Four Mountaineers Earn Academic All-District Honor
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 14, 2015) – Four West Virginia University student-athletes were named today to the 2015 Capital One Academic All-District At-Large teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Thomas Kyanko (rifle) and David Palley (men’s swimming) were named to the men’s first team, while Maren Prediger (rifle) and Jenelle Zee (women’s swimming) were named to the women’s first team. All four student-athletes are seniors.
“Thomas and Maren exemplify the academic and athletic dedication we ask of each of our student-athletes,” said Jon Hammond, coach of the three-time reigning NCAA Champion rifle team. “They continue to bring pride to our program, and I’m happy to see their hard work honored.”
“Jenelle and David have completed and started their post-graduate work as 4.0 student-athletes,” said WVU swimming and diving coach Vic Riggs. “They have brought a commitment to academics that has grown in our program, and I thank them for that. This is a great honor for them and well deserved.”
Kyanko, a native of Wellsburg, West Virginia, is a two-time Capital One Academic All-American and scores his third straight all-district award. Pursuing a master’s degree in computer science, he carries a 3.50 grade point average (GPA). He earned his undergraduate degree in computer science (3.90 GPA) last year. Kyanko also is a four-time College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) All-Academic Team honoree and a three-time Academic All-Big 12 At-Large Team member. Enrolled in the WVU Honor’s Program, he also has been named to the President’s and Dean’s Lists and the WVU Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll.
A five-time National Rifle Association (NRA) All-American, Kyanko earned his first career first-team award this season, as he was named to the smallbore first team and the air rifle second team. An eight-time All-GARC honoree, he finished second on the team this season with a 582 smallbore average. Kyanko also shot career highs in air rifle (595) and combined score (1183).
Today’s honor is the first career award for Prediger, a Petersaurach, Germany, native. Currently pursuing a PhD in chemistry, she earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry with a 3.92 GPA. One of 45 students to earn the WVU Outstanding Senior honor in 2015, she is a three-time CRCA All-Academic Team and Academic All-Big 12 At-Large Team honoree. Prediger also is a member of the President’s and Dean’s Lists, as well as the WVU Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll.
The 2015 NCAA air rifle champion, Prediger has earned three straight NRA First Team All-America Air Rifle awards and back-to-back CRCA All-America Second Team honors. She finished second in air rifle and fourth in smallbore at the 2015 Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships and has won six All-GARC honors throughout her career. Prediger finished second on the team with a 595 air rifle average and fourth with an 1172 combined score average. Additionally, she shot career highs in smallbore (586), air rifle (599) and combined score (1170).
Palley, a Walnut Creek, California, native, has maintained a 4.0 GPA while majoring in civil engineering. He earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors this past season as a member of the 200-yard medley relay team. He was named the 2015 Big 12 Men’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year and is a recipient of the Dr. Gerald Lage Award. An Academic All-Big 12 First Team member, Palley also is a recipient of the NASA Space Grant and the Statler College Achievement Award. Palley is a member of the President’s List, the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll and the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Zee, a Long Valley, New Jersey, native, is a three-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team this past season after placing third in the 100 breast at the Big 12 Championships. A political science major, she has held a 4.0 GPA. She earned an NCAA B cut time in the 100 breast in 2014. Zee is a member of the President’s List, the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll, the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and is a recipient of the Dr. Gerald Lage Award.
Today’s honors are the second each for Palley and Zee.
First Team Academic All-District honorees advance to the Capital One Academic All-America Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.
For more information the Mountaineers, follow @WVURifle and @WVUSwimming on Twitter.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (May 14, 2015) – Four West Virginia University student-athletes were named today to the 2015 Capital One Academic All-District At-Large teams, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Thomas Kyanko (rifle) and David Palley (men’s swimming) were named to the men’s first team, while Maren Prediger (rifle) and Jenelle Zee (women’s swimming) were named to the women’s first team. All four student-athletes are seniors.
“Thomas and Maren exemplify the academic and athletic dedication we ask of each of our student-athletes,” said Jon Hammond, coach of the three-time reigning NCAA Champion rifle team. “They continue to bring pride to our program, and I’m happy to see their hard work honored.”
“Jenelle and David have completed and started their post-graduate work as 4.0 student-athletes,” said WVU swimming and diving coach Vic Riggs. “They have brought a commitment to academics that has grown in our program, and I thank them for that. This is a great honor for them and well deserved.”
Kyanko, a native of Wellsburg, West Virginia, is a two-time Capital One Academic All-American and scores his third straight all-district award. Pursuing a master’s degree in computer science, he carries a 3.50 grade point average (GPA). He earned his undergraduate degree in computer science (3.90 GPA) last year. Kyanko also is a four-time College Rifle Coaches Association (CRCA) All-Academic Team honoree and a three-time Academic All-Big 12 At-Large Team member. Enrolled in the WVU Honor’s Program, he also has been named to the President’s and Dean’s Lists and the WVU Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll.
A five-time National Rifle Association (NRA) All-American, Kyanko earned his first career first-team award this season, as he was named to the smallbore first team and the air rifle second team. An eight-time All-GARC honoree, he finished second on the team this season with a 582 smallbore average. Kyanko also shot career highs in air rifle (595) and combined score (1183).
Today’s honor is the first career award for Prediger, a Petersaurach, Germany, native. Currently pursuing a PhD in chemistry, she earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry with a 3.92 GPA. One of 45 students to earn the WVU Outstanding Senior honor in 2015, she is a three-time CRCA All-Academic Team and Academic All-Big 12 At-Large Team honoree. Prediger also is a member of the President’s and Dean’s Lists, as well as the WVU Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll.
The 2015 NCAA air rifle champion, Prediger has earned three straight NRA First Team All-America Air Rifle awards and back-to-back CRCA All-America Second Team honors. She finished second in air rifle and fourth in smallbore at the 2015 Great American Rifle Conference (GARC) Championships and has won six All-GARC honors throughout her career. Prediger finished second on the team with a 595 air rifle average and fourth with an 1172 combined score average. Additionally, she shot career highs in smallbore (586), air rifle (599) and combined score (1170).
Palley, a Walnut Creek, California, native, has maintained a 4.0 GPA while majoring in civil engineering. He earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors this past season as a member of the 200-yard medley relay team. He was named the 2015 Big 12 Men’s Swimming & Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year and is a recipient of the Dr. Gerald Lage Award. An Academic All-Big 12 First Team member, Palley also is a recipient of the NASA Space Grant and the Statler College Achievement Award. Palley is a member of the President’s List, the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll and the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
Zee, a Long Valley, New Jersey, native, is a three-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team and was named to the All-Big 12 First Team this past season after placing third in the 100 breast at the Big 12 Championships. A political science major, she has held a 4.0 GPA. She earned an NCAA B cut time in the 100 breast in 2014. Zee is a member of the President’s List, the Garrett Ford Academic Honor Roll, the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll and is a recipient of the Dr. Gerald Lage Award.
Today’s honors are the second each for Palley and Zee.
First Team Academic All-District honorees advance to the Capital One Academic All-America Team ballot, where first-, second- and third-team All-America honorees will be selected later this month.
For more information the Mountaineers, follow @WVURifle and @WVUSwimming on Twitter.