ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Conference announced that four Illinois State student-athletes were named to the 2021 MVC Cross Country Scholar-Athlete team, both for their performance in the classroom and at MVC Cross Country Championships, as announced by the league office on Saturday.
Ailey Mitchell is a first-time MVC Scholar-Athlete team member. At the 2021 MVC Championships, Mitchell paced the 'Birds with an eighth-place finish to earn All-MVC honors. She has also maintained a 3.36 cumulative GPA as a biological sciences major.
For the third time in her career, junior Rachel Hickey was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete team, earning the honor each of the three years she has been eligible. Hickey notched a 14th-place finish at the MVC Championships, earning All-MVC Honorable Mention honors. She maintains a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA as a double major in marketing and journalism. Hickey was previously named to the 2019 and 2020-21 MVC Scholar-Athlete teams.
On the men's side, Charlie Wetzel was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete team for the first time in his career. Wetzel paced the Redbird men at the MVC Championships, finishing 13th overall to earn All-MVC Honorable Mention honors. Wetzel is middle level teaching major, and he maintains a perfect 4.0 GPA
Junior Matt Blanco was named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete team for the second time in his Redbird career. Blanco finished 15th at the MVC Championships, taking home All-MVC Honorable Mention honors. Blanco is a physical education major and maintains a GPA of 3.38. He previously was named to the 2020-21 MVC Scholar-Athlete team.
Members of the MVC Scholar-Athlete team must finish among the first 20 runners at the conference championship, hold a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher, be a sophomore in athletic and academic standing, as well as complete one academic year at their current institution.
UP NEXT
The Redbirds are back in action on Friday, November 12 at the NCAA Midwest Regional in Iowa City, Iowa. The action from the Ashton Burke Golf Course is set to begin at 11:00 a.m. CT.
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