ELMHURST, Ill. – The Western Illinois University Athletics Department had 124 student-athletes named to the Winter/Spring Summit League Academic All-League Team as announced by the league, Wednesday, June 16.

Western had the third most student-athletes selected to the list of all Summit League member institutions.

"I am very proud of the fact that we finished third in the league in the number of Academic All-League selections this spring after finishing with the most selections in the fall," said Western Illinois Director of Athletic Academic Services/Senior Woman Administrator Lisa Melz.

"I think a major part of that success can be attributed to the fantastic job our coaches and staff do during the recruiting process by recruiting the types of student-athletes that are going to be successful at Western Illinois University."

A total of 72 Fighting Leatherneck student-athletes were named as Distinguished Scholars for posting a grade point average of 3.60 or better in the spring semester.

The Leatherneck women's programs finished with 67 selections while the men had 57. The Leatherneck track and field teams led the way with a combined 44 selections, 24 for the women and 20 for the men.

Baseball and softball placed second with 15 and 10 selections, respectively while men's golf (8) and women's golf (9) took home third place.

Academic All-League Selections include those student-athletes who have posted a 3.0 GPA or better in the semester in which they compete and must have completed at least one full year of eligibility.

The Spring 2010 semester marks the ninth-straight season that Western Illinois has finished third or better in the Winter/Spring Academic All-League standings.

"I don't think it should be surprise to anyone that we continue to finish in the top three after posting the department's highest cumulative grade point average on record (3.19) in the spring semester," Melz said.

"Our student athletes continue to take care of business in the classroom, even when they may be struggling in their athletic arenas, and that perseverance is what impresses me the most."