SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A total of 11 Summit League cross country student-athletes, five men and six women, have been selected to the 2021 Academic All-League Team as voted on by a panel of Faculty Athletic Representatives and Sports Information Directors from the league's member institutions. Student-athletes were chosen for the accolade based on their academic and athletic performances this past season. South Dakota State paved the way with six total selections.
The 2021 Female Championship MVP of South Dakota State, Leah Hansen, received the honor for the second straight year, while teammate Anna Donnay was named to the all-academic team for the third time in her career. North Dakota State's Kelby Anderson, the 2019 Female Championship MVP, also earned the award for the third time in her career. Cailee Peterson of SDSU and Abby Ripperda of South Dakota received the honor for the second time in their careers, while North Dakota's McKenzie Burian rounded out the women's team.
SDSU, who won the Summit League men's championship for sixth straight season, was represented by All-Summit League first teamers Ben Olson, Tom Breuckman and Daniel Burkhalter. Olson and Breuckman earned the accolade for the second time in their career, while Burkhalter received the award for the first time. Zach Haire, who earned first-team all-league honors after a fourth-place finish at the league championship for St. Thomas, also earned all-academic honors. South Dakota second-team honoree Charlie Babcock rounded out the men's team.
To be eligible for the Academic All-League team, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 (on a 4.0 scale), completed at least one full academic year at the current institution and participated in 50 percent of their team's competitions.
Nominations are brought forth by sports information directors from the league's nine women's institutions and eight men's institutions that competed in cross country this season, and voting is conducted by both the SIDs and facility athletic representatives (FARs). Each team is made up of the five student-athletes receiving the most votes with all ties standing.
2021 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
| Name |
School |
Year |
Hometown |
GPA |
Major |
| Charlie Babcock |
South Dakota |
R-So. |
Forest Lake, Minn. |
3.97 |
Medical Biology |
| Tom Breuckman** |
South Dakota State |
Jr. |
Andover, Minn. |
3.93 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Daniel Burkhalter |
South Dakota State |
So. |
Prairie City, S.D. |
4.00 |
Statistics |
| Zach Haire |
St. Thomas |
Jr. |
Breckenridge, Minn. |
3.99 |
Financial Management |
| Ben Olson** |
South Dakota State |
Jr. |
Coon Rapids, Minn. |
3.69 |
Mechanical Engineering |
*Career Cross Country Academic All-League honors
2021 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
| Name |
School |
Year |
Hometown |
GPA |
Major |
| Leah Hansen** |
South Dakota State |
So. |
Willmar, Minn. |
3.91 |
History |
| Anna Donnay*** |
South Dakota State |
Sr. |
Kimball, Minn. |
3.92 |
Dairy Production and Manufacturing |
| Cailee Peterson** |
South Dakota State |
Sr. |
Mayville, N.D. |
4.00 |
Wildlife and Fisheries Science/Ecology |
| Kelby Anderson*** |
North Dakota State |
Sr. |
Bismark, N.D. |
3.81 |
Nursing |
| McKenzie Burian |
North Dakota |
So. |
Fargo, N.D. |
4.00 |
Biology Pre-Health |
| Abby Ripperda** |
South Dakota |
R-Jr. |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
3.84 |
Medical Biology (Masters of Physcial Therapy) |
*Career Cross Country Academic All-League honors
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