March 10, 2005

The University of Texas - Pan American men's cross country team was honored by the United States Cross Country Coaches Association as an All-Academic Team among Division I institutions.

The UTPA roster, which consisted of eight athletes, posted a 3.12 cumulative grade point average during the 2004 season. The honor is something head coach Ricky Vaughn has been striving for since taking over the program four years ago.

"When I took the job here four years ago our team had a 1.9 GPA, and bringing that up to above the 3.00 mark is a big accomplishment for our program," stated Vaughn

The team was one of 48 teams to make the list of cross country teams with a 3.00 mark or higher.

"Being named all-academic is a big reward for our student-athletes. It shows how far we have come and how we have set the standard to do well in the class room," Vaughn concluded.

UTPA Sports Information