Seven Commodores Make US Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Academic Team
February 13, 2024 - - While the Lorain County Community College cross country teams were cultivating top-10 finishes at nationals last November, they were earning top marks in the classroom as well.
Last week, seven student-athletes from the Commodore cross country team made the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic list after stellar grade reports during the 2023 fall season.
The men's team alone posted a 3.52 GPA to earn a spot on the USTFCCCA All-Academic list as a team (minimum 3.4).
Student-athletes needed to achieve a 3.4 GPA to earn recognition on the All-Academic list.
- Grayson Belles (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville HS) – Graphic Design
- Matthew Bowman (North Ridgeville, Ohio/North Ridgeville HS) – Business
- Michael Couture (Elyria, Ohio/Open Door Christian HS) – Business and Sport Management
- Ethan Zientarski (Lorain, Ohio/Elyria Catholic) – Business
- Leah Basci (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone HS) – Culinary Arts
- Isabella Morales (Amherst, Ohio/Vermilion HS) – Criminal Justice
- Madison Palmer (Sheffield Village, Ohio/Brookside HS) – Physical Therapy Assistant
Both cross country teams turned in top-10 finishes (Men – 6th/Women – 10th) for LCCC back on November 11, 2023 at the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships in Huntsville, Ala. It was the second year in a row where both teams posted top-10 times in Division III. The men's squad came in sixth place for their highest place since the 2014 season.
Bowman, Couture, and Palmer earned All-American status thanks to their top-15 individual times at nationals.