SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Fourteen LMU cross country student-athletes received 2018 West Coast Conference All-Academic accolades, the conference announced this week. Senior Koby Pederson represents the Lions on the 2018 WCC Men's Cross Country All-Academic Team, while 13 other LMU runners earned honorable mention.
 
Pederson, a marketing major with a 3.72 GPA, has had a successful season so far, and will be competing in the NCAA West Region Cross Country Championships in Sacramento this weekend. He was the top finisher for the Lion men in last weekend's WCC Championship race with an 18th-place finish.

Ben Davis, Kyle Friedler, Jack Polerecky, Joseph Rodgers and Matthew Stein earned WCC All-Academic honorable mention on the men's side. Rosie Cruz, Elena Garcia, Gaby Guerrero, Ann Kelly, Holly LaPlante, Dani Rowlinson, Maddi Vorgitch and Hannah Wohlenberg all received WCC All-Academic honorable mention for the Lion women.
 
An unprecendented 44 student-athletes in the conference achieved a GPA of 3.50 or higher while 29 met or exceeded the 3.75 mark. Both stand as WCC records.
 
At the conclusion of each athletic season, the WCC selects an all-academic squad for each WCC-sponsored sport. To be considered, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average, while also being a significant contributor to her team.
 
"We expect our athletes to perform at a high level both academically and athletically," LMU head coach Scott Guerrero said. "This accomplishment shows their dedication to excellence in the classroom and on the cross country course."