ROCK HILL, S.C. --- Tusculum College senior Simon Holzapfel has been named to the 2010 Preseason All-South Atlantic Conference Men's Cross Country First Team announced league officials Friday.
Tusculum is picked 10th in both the men and women's Preseason SAC Coaches' Poll.
Holzapfel, a 5-5 native Nuremberg, Germany, emerged as one of the premier runners in the nation last year. He enjoyed one of the best seasons ever recorded by a Tusculum harrier, winning five of his six events in 2009. He won his first five events to start the season, including the South Atlantic Conference Championship with an 8K school-record time of 25:53.96, becoming the first male SAC Runner of the Year in the program's history.
Holzapfel also shined in the classroom, being named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® First Team with a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average, majoring in Sport Management and Sport Science. The two-time Academic All-American® was also named the 2009 SAC Scholar Athlete for Men's Cross Country.
The two-time All-SAC and All-Region selection has shattered the Tusculum Record Book and owns eight of the 10 fastest 8K times in school history, including the top seven. He has captured 10 individual titles in his career and has been named SAC Runner of the Week on four occasions, including three times in 2009.
In the men's poll, Mars Hill was the overwhelming favorite to claim its 14th league crown. The Lions received 100 total points, including all 10 first place votes. Lenoir-Rhyne was second with 83 points, followed by league newcomer Anderson (71), Wingate (70), Catawba (65), Carson-Newman (48), Brevard (45), Lincoln Memorial (29), Newberry (24) and Tusculum (15).
Like the Mars Hill men, Lenoir-Rhyne is the unanimous favorite to repeat as women's champions. The Bears claimed all 10 first place votes for their 100 points. Carson-Newman is second with 80 points, followed by Anderson (76), Wingate (74), Lincoln Memorial (59), Catawba (52), Mars Hill (45), Brevard (33), Newberry (20) and Tusculum (11).
The Pioneers, under the direction of first-year cross country coach Suzanne Byrd, will open their season Sep. 3 as they compete at the Stampede at the Shoals in Elizabethton, Tenn.
- TC -
2010 SAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches
Poll
Rk. School (1st place votes) Pts.
1. Mars Hill (10) 100
2. Lenoir-Rhyne 83
3. Anderson 71
4. Wingate 70
5. Catawba 65
6. Carson-Newman 48
7. Brevard 45
8. Lincoln Memorial 29
9. Newberry 24
10. TUSCULUM 15
2010 SAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Team
First Team
Christian Crifasi, Catawba
Tyler Mooney, Lenoir-Rhyne
Kit Powell, Mars Hill
Justin Gragg, Mars Hill
Trey McCain, Mars Hill
Aaron Thomas, Mars Hill
Simon Holzapfel, Tusculum
Second Team
Jonathan Madden, Carson-Newman
Justin Smith, Catawba
Jakob Maidens, Lenoir-Rhyne
Patrick Ryan, Lenoir-Rhyne
Zack Queen, Lenoir-Rhyne
Derrick Lindsay, Lincoln Memorial
Eric Blackburn, Mars Hill
2010 SAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches
Poll
Rk. School (1st place votes) Pts.
1. Lenoir-Rhyne (10) 100
2. Carson-Newman 80
3. Anderson 76
4. Wingate 74
5. Lincoln Memorial 59
6. Catawba 52
7. Mars Hill 45
8. Brevard 33
9. Newberry 20
10. TUSCULUM 11
2010 SAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Team
First Team
Whitney Bishoff, Anderson
Brooke Earhart, Carson-Newman
Meredith Nix, Carson-Newman
Kate Griewisch, Lenoir-Rhyne
Tiffany Payne, Lenoir-Rhyne
Sofia Lopez Mimendi, Lincoln Memorial
Alicia Harbold, Wingate
Second Team
Melissa Ford, Carson-Newman
Hannah Thomas, Catawba
Liz Chaffee, Lenoir-Rhyne
Amanda Barnes, Lenoir-Rhyne
Fiona Reinecke, Lincoln Memorial
Ashley Robbins, Lincoln Memorial
Hannah Moore, Mars Hill
