BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Setting a program record for selections to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic Team and leading the conference in total honorees, 11 Western Washington University men’s soccer student-athletes have been recognized by the conference office for their academic performances.
The conference office in Portland, Ore., announced the 2017 GNAC All-Academic Men’s Soccer Team on Friday with four of the 11 Vikings named to the team repeating as honorees, including senior midfielder Luke Olney (Enumclaw, WA) who earned the distinction for the third consecutive year.
Olney became the fifth player in WWU men’s soccer history to become a three-time selection to the GNAC All-Academic Team. Juniors Jose Castillo (Bellevue, WA/Interlake), Stephen Jinneman (Redmond, WA) and Garrett Strawn (Sammamish, WA/Skyline) were each honored for the second consecutive year. Castillo, Jinneman and Strawn are the 10th, 11th and 12th student-athletes in program history to earn the distinction twice.
To earn selection to the GNAC All-Academic Team, student-athletes must have a 3.20 cumulative grade point average or better, be of sophomore standing or better and be in at least their second season of competition. Per conference rules, freshmen, redshirt freshmen and first-year transfers are not eligible.
The 11 WWU student-athletes to earn All-GNAC academic honors bettered the previous program record of six set in 2012. The total selections for WWU to the GNAC All-Academic Team were the most of any school in 2017, just ahead of Seattle Pacific (10). Saint Martin’s (9), Montana State Billings (8), Concordia (7) and Northwest Nazarene (6) were each well-represented with selections as well.