FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

June 2, 2011 - North Central College student-athlete Amanda Laesch has been named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-District Five Women's Cross Country and Track and Field Team (College Division), as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The CoSIDA Academic All-America program is designed to recognize student-athletes for combining academic and athletic success. In order to be eligible, nominees must have maintained a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.30 (on a 4.00 scale) in addition to their athletic credentials. The nominations are then voted upon by the CoSIDA membership.

The College Division consists of all NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, community college and Canadian institutions. District Five encompasses the states of Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota and Wisconsin, in addition to the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba.

Laesch, a graduate student pursuing a master's degree in Leadership Studies, was one of 10 individuals voted to the College Division District Five Second Team. Another 11 student-athletes were voted to the First Team.

Laesch earned five NCAA Division III All-America certificiates during the 2010-2011 academic year. She was the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin individual champion and the 15th overall finisher at the national championships during the cross country season, then won the mile, 3,000-meter and 5,000-meter runs at the CCIW Indoor Championships before earning All-America honors by placing sixth in the 5,000 and seventh in the distance medley relay at the Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships.

She won the 5,000 at the CCIW Outdoor Championships, then placed third in both the 5,000 and the 10,000-meter run at the Division III Outdoor Championships to receive two more All-America certificates. Laesch's contributions helped lead North Central to victories at the CCIW Cross Country, Indoor Track & Field and Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Laesch was one of two CCIW representatives on the All-District Teams. Augustana College's Amy Walsh also made the Second Team. Laesch is the 28th North Central student-athlete to receive Academic All-District honors from CoSIDA.

More information about CoSIDA and the Academic All-America Program can be found at www.cosida.com.