Wieferich Earns Second-Team Academic All-American Honors

Katie Wieferich (Marietta, Ohio / Marietta) became the 20th student-athlete in College of Wooster history, and only one during the 2005-06 year, to earn Academic All-American® honors as the junior cross country/ track star was selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Second Team, announced the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Thursday.

Wieferich was one of 30 within the College Division (NCAA Divs. II and III and NAIA) to be voted first- or second-team.

“To get this honor … she’s somebody that really stands out,” summed up long-time Wooster cross country and track coach Dennis Rice. “She’s really taken it to another level with what she’s accomplished running-wise and with her academics.”

This past academic year, Wieferich was simply one of the best distance runners across NCAA Div. III. She was voted North Coast Athletic Conference Runner of the Year in cross country after winning the individual title at the league championships, cruising the 6K course in 22:30. Wieferich went on to place third of 222 harriers at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional (20:59), however, she suffered an injury on a training run the day after that race and was hobbled at the Div. III national meet on Nov. 19, where she finished 54th (23:18).

Wieferich did not compete again until the NCAC Indoor Track & Field Championships March 3-4, when she responded to her extended layoff by establishing a new conference record in winning the 5000 meters (17:38.13) and anchoring the first-place distance medley relay team (12:53.41) en route to NCAC Middle/Distance Runner-of-the-Year honors. She nabbed that award at the conference’s outdoor meet, too, as she won the 5000 again, setting another NCAC record (17:39.27), as well as the 10,000 (38:26.43). Then, Wieferich became Wooster’s first All-American in women’s track since 1994 by finishing third while running a sub-36-minute 10,000 at the NCAA’s (35:53.55), and after a day of recovery, adding a fifth-place effort in the 5000 (17:21.54).

Off the cross country course and track, Wieferich, who is majoring in chemistry, has made Dean’s List four semesters. She also serves as a tutor in the chemistry department.

Created in 1952, the Academic All-America Teams program now annually honors 816 male and female student-athletes who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000-member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.