SU cross country teams receive Scholar Team awards, Boccher earns All-Academic honor

NEW ORLEANS - The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its 2008 Division III men's and women's scholar teams and Salisbury University is represented on each team. The USTFCCCA honored 103 men's teams and 156 women's teams for great success in the classroom and on the course. Salisbury is the lone representative from the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) to receive this recognition.

For a team to be considered for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Team award, they must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA regional meet.  The team must also have a minimum 3.10 team cumulative grade point average.

"It starts with recruiting the right people," said SU coach Jim Jones now in his 10th year. "We recruit students first and we have been able to attract great student-athletes. I believe in finding the best possible student out there."

The men's cross country team had an outstanding season in '08 as the Sea Gulls finished with five top three finishes including three first-place wins. The Gulls have won four straight CAC championships and qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional championships where they finished in 11th place. In the classroom the Gulls posted a 3.30 GPA.

The women's team enjoyed similar success as they posted three top three finishes including two first-place wins. The Gulls won the 2008 CAC championship, their fourth and five years, and placed 17th in the NCAA Mideast Regional championships. The women posted a 3.13 GPA for the semester.

"This is a great honor to go with what we achieved athletically this season," said Jones of the conference championships and academic awards. "It shows that we have a great quality overall program here at a quality institution. Every year our goal is to be an Academic All-American teams."

In addition to the team awards, junior Travis Boccher was named to the Division III Men's Cross Country All-Academic team. The USTFCCCA awarded a total of 132 male student-athletes for the honor in '08. Boccher was one of two student-athletes recognized from the CAC as University of Mary Washington's Jason Driscoll was also honored.

Boccher, a communications major, was nominated for the award based on his success both academically and athletically. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.5 grade point average or higher and finish in the top 25 percent of the field at their respective NCAA regional meet.

"Travis is a solid student. He comes from parents who are both teachers," said Jones. "I am really happy for him. He achieved a lot this season and transitioned well athletically and in the classroom."

The Columbia, Md., native had a stellar first season for the Sea Gulls as he earned a spot on the All-CAC first team. Boccher, a transfer from George Mason University, had four top three finishes this season, highlighted by his second-place finish at the Don Carthcart Invitational on September 27 at Winter Place Park in Salisbury, Md. At the CAC championships he finished in 27:28 coming in third to help the Sea Gulls claim a fourth straight CAC title. Boccher had the top finish of any Salisbury runner at the NCAA Mideast Regional championships in Waynesburg, Pa., as he ran 26:38 to place 38th overall.

To view the entire USTFCCCA Division III Men's and Women's Cross Country Scholar Teams please visit www.ustfccca.org/division-iii.