May 23, 2006

CLEVELAND - Following its fifth-place finish at the Mid-American Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the Miami University men's track and field team placed a league-high five athletes on the all-MAC academic team as the conference office announced the 20-member team. Sophomore Dan Beach (Arlington, Ohio) and seniors Eric Bowman (Dayton, Ohio), Bobby Houston (Hilliard, Ohio), David Mitchell (Woodridge, Ill.) and Chris Swisher (Milan, Ind.) were the five Miami student-athletes honored by the conference for their academic and athletic performance.

Beach, a sophomore with a 3.61 grade-point average in business, earned his first career all-MAC academic honor. As the RedHawks' top thrower, Beach turned in the furthest Miami throws in three different throwing events this season. Beach has the top Miami shot put (44-9 1/2), set at the Indy Relays, the top Miami hammer throw (169-6), set at the Miami Invitational and the top Miami discus toss (151-7), set at Cincinnati Invitational.

Bowman, a senior with a 3.55 grade-point average in microbiology, also earned his first career all-MAC academic honor after scoring at the conference meet. As Miami's top 110-meter hurdler, Bowman tied for seventh in the event at the MAC Championships, scoring 1.5 team points. During the season, Bowman notched three individual wins in the 110-meter hurdles at the Miami Invitational, Indy Relays and Southern Ohio Cup. Bowman also ran a team-best time of 15.02 in the 110-meter hurdles at the Billy Hayes Invitational.

Houston, a senior with a 3.92 grade-point average in zoology, notched his second consecutive all-MAC academic team honor after also appearing on the team as a junior. As Miami's top 400-meter hurdler, Houston scored at this season's conference meet, finishing eighth in the event. During the season, Houston ran the top Miami time in the 400-meter hurdles (54.53) and posted one individual win at the Southern Ohio Cup.

Mitchell, a senior with a 3.82 grade-point average in English Literature/Political Science, earned his fourth career academic all-MAC award. A two-time honoree in cross country and a one-time winner in track and field, Mitchell capped his storied Miami career with an eighth-place finish in the 1,500 meters at the MAC Championships. During his career, Mitchell was a cross country all-American (2003), earned all-MAC status on three occasions, and was named an Academic All-American (2005). In his final track and field season, Mitchell competed in both the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters this season and clocked in with the second fastest Miami time in the 3,000 meters (8:45.00) at the Wake Forest Invitational.

Swisher, a senior with a 3.34 grade-point average in Environmental Sciences/Life Science, earned his second academic all-MAC honor of the year after also winning the award during the cross country season. A 2005 Cross Country All-American, Swisher scored in the 1,500 meters at the MAC Outdoor Championships with a sixth-place performance. In addition to winning the 3,000 meters at the Wake Forest Invitational, Swisher also qualified for the NCAA MidEast Regional by clocking in with a time of 3:46.85 at the Billy Hayes Invitational.

Twenty athletes from seven different MAC schools were honored on the all-MAC academic team. Miami led the conference with five selections, while Eastern Michigan was second with four. Akron and Kent State both placed three athletes on the team, while Buffalo and Ohio each had two athletes represented. Central Michigan placed one on the team.

The all-MAC academic team is voted on by the faculty athletic representatives at the conference schools, and the honor is designated for student-athletes who excel in both athletics and academics. To qualify for the award, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the team's contests. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible.

2006 MAC Outdoor Track and Field All-Academic Team

Randall Hafner, Akron 3.46 Education
David Pykare, Akron 3.46 Education
Matt Yankie, Akron 3.80 Chemical Engineering
Babaseyi Olaleye, Buffalo 3.502 Mechanical Engineering
Bryan Weinstein, Buffalo 3.814 Management
Matt Loiselle, CMU 3.44 Accounting
Joel Kirsch, EMU 3.80 Criminology
Kevin Naughton, EMU 3.21 Math-Teaching
Corey Nowitzke, EMU 3.75 Math-Teaching
Alan Walker, EMU 3.47 Accounting
Bouke Onstenk, KSU 3.941 Educational Studies
Ben Wietmarschen, KSU 3.587 Journalism
Jaroslaw Zakrzewski, KSU 3.328 Exercise Physiology
Dan Beach, Miami 3.61 Business
Eric Bowman, Miami 3.55 Microbiology
Bobby Houston, Miami 3.92 Zoology
David Mitchell, Miami 3.82 English Literature/Political Science
Chris Swisher, Miami 3.37 Environmental Sciences/Life Science Education
Dan Bailey, Ohio 3.76 Physical Education
Brian King, Ohio 3.8 Accounting / Finance