Dec. 19, 2001
Moraga, CA - The West Coast Conference (WCC) announced it's Fall All-Academic Team on Tuesday, December 18. Saint Mary's had five student-athletes among this respective team. Senior Alex Avina (San Luis Obispo, CA) from men's soccer, sophomore's Jennifer Belzer (Boise, ID) and Shauna Rech (Diamond Bar, CA) from women's soccer, Rebecca Wood (Spokane, WA) from volleyball, and Allegra Porter (McCloud, CA) from cross country, were among the names honored.
Avina, a midfielder for the men's soccer team is a 3.8 student receiving his degree in the fall in History. Avina played in all 18 matches for the Gaels and ranks third in school history with 76 matches played. He also recorded three goals and two asssits for a total of eight points, which gives him a career total of 29 points, eighth among career leaders.
Belzer, a defender for the nation's fourth ranked defense, is a 3.66 Child Psychology major. Belzer recorded two goals and six assists on the season to help lead the Gaels to a second-place finish and their third ever NCAA appearance.
Rech, a midfielder for the 13th-ranked women's soccer team, excelled in the classroom with a 3.58 GPA, and has yet to declare a major. Rech was the team's fifth leading scorer with five goals and three assists to help lead the Gaels to the second round of the 2001 NCAA Women's College Cup.
Wood, a middle blocker for the women's volleyball team, carries a 3.63 GPA with an undeclared major. She led the Gaels with 91 games played on the season.
Porter, the fastest runner of the cross country team, holds a 3.42 GPA with an undeclared major as well. She placed second at the WCC Championships as well as second at two other events (Sacramento State Invitational and the Santa Clara Invitational), first at the Mills Cross Country Invitational, and sixth and the University of Hawaii Invitational.
In the latest NCAA Graduation Rate Report of student-athletes (Summer of 2001), the West Coast Conference ranked fifth in overall student-athlete Graduation Rate. The WCC boasts a 69.5 percent student athlete-graduation rate, which is the highest of any Division I conference west of the Mississippi.
