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

North Central Spring 2011 Academic All-CCIW Selections

July 15, 2011 - North Central College has released its list of Academic All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin selections for the 2011 spring season. Heading the list are North Central's Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference selections, men's track and field athlete John Wood and women's track and field athlete Lauren Brightmore.

Each CCIW institution selects one male and one female Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference Award winner each season. To be considered, student-athletes must have maintained at least a 3.50 grade-point average during the term in addition to their athletic credentials. The award is named after former CCIW commissioner and Wheaton College coach and administrator Jack Swartz for his support of the CCIW and his commitment to the student-athlete.

Wood and Brightmore were among 65 North Central student-athletes to make the Academic All-CCIW Team for the spring. In order to make the list, individuals needed to have earned a varsity letter in their sport and maintained at least a 3.30 GPA during the term.

Wood, a junior management major, qualified for the NCAA Divsion III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the pole vault for the third consecutive year, clearing an outdoor personal-best height of 16 feet, 7 1/4 inches to place sixth overall, earn All-America honors, and help the Cardinals win their second straight outdoor national championship.

Wood has also qualified for the Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships in each of his three years at North Central, and has a total of four All-America certificates. The Cardinals have won both the indoor and outdoor team national championships the past two seasons.

Brightmore, who recently graduated from North Central with a degree in sport management, also earned All-America honors at this year's Division III Outdoor Championships. She ran on the Cardinals' 4-by-400-meter relay team, which placed fourth in the nation and set a school record with a time of three minutes, 46.08 seconds. She qualified for the national championships in the 400-meter dash as well, placing 15th.

Brightmore earned a total of three All-America certificates as a senior, helping the Cardinals' distance medley relay and 4x400-meter relay teams score points at this year's indoor national championships. She has been a United States Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic selection each season at North Central.

For a complete list of honorees from each CCIW institution, visit cciw.org.