was a member of the champion doubles team.

The GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year was Janet Blomstedt of Nebraska (track) a junior from Hershey, Neb. (4.00/business administration), who holds the NCAA record of 4,325 points in the pentathlon.. The award goes to the team member who "best represents the qualities of an Academic All-America Team Member."

In the College Division, Amy Bippert of Angelo State (track), a senior from LaCoste, Texas (3.78/kinesiology) was the Division II heptathlon champion and the College Division's Team Member of the Year; Betsy Haverkamp of Calvin (track), a senior from Kentwood, Mich. (3.64/Spanish/education) was the Division III champion in the 3,000-meters; Laura Nelson of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (track), a junior from Schofield, Wis. (3.92/elementary education/language arts) was a star on the Division III outdoor team champions; Missy Oleson of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (track), a senior from Marinette, Wis. (3.59/elementary education/math) was also a team champion and won the individual title in the shot put; Amy Rowland of Kenyon (tennis), a senior from Dayton, Ohio (3.65/psychology) was a member of the Division III champions; and Lace Van Zeeland of Wisconsin-LaCrosse (track), a senior from Kimberly, Wis. (3.93/physical therapy) was a member of the Division III 1,600-meter relay champions.

The GTE Academic All-America Teams are selected by a vote of the 1,800-member CoSIDA. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are named to district teams prior to being voted upon on the national level. CoSIDA has been selecting Academic All-America teams since 1952.

GTE has been the exclusive sponsor of the Academic All-America program since 1985. With revenues of more than $21 billion in 1996, GTE is one of the largest publicly held telecommunications companies in the world. In the United States, GTE offers local and wireless service in 29 states and long-distance service in all 50 states. GTE was the first among its peers to offer "one-stop shopping" for local, long-distance and Internet access services.

Following is a complete list of the 1997 GTE Academic All-America Women's At-Large Teams for the spring semester in the University and College Divisions:

1997 GTE Academic All-America Women's Spring At-Large Teams

University Division First Team

University Division Second Team

University Division Third Team

***GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year - University Division

College Division First Team

College Division Second Team

College Division Third Team

*** GTE Academic All-America Team Member of the Year - College Division

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