(Story courtesy of Texas Lutheran Athletic Communications)
SEGUIN, Texas -- The 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-American Track & Field and Cross Country teams have been announced - with Texas Lutheran graduate Maria Gonzalez Guerra receiving the honor for the first time in her career. The 2020-21 Academic All-American® Women's Track & Field / Cross Country Team, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom.
Gonzalez Guerra is one of 46 honorees this year and one of the 13 honorees to carry a perfect 4.0 GPA on the team - a GPA maintained for both her bachelor's and master's degrees as she graduated Summa Cum Laude.
Gonzalez Guerra is a three year letter-winner for the Bulldogs competing in the 100, 200, and 400-meter dashes over the course of her career that saw her be a part of the Bulldogs' 2019 and 2021 SCAC runner up teams.
Gonzalez Guerra's Academic All-American honor follows her Academic All-District® 8 First Team honor last month.
So far in 2021, the Bulldogs have produced six overall Academic All-Americans® (Luis Green and Mitchell Long of Men's Soccer, Juan Ocampo of Football, Tyler Cauley of Baseball, Kelly Jurden of Softball, and Gonzalez Guerra).
TLU has produced 19 Academic All-Americans® in the last five years.
Since 2000, TLU has produced the most Academic All-Americans® of any NCAA Division III college or university in Texas. TLU ranks in the top 40 nationally among the 435 NCAA Division III colleges and universities for number of Academic All-Americans® since 2000.
The CoSIDA Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
The Division II and III CoSIDA Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2020-21 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs. The NAIA CoSIDA Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA national office.
