Six Bulls Named To USTFCCCA Academic Team
8/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo had six members of its track and field team named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Academic Team. The USTFCCCA honors Division I individuals for their academic and athletic achievements during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. Honored for the Bulls were Tiffany Maskulinski, Becky O'Brien and Shant'e White on the women's side and Jake Madonia, Casey Garbaty and Brian Smith on the men's side.
Maskulinski, an exercise science major with a 3.606 GPA, made her second straight trip to the NCAA Championships in the pole vault this past season. Maskulinski, who won the Mid-American Conference in the event, was the only competitor to clear 13-4.50 (4.08m) in the event. At the NCAA East Preliminary Round, Maskulinski was one of seven athletes to clear 13-1.50 (4.00m). Maskulinski was also honored as a member of the Indoor Academic All-MAC Team and was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Second Team.
O'Brien, who has a 3.292 GPA, won the Mid-American Conference championships in the shot put this past season and moved on to the NCAA East Preliminary Round where she finished just two spots shy of qualifying for the NCAA Championships.
White, who has a 3.769 GPA, finished with the second best throw in the discus and hammer throw during this past outdoor season. During the indoor season, White qualified for regionals in the weight throw with a toss of 17.49m.
Garbaty, an exercise science major with a 3.351 GPA, won the Mid-American Conference Championship in the javelin with a school record throw of 227-5 (61.99m). Garbaty won the event by more than seven feet and also competed at the NCAA East Preliminary Round.
Madonia, a psychology major with a 3.366 GPA, finished in third place in the shot put at the MAC Championships and narrowly missed a trip to the NCAA Championships after a 13th place finish at the NCAA East Preliminary Round. Madonia, who was an Indoor MAC Champion in the Shot Put, was named Academic All-MAC during the indoor season as well both the indoor and outdoor season in 2007 and 2009.
Smith, a communication major with a 3.208 GPA, set a school record in the 200 meters at the MAC Championships clocking in at 21.09 to finish second. Smith also has the top time for the Bulls in the 400 meters, which he set at the Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic. Smith was one of 11 UB athletes that competed at the NCAA East Preliminary round for the Bulls and was also one of four Bulls honored on the Indoor Academic All-MAC team as well.
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 the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in their respective event.
