Courtesy of GoCobbers.com, Release: July 8, 2009

MOORHEAD, Minn. (7/08/09)-- Concordia senior multi-event athlete Paul Shol (Fergus Falls, Minn.) was named to the 2009 United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Track and Field Team it was announced on Wednesday. Shol also helped the Cobbers earn the distinction of being named one of the 51 schools from around the nation to be named as a 2009 USTFCCCA Division III All-Academic Track and Field Team.

Shol was a Math Education major who carried a 3.73 grade point average. He provisionally qualified for the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Meet in the decathlon and also finished in the top five of the event at the MIAC Outdoor Meet. Shol also posted the fifth best score in school history in the decathlon. In addition, he finished third in the pentathlon at the MIAC Indoor Meet and seventh in the javelin at the MIAC Outdoor Meet.

To qualify for the award, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 and have met the NCAA Division III Indoor or Outdoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard in their respective event.

As a team the Cobbers had a GPA of 3.21 and were the third highest ranked team from the MIAC. Concordia finished sixth at the MIAC Outdoor Meet.

A total of 51 Division III men’s track and field programs were recognized as 2009 USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Teams. Colorado College recorded the highest overall team GPA with a 3.490, followed by Haverford College, which carried a 3.466 team GPA. The MIAC and the University Athletic Association landed the highest number of member schools on the list, with six schools from each conference attaining All-Academic Track & Field recognition.