Four members of the Youngstown State cross country team were honored for their dedication and hard work in the classroom and named to the 2021 #HLXC All-Academic Teams, Honorable Mention Teams, the league announced on Thursday.
Ryan Meadows and Morgan Cole were slated to the men's and women's All-Academic Teams, while Derek Basinger and Tyler Clark earned Honorable Mention honors.
The Horizon League recognizes student-athletes with seasonal Academic All-League Teams in each of its 19 championship sports. To be eligible for Horizon League All-Academic consideration, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.20 or higher (based on a 4.00 scale), have completed at least one year at the member institution, having earned 24 semester-hour or 36 quarter-hour credits, and participate in 50 percent of the team's overall contests. New this season is the addition of the Honorable Mention Teams for student-athletes who received at least 25 percent of votes, but were not selected to the All-Academic Teams.
Ryan Meadows, Youngstown State, Sophomore, GPA: 3.97, Major: Telecommunications
- Turned in a time of 26:53.4 to finish 25th at the 2021 #HLXC Championships – the Penguins fifth fastest time of the meet.
- Clocked his best 8K time of the season at the Notre Dame Joe Piane Invitational, running a 25:32.5 and finishing in 39th.
- Earned three top-25 finishes on the season across five 8K races.
Morgan Cole, Youngstown State, Junior, GPA: 3.94, Major: Nursing
- A member of the 2020 Horizon League XC All-Academic Team.
- Led the Penguins' effort and placed third individually with a time of 22:35.4 at the 2021 #HLXC Championships.
- Clocked a 14:39.3 at the inaugural Yinzer Classic en route to her first-place individual finish in the women's 4K race – her best finish of the season.
- Named #HLXC Runner of the Week on Oct. 5.
Derek Basinger, Youngstown State, Senior, GPA: 3.69, Major: Integrated Science Education
- Member of the 2019 #HLXC All-Academic Team
- Clocked a top-15 overall finish at the 2021 #HLXC Championships with a time of season-best time of 26:26.8.
- Finished in 59th at the highly-regarded PSU National Open with a time of 27:24.6 – the Penguins' sixth-fastest mark of the day.
- Turned in a 6K time of 20:16.9 for a top-30 individual finish at the inaugural Yinzer Classic.
Tyler Clark, Youngstown State, Sophomore, GPA: 3:40, Major: Special Education
- Clocked a 8K time of 26.11.0 en route to a ninth-place individual finish at the 2021 #HLXC Championships - the Penguins' second-fastest time of the day.
- Posted a top-3 team finish at the Michigan State Spartan Invitational with a season-best 8K time of 25:33.2 to finish 40th overall.
- Led the Penguins' with a 9th-place individual finish at the inaugural Yinzer Classic, posting a 6K time of 19:35.5.
A full list of the 2021 All-Academic slate can be found below.
2021 #HLXC Men's All-Academic Team (ties are not broken)
Thomas Mueller, Detroit Mercy
Alex Ratkovich, IUPUI
Eric Hoffman, IUPUI
Trevor Wenzel, Milwaukee
Kyle Mastin, Northern Kentucky University
Colin Kane, Oakland
Connor Goetz, Oakland
Nathan Mills, Purdue Fort Wayne
Ryan Meadows, Youngstown State
Men's Honorable Mention Team
Andrew Whitinger, Purdue Fort Wayne
Nicholas Mills, Purdue Fort Wayne
Derek Basinger, Youngstown State
Tyler Clark, Youngstown State
2021 #HLXC Women's All-Academic Team (ties are not broken)
Allison Sherman, Detroit Mercy
Emily Burns, Milwaukee
Megan Safranski, Milwaukee
Mikayla Fox, Milwaukee
Rachel Kempf, Oakland
Abigail Halsey, Wright State
Morgan Cole, Youngstown State
Women's Honorable Mention Team
Hannah Corte, Cleveland State
Sabrina Elder, IUPUI
Grace Nolan, Oakland
Maryam Sheena, Oakland
