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| Randall Quick of the 2002 Cal Poly Pomona men's soccer team. |
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| Kim Akman of the 2002 Cal Poly Pomona women's soccer team. |
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| Kimberly Van Beek of Cal Poly Pomona's 2002 women's volleyball team. |
Three Cal Poly Pomona student-athletes have been honored for their academic and athletic excellence.
Randall Quick, a key member of the Cal Poly Pomona men?s soccer team has been selected to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District VIII College Division team. Kim Akman-Zollinger, of the women?s soccer team, has been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District VIII second team. Kimberly Van Beek, a member of the women?s volleyball team, became the third Bronco student-athlete to earn academic honors when she was named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District VIII second team.
All three players were part of squads selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Quick, a resident of Mira Loma, is a senior computer information systems major with a 3.76 GPA. He was the Broncos? Scholar-Athlete of the Year in both his junior and sophomore years. He has made the dean?s list in eight quarters and has made the president?s list (above a 3.5 GPA) for three straight years. As a four-year member of the program, Quick started in 50 games over the past three seasons and started in 17 of the team?s 18 games this season.
?We are very pleased that Randall was recognized for his academic excellence,? says head coach Paul Caligiuri. ?He is a perfect example of a college student-athlete who works hard not only on the playing field, but also in the classroom. We?re proud of his achievements.?
Quick and the Broncos saw their seasons come to an end recently, but Cal Poly Pomona improved greatly from a 3-15-1 record in 2001 to an 8-9-1 mark in 2002. The Broncos held the lead in the CCAA South Division until losing a key game to eventual division champion UC San Diego, 4-3, in double overtime.
Akman-Zollinger of Claremont is a senior urban regional planning major with a 3.43 GPA. She has made the dean?s list for four quarters and was also an Academic All-Star (3.4 GPA) for one year. She started 19 games for the Broncos this season and helped Cal Poly Pomona to an 11-6-2 record. Akman-Zollinger has started 77 games total and earned All-CCAA honorable mention honors in 2000 and 2001.
“Kim has tremendous character and her work ethic is inspiring to our other players,” Caligiuri says. “She's been a major part of the Cal Poly Pomona women's soccer program and she deserves to be recognized for her academic excellence.”
Van Beek, a resident of Artesia, is a junior psychology major carrying a 3.76 GPA. She has been one of the Broncos' top volleyball players and has helped Cal Poly Pomona rebound from a 10-20 record in 2001 to an 18-11 mark so far in 2002. Van Beek was second on the team in kills and second in blocks before suffering a season-ending broken thumb in practice.
“She is such a smart player,? said head coach Rosie Wegrich. ?She can observe an opponent's strategies and give me feedback on what matchups will work. She is a true student of the game. She's also a very versatile player. Since she's been here, we have set her on the outside, in the middle, on the right side. And she's also one of our better servers. She is very deserving of this honor.”
These three Cal Poly Pomona athletes, along with the other District VIII members, will now be considered for Verizon Academic All-America honors. To be eligible for Academic All-America honors, a student-athlete must carry at least a 3.20 GPA and be either a starter or important reserve at their current school. District VIII includes schools in the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and British Columbia.