May 22, 2008

Jessica Weidert and Micah Belew, both seniors on the Wright State swimming and diving teams, have each been named ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Weidert (Spokane, WA/Mead), who currently holds a perfect 4.0 grade point average in Modern Languages, has earned High Honors every quarter at Wright State and has been a three-time Academic All-Horizon League selection. The Horizon League's Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week on January 31 and February 26, Weidert was one of four female recipients of the Dr. Carl Benner Scholar-Athlete Award in 2006, which is given annually to the Wright State student-athlete with the top grade point average and is either a junior or senior.

In the pool, Weidert was the 2007-08 Horizon League Female Swimmer of the Meet and the Female Athlete of the Year as she led the Raider women to a second-place finish. She set new League records in winning the 200 breaststroke, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley, with the 200 individual medley time also setting a new school mark.

Earlier in the season, Weidert became the school record holder in the 200 breaststroke at the Miami Invitational and posted a new WSU Natatorium record in that event against Xavier.

Belew (Kingwood, TX/Northeast Christian), who currently holds a 3.90 grade point average in Biological Sciences, has earned High Honors every quarter at Wright State and was selected Academic All-Horizon League this season.

Belew helped lead the Raider men to the Horizon League title as he won the 200 freestyle at the League meet and was part of the 800 freestyle relay team that set a new League record.

Weidert and Belew raise the total of Wright State Academic All-District honorees in 2007-08 to six as women's soccer senior Megan Mattioda was earlier named Third Team All-District, volleyball senior Tara Geegan and women's basketball senior Whitney Lewis First Team All-District en route to being chosen Third Team Academic All-Americans, and baseball junior Justin Parker Second Team All-District.

The Academic All-America program honors male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000 member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached at least sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. District IV consists of the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.