May 12, 2008

FAIRBANKS, AK- Alaska marksman Patrik Sartz wrapped up a spectacular 2007-08 season in style, earning a spot on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference's At-Large Academic All-Conference Team. Sartz was the lone rifle representative honored on this year's academic at-large team.

Hailing from Stora Sundby, Sweden, Sartz played a key role in helping Alaska rifle to its third consecutive and tenth overall national championship this season. At the NCAA Championships in West Point in March, Sartz claimed an individual title by firing a 594 in air rifle: the single highest score of the two-day event. Missing the ten-ring on just two of his first 30 shots, Sartz's clutch performance gave the Nanooks an unassailable lead over hosts Army with just one relay remaining. The score tied Sartz's season-high, and marked the third straight match that he had put a 594 on the board in the air rifle discipline.

Sartz finished the season with the team's highest season average in smallbore (580.1) the second-highest average in air rifle (589.9), and was named the team's Most Valuable Player.

A biological sciences and psychology major, Sartz carried his success over to the classroom as well, holding a 3.66 GPA in his sophomore year at UAF.

Athletes are considered eligible for the GNAC at-large team if they compete in sports at GNAC institutions that are either independent or compete in another conference that does not officially select an academic all-conference team. Recipients must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and must be in their second season of competition.

The full list of the GNAC At-Large Academic All-Conference team is as follows:

Rifle
Patrik Sartz, Alaska Fairbanks (Biological Sciences & Psychology, So., 3.66)

Football
Brett Rhodes, Western Oregon (Physical Education, Sr., 3.59, Canby, OR)
Matt Buche, Western Oregon (Earth Science, Jr., 3.40, Myrtle Point, OR)
Zach Christopherson, Western Oregon (Chemistry, Sr., 3.38, Portland, OR)
Paul Wright, Western Oregon (Physical Education, Sr., 3.37, Portland, OR)
Chris Helbling, Western Oregon (Physical Education, So., 3.28, Canby, OR)
Juan Rodriguez, Western Oregon (Biology, So., 3.27, Hermiston, OR)
Andy Douglas, Western Oregon (Criminal Justice, So., 3.25, Aloha, OR)
Sean Fullerton, Western Oregon (Exercise Science, So., 3.25, West Linn, OR)
J.T. Coury, Western Oregon (Business, So., 3.24, Lake Oswego, OR)
Matt Cox, Western Oregon (Computer Science, Jr., 3.20, Salem, OR)

Women's Golf
Alexi Coltom, Saint Martin's (Business, So., 3.68, Business)
Breanna Carmichael, Western Washington (Pre-Denistry, So., 3.33, Tacoma, WA)

Women's Rowing
Rachel Savage, Seattle Pacific (Visual Communications, Jr., 3.88, Encinitas, CA)
Rachel Strand, Seattle Pacific (Biology, Sr., 3.54, Shoreline, WA)
Denise Filley, Seattle Pacific (Business Administration, So., 3.46, Mesa, AZ)
Katie Wolf, Seattle Pacific (Psychology, Jr., 3.39, Bridgewater, CT)
Kay Chikos, Seattle Pacific (Business Administration, So., 3.35, Renton, WA)
Holly Allan, Seattle Pacific (Mathematics, Jr., 3.33, Bothell, WA)
Audrey Coon, Western Washington (Spanish/Elementary Ed, Jr., 3.95, Kenai, AK)
Gina Auriemma, Western Washington (Environmental Studies, Jr., 3.94, Lake Forest Park, WA)
Miranda Steward, Western Washington (Art., So., 3.94, Kenmore, WA)
Madeleine Eckmann, Western Washington (Pre-Engineering, So., 3.53, Winthrop, WA - Liberty Bell)
Samantha Marikis, Western Washington (PE/Pre-Physical Therapy, Sr., 3.40, Republic, WA)
Rebecca Burroughs, Western Washington (Psychology, Jr., 3.38, Shoreline, WA)
Amelia Whitcomb, Western Washington (Environmental Science, Sr., 3.34, Spokane, WA)
Julia Munger, Western Washington (Environmental Science, Jr., 3.37, Palmer, AK)
Sarah Polster, Western Washington (Geology, Jr., 3.32, Littleton, CO)
Erin Bean, Western Washington (Recreation, Jr., 3.27, Lynnwood, WA)
Meghan Woodman, Western Washington (PE/Pre-Physical Therapy, Jr., 3.25, Redmond, WA)
Jenny Smith, Western Washington (Mathematics, Sr., 3.23, Port Angeles, WA)

Men's Crew
Eric Schellberg, Seattle Pacific (Electrical Engineering, Jr., 3.62, Boise, ID)
Justin Rowley, Seattle Pacific (Physical Education, Jr., 3.29, Kenmore, WA)