Foote named to NEWMAC Academic All-Conference team

May 1, 2008

NORTON, MA- Eight Wheaton College student-athletes were named to New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Academic All-Conference teams for the spring of 2008. Student-athletes receiving the award must have maintained a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or better upon completion of the 2007 fall semester, attain at least sophomore standing and be a competing member of a team for the entire season.

The women's track and field team had a school-high three honorees, with men's track turning in a pair. Senior Jessie Buonaccorsi (Shutesbury, MA/Amherst Regional) and juniors Morgan Jamiel (Warwick, RI/Toll Gate) and Megan O'Sadnick (Evergreen, CO/Evergreen) represented the women, while sophomores James MacCarthy (Oakton, VA/James Madison) and Miles Souza (Norton, MA/Saint Sebastian's School) qualified for the accolade on the men's side.

Jamiel earned her second academic all-conference honor after a trio of all-conference finishes during the NEWMAC Championship on Saturday, as the Lyons notched their 10th league crown in 11 years. Buonaccorsi and O'Sadnick both qualified for their initial laurel after scoring in the 10,000-meter run at the league meet, which Wheaton won by two points. The Lyons had a trio earn academic all-league status for the fifth time in seven years.

Souza, also an academic all-conference qualifier in cross country, drew his initial track honor in his first year eligible for the accolade. MacCarthy earned an award during his first season of college track. At the NEWMAC Championship, where Wheaton's men came in fifth on Saturday, MacCarthy competed in the pole vault, while Souza took part in the 800-meter run. This marked the second straight year two Lyons drew academic honors.

For the second straight spring, junior baseball player Robert Foote (Walpole, MA/Walpole) drew an academic all-conference laurel, becoming the program's second two-time academic award winner. Foote, who also drew ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District I honors in 2007, earned his first NEWMAC All-Conference accolade this season, as he is second on the team in average, doubles and slugging percentage. As the Lyons' regular right fielder, Foote is tied for third in hits and has struck out just eight times in 144 plate appearances. Wheaton is 31-7 after going 9-3 in the NEWMAC, having just won its ninth league tournament in 10 years and qualified for its eighth NCAA Tournament. The Lyons are ranked 12th by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).

Women's lacrosse junior Caitlin Grant (Walpole, MA/Walpole) qualified for her second straight academic all-conference accolade after recording career highs in points and goals, exceeding her career totals entering the season in each category. Grant led the team in goals and was second in points while missing only one game and drawing 13 starts. Wheaton completed its season at 7-10, including 3-3 in conference play, and bowed out in the first round of the NEWMAC Tournament as the fourth seed.

Sophomore Chapman Beekman (South Kingstown, RI/South Kingstown) of the men's tennis team earned his first NEWMAC Academic All-Conference honor. Beekman went 2-1 for the Lyons during singles play this season while drawing his initial college action. He helped Wheaton go 9-7 overall, including 2-3 in the league, and qualify for its ninth NEWMAC Tournament semifinal in 10 years.

The NEWMAC sponsors seven spring sports: baseball, women's lacrosse, women's rowing, softball, men's tennis, and men's and women's track and field.

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