New Orleans, La.----A program-best 12 Wingate University student-athletes have been named to the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Athlete teams. Both Bulldog squads received USTFCCCA All-Academic team laurels as well.
 
USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete team members must maintain at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA. In addition, the successful candidate must automatically or provisionally qualify for the NCAA Division II track and field national championship meet (either indoor or outdoor). All-Academic team distinction is bestowed upon squads with a 3.00 cumulative team GPA (or better).
 
"We are very proud of our 12 All-Academic student-athletes," Wingate assistant track and field coach Pol Domenech says. "Once again, they demonstrate that being a successful student-athlete goes beyond the performances on the track. We look forward to continuing to raise our standards both on and off the track."
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate graduate student and All-Academic Athlete team member Lauryn Tumey Ursery
 
"Many people believe that in order to be academically challenged or have opportunities, one must attend a large, big-name college. During my years at Wingate, I have found this to not be the case. As a biology major with a chemistry minor, I found myself challenged plenty of times, not with only knowing the information I was given, but how to apply it in the real world. Because of the teachers, the electives, the tutoring and the research opportunities, Wingate has prepared me for success as I now start my career."
 
"What made Wingate stand out to me was the small class sizes they offered for even some of its most demanding classes. This allowed me to get to know my professors, easily ask if I had any questions and get opportunities for research and writing not many students can get at a larger school. And because of these opportunities, I was then able to land research jobs in my desired field at a large university. I am thankful for everything Wingate has given me and thankful for the opportunities I have today because of them."
 
Wingate rising senior and All-Academic Athlete team member Saul Valdez
 
"Wingate University has been one of the biggest blessings to come my way. The school has given me a chance to further my education and better my life which is something that I did not think would be possible during high school. I have learned a lot during my time at Wingate…not only about academics, but also about life."
 
"My coaches have always emphasized that we are students first and that it should always be our first priority to try and succeed academically. Professor (Jimmy) Watkins has made a huge impact on my life and has always been one of the professors who is always ready to offer help and advice on anything. He has been a great help for me during my time at Wingate and I hope to continue with him during graduate school. I hope to one day be as good as a person as him and to live up to the expectations to which he sets for his students. I plan on hopefully going to graduate school for a master of accounting, while still continuing to be a student-athlete at Wingate."
 
Wingate University USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes (listed alphabetically)
 
WOMEN
 
Tatjana Mense
Junior, 3.938 GPA, Finance
 
- Received All-South Atlantic Conference indoor honors in the 3000 meters at the '22 league meet
- Posted a bronze-medal time of 10:01.48 in the SAC indoor 3000 meters
- Won the 2021 SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for women's cross country
- Earned All-SAC and All-Southeast Region honors in cross country last fall
- Helped the Bulldogs win the SAC XC title and finish a program-best fifth at NCAAs
- Received USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete honors following cross country season as well
 
Meg Rapley
Senior, 3.421 GPA, Marketing
 
- Earned All-SAC outdoor honors in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the '22 league meet
- Recorded a silver-medal time of 11:01.63 in the 3000-meter steeplechase
- Achieved All-SAC indoor honors in both the 800 meters and the mile at the '22 league event
- Finished second in the SAC indoor mile (5:00.39) and third in the SAC 800 meters (2:18.07)
- Holds four Wingate school records (two indoor, two outdoor)
- Indoor school standards in the 800 meters (2:15.96) and the mile (4:57.20)
- Outdoor school bests in the 800 meters (2:16.02) and the 3000-meter steeplechase (10:58.08)
- Earned All-SAC cross country laurels as the 'Dogs won the league's XC crown last fall
- Received USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete honors following cross country season as well
 
Gemma Rebollo
Freshman, 3.387 GPA, Chemistry
 
- First team outdoor All-American in the 10,000 meters at the '22 NCAAs, thanks to her career-best time of 34:33.48
- Competed in the indoor nationals (5000 meters, 16:57.59) as well
- All-SAC in both the outdoor 10,000 meters and the indoor 5000 meters, earning bronze medals in both '22 races
- Holds two Wingate indoor school records in the 3000 (9:43.52) and the 5000 meters (16:42.09)
- Earned All-SAC and All-Southeast Region honors in cross country last fall
- Helped the Bulldogs win the SAC XC title and finish a program-best fifth at NCAAs

Mollie Scott
Sophomore, 3.262 GPA, Human Services
 
- Named All-SAC in the indoor 5000 meters with her silver-medal time of 17:07.42 at the '22 league meet
- Raced in two '22 SAC outdoor finals: the 5000 meters (18:28.34) and the 10,000 meters (38:03.22)
- Earned All-SAC and All-Southeast Region honors in cross country last fall
- Helped the Bulldogs win the SAC XC title and finish a program-best fifth at NCAAs
 
