Three members of Wartburg College’s NCAA Division III national championship women’s track and field team have been named Academic All-Americans.
Seniors Sarah Hoffmann (Epworth), Laura Sigmund (Stanhope) and Emily Eimers (Lone Rock) were named Capital One Academic All-Americans for Division III Women’s Track & Field and Cross Country, according to CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). All previously had received Academic All-District honors.
It was the first time in school history that three athletes from the same program were named Academic All-American in the same year. The women — all first-time honorees and 2012 graduates—join 76 other Wartburg student-athletes who have earned the distinction since 1970. The women’s track and field program had two honorees in 1995.
Hoffmann, a first-team selection, earned a 3.97 cumulative GPA as a biology major. She was a two-time All-American in the outdoor shot put, finishing sixth this year, and a three-time All-American in the indoor shot put, placing second at this year’s national meet. The recipient of an NCAA postgraduate scholarship, Hoffmann plans on attending medical school at Des Moines University.
Sigmund, a second-team selection, had a 3.73 cumulative GPA as a communication design and art double major. She won the 5,000 meters at the indoor nationals and was runner-up to teammate Alana Enabnit at the national outdoor meet. Sigmund also was an All-American on the third-place indoor distance-medley relay and the No. 6 cross country squad.
Eimers, a third-team selection, majored in elementary education major and earned a 3.92 GPA. She was an All-American in the indoor distance-medley relay and cross country, while finishing ninth outdoors in the 1,500 meters.
To become an Academic All-American, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.30 on a 4.0 scale, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by the college’s sports information director.