NEW ORLEANS, La. - Five Cardinals of the Catholic men's and women's cross country teams were named United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Athletes, it was announced today. The teams also received All-Academic Team distinction for their success in the classroom this fall.

To qualify for All-Academic Team honors, programs must have a cumulative GPA of 3.1 or higher on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period, among other qualifiers.

The Catholic women's cross country team had a 3.52 GPA this fall and finished fourth at the NCAA DIII South Region Championships while the men's team posted a 3.49 GPA this fall and finished ninth at the NCAA DIII South Region Championships.

Individual student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top 10 percent at the NCAA Regional Championships or as an All-American at the NCAA Championships in order to earn All-Academic distinction.

The five Cardinals honored were: Alexa Grassi, Laurel McMahon, Olivia Sobkowicz, Michael Brunet, and Joe Wolfe.

Grassi, a junior from Yonkers, N.Y., is majoring in Civil Engineering and Construction Management. She carries a cumulative GPA of 3.44 and finished 42nd at South Region Championships with a time of 23:36.5.

McMahon, a junior from Warwick, R.I., is majoring in Accounting and holds a cumulative GPA of 3.55. She placed 13th at the South Region Championships, crossing the finish line in 22:15.4.

Sobkowicz, a freshman from Towson, Md., is majoring in English and Politics and has a cumulative GPA of 3.8. She placed eighth at the South Region Championships, recording a time of 21:56.2.

Brunet, a freshman from Miami, Fla., is majoring in Psychology and Brain Sciences. Brunet carries a cumulative GPA of 3.5 and placed 38th at the South Region Championships with a time of 26:05.2.

Wolfe, a graduate student from Saint Marys, Pa., is majoring in Architecture and holds a cumulative GPA of 3.93. He placed 31st at the South Region Championships, crossing the finish line in 25:53.2.