Lauryn Tumey Ursery
Graduate student, 3.75 GPA, Master of Public Health
 
- Raced in two '22 SAC outdoor finals: the 5000 meters (17:56.16) and the 10,000 meters (36:41.79)
- Posted WU T&F outdoor PRs in the 1500 (4:43.41), the 5000 (17:26.86) and the 10,000 meters (35:48.96) this spring
- Earned All-SAC and All-Southeast Region honors in cross country last fall
- Helped the Bulldogs win the SAC XC title and finish a program-best fifth at NCAAs
- Received USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete honors following cross country season as well
 
MEN
 
Titouan Le Grix
Freshman, 3.333 GPA, Sport Management
 
- Raced in two '22 SAC finals: the indoor 3000 meters (8:32.37) and the outdoor 3000-meter steeplechase (9:39.37)
- Concluded solid first WU T&F season with steeplechase PR (9:05.40) at the Lee Last Chance meet
- Received All-SAC and All-Southeast Region laurels in cross country last fall
- Helped SAC and SER champs to sixth-place finish at '21 NCAA national XC meet in WU's inaugural appearance
- Received USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete honors following cross country season as well
 
Bastian Mrochen
Sophomore, 3.969 GPA, Psychology
 
- Earned All-SAC honors in the 5000 meters at the '22 league outdoor meet
- Recorded a silver-medal time of 14:43.87 at the aforementioned SAC 5000 meters race
- Won the 2021 SAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award for men's cross country
- Achieved All-SAC and All-Southeast Region laurels in cross country last fall
- Led SAC and SER champs to sixth-place finish at '21 NCAA national XC meet in WU's inaugural appearance
- Named SAC Freshman of the Year by virtue of his third-place finish in 2021 league meet
- Received USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete honors following cross country season as well
 
Daniel Schmidt
Freshman, 3.375 GPA, Psychology
 
- Raced in two '22 SAC outdoor finals: the 1500 meters (3:55.55) and the 5000 meters (15:03.64)
- Competed in one '22 SAC indoor final: the 3000 meters (8:32.65)
- Concluded first WU T&F season with 1500 meters PR (3:52.22) at the Lee Last Chance meet
- Started first Bulldog campaign with a bang, running an indoor 3000 meters PR (8:24.58) at the '22 Camel City Invite
 
Tai Smith
Graduate student, 4.000 GPA, MBA
 
- Second team outdoor All-American in the 10,000 meters at the '22 NCAAs, thanks to his time of 29:36.69 in his final collegiate race
- Made the outdoor All-SAC team in the 5000 (14:45.80) and the 10,000 meters (30:31.74) at the '22 league meet
- Finished second in the 10,000 meters and third in the 5000 meters at the '22 SAC outdoor event
- Raced in two '22 SAC indoor finals: the 3000 (8:25.19) and the 5000 meters (14:35.04)
- Holds two Wingate school records, both outdoors
- Outdoor school standards in the 5000 (14:00.07) and the 10,000 meters (29:23.05)
 
Saul Valdez
Junior, 3.592 GPA, Accounting
 
- Completed in two '22 SAC outdoor finals: the 5000 meters (15:05.95) and the 10,000 meters (30:54.50)
- Raced in two '22 SAC indoor finals: the 3000 meters (8:33.51) and the 5000 meters (14:57.42)
- Concluded WU T&F season with 10,000 meters PR (30:04.44) at the Lee Last Chance meet
- Achieved All-SAC and All-Southeast Region laurels in cross country last fall
- Helped SAC and SER champs to sixth-place finish at '21 NCAA national XC meet in WU's inaugural appearance
- Received USTFCCCA All-Academic Athlete honors following cross country season as well
 
Jacob Willis
Graduate student, 4.000 GPA, MBA
 
- Concluded collegiate tenure in a big way, running a personal-best time of 9:04.86 in the '22 Lee Last Chance 3000-meter steeplechase
- Raced in the '22 SAC 3000-meter steeplechase finals, finishing seventh with a time of 9:26.12
- Battled injuries the entire '22 spring season, persevering to compete in four season-ending outdoor meets
 
Elliot Zirwas
Graduate student, 3.500 GPA, MBA
 
- Started '22 outdoor season in a huge way with NCAA-qualifying shot put mark (18.38 meters) at the Charlotte 49er Classic
- First Bulldog thrower to qualify for an NCAA national championship meet
- Won the '22 SAC outdoor shot put title in the league meet held in Anderson, S.C.
- Made the '22 All-SAC team in three outdoor events: shot put, discus and hammer
- Holds four Wingate school records (two indoor, two outdoor)
- Indoor school standards in the shot put (16.34 meters) and the weight throw (17.39 meters)
- Outdoor school bests in the shot put (18.38 meters) and the discus throw (50.32 meters)
 
Wingate University
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a laboratory of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina. Wingate offers 38 undergraduate majors as well as seven master's and four doctoral degrees. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences; the Levine College of Health Sciences; the Byrum School of Business; the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. 

Wingate is a leader in healthcare education, and nearly one in five Wingate undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award for 14 years straight. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.