Illinois States
Stacia Beste,
Zana Friganovic and
Yew Ming Si were each selected to the 2001 Verizon Academic All-District V University Division Spring At-Large Team, Tuesday.
Beste, a junior track and field athlete from Shorewoord, Wis., is majoring in psychology and has a 3.889 GPA. She is a repeat selection to the team and is a two-time member of the United States Womens Cross Country Coaches All-Academic Team. Beste has been a member of the Valley Scholar-Athlete Team all four years and was named an Illinois State Bone Scholar in 2000, the highest academic honor at the school.
In last weekends Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Beste claimed her third and fourth conference titles of the year, winning the 5,000 and the 10,000 meters. At the Valley Indoor Championships, she was named the Valleys Most Valuable Female Athlete after winning the 3,000 and the 5,000 meters.
Tucson, Ariz., native Friganovic recently graduated with a degree in political science and a 3.94 GPA. Earlier this month, Friganovic was named to the Valley Tennis Scholar-Athlete team for the second time in her career. She was a member of the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll each of her semesters at ISU and was named all-conference twice and owns three individual conference titles.
Friganovic led the womens tennis team to its first Valley tournament title and a trip to the NCAA Championships.. In the fall she captured the No. 2 doubles crown with Alana Hoffman at the MVC Individual Championships. After going undefeated in league play during the spring, Friganovic earned the all-conference honor at No. 3 singles. With 25 singles wins this season, Friganovic ranks eighth on ISUs career wins list. On the doubles win chart, Friganovic tied for second with 69 career victories.
Si, a senior hailing from Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, recently graduated and maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA in mathematics. A transfer from Cumberland College during his junior year, Si was named to the Valley Tennis Scholar-Athlete Team and was a member of the Valley All-Select squad as a senior.
Compiling a record of 33-6 with Ricky Heath at No. 1 doubles, Si moved into eighth on ISUs all-time doubles wins list with 53. Si and Heath paired to win the No. 1 doubles title at the Valley Individual Championships in January, Sis second career conference title. With a 30-10 singles mark this season, Sis career record stands at 52-17.
The district team is made of Division I schools in Illinois, Indiana , Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario and Manitoba. To be nominated, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher.
Team members are selected by a vote of members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (COSIDA) within the district.
Beste, Friganovic and Si will represent District V on the national ballot.
