Student athletes lauded for achievements on and off the field

Chicago athletes continue to be recognized for their achievements both on and off the playing field.

Four University athletes have been selected to the 1997 GTE College Division Academic All-District Teams in various sports, and six softball players have been named to the 1997 All-University Athletic Association Team.

Fourth-year College students Margaret Pizer, Shay Feilen and Jeff Streeter were chosen to the GTE College Division Academic All-District fall/winter at-large teams, while third-year Jenny Costello was recognized in women's basketball.

To qualify for the GTE Academic All-America Team, nominees must be a starter or key reserve with at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average.

Feilen and Streeter were first-team selections, making them eligible for inclusion on the national ballot to determine the 1997 GTE Academic All-Americans, who will be announced later this month. Pizer and Costello were second-team picks.

Receiving recognition for their achievements is by now familiar to the GTE All-District selections. Feilen was named a second-team All-American in women's soccer, and Streeter is a four-time Cross Country Coaches Association Academic All-American and the 1996 winner of the C.W. Chang Book Prize, which is awarded to an outstanding chemistry student in the College.

Pizer earned All-America honors in three events at the 1997 NCAA Division III Women's Swimming Championship, and earlier this year she was named the Women's Swimmer of the Year at the 1997 UAA Championships. Costello was chosen to the All-UAA women's basketball team for the third straight year.

The six All-UAA softball players were selected by a vote of league coaches after the UAA Championship Tournament held last month in Fort Myers, Fla.

Headlining the All-UAA Team was Most Valuable Player, first-year Beth Marquardt, shortstop and pitcher for the Maroons. Marquardt's selection as the UAA's softball MVP marks the second straight year a Chicago player has won that award. She is also the third Chicago athlete to be named a UAA player of the year in 1996-97; University athletes were previously honored in football and women's swimming.

Four other Maroons -- fourth-year outfielder Giovanna Long, fourth-year first baseman Susan Mathis, second-year outfielder Amy Still, and third-year catcher Jennifer Wu, a three-time All-UAA pick -- earned All-UAA first team recognition. Third-year third baseman Danielle Hari, also a three-time All-UAA selection, was chosen for the All-UAA Team as a second-team honoree.

Chicago won second place at the UAA Championship. In 1996, the Maroons softball team won its first-ever league title.