Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU's Chiesa Named Academic All-America
11/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
Andy Sneddon, CMUChippweas.com
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Central Michigan soccer player Christen Chiesa was named to the Academic All-America Second Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America on Tuesday.
Chiesa, a senior defender from Pittsburgh, carries a perfect 4.0 grade point average. She is working toward a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in exercise science/kinesiology.
She is a three-time Academic All-Mid-American Conference selection who helped lead the Chippewas to a 15-3-3 finish.
Chiesa last week was presented the Enberg Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, which goes annually to a Chippewa in his or her senior year who has performed with distinction in their sport and is a team leader. Chiesa received the award from Enberg himself during the CMU-Ohio football game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.
Chiesa is the fourