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Four Illini, Entire Squad Earn USTFCCCA All-Academic Honors
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Junior Matt McHugh was one of four Illini to notch USTFCCCA All-Academic honors for the 2010 season.
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July 29, 2010
2010 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team 
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Four Illinois men's track and field athletes were named to the 2010 Division I All-Academic Track and Field team, announced on Thursday by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Senior Greg Shroka, junior Matt McHugh, sophomore Hunter Mickow and freshman Josh Zinzer were recognized for their academic and athletic achievements during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons for the first time in their careers.
To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or participated in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships (including preliminary rounds) in their respective event.
The entire squad also was honored as a USTFCCCA All-Academic Team after compiling a combined GPA of 3.03. A total of 73 institutions earned the distinction as a result of a cumulative team GPA of 3.0 or better.
Shroka, who finished a master's degree in civil engineering this year, took home the accolade after notching a provisional qualifying mark of 7-1 ¾ (2.18m) in the high jump during the indoor season, which ranks second in school history. The Cedar Lake, Ind., native also competed in the high jump at the NCAA West Preliminary Round of Championship and tied for 20th overall. Shroka earned a career-best conference finish at the Big Ten Indoor Championships, where he took third in the high jump, and was an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
McHugh, a physics major, turned in a solid junior season, highlighted by school records in the weight throw and hammer throw. The Exeter, N.H., native finished 25th in the hammer throw at the NCAA West Preliminary Round of Championship and also was an Academic All-Big Ten selection.
Mickow, an accountancy major, competed in the 10,000m at the NCAA West Preliminary Round of Championship and placed 23rd. The Princeton, Ill., also won the 10,000m title at the Drake Relays and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors.
Zinzer, a kinesiology major, was part of the 4x100m relay that timed the fourth-fastest mark in school history of 39.76 at the Drake Relays, which earned the squad a trip to the NCAA West Preliminary Round of Championship.
A record total of 357 student-athletes representing 118 institutions were named to the All-Academic Team. The Big Ten notched 37 All-Academic nods and ranked second behind the Pac-10, which tallied 45 accolades.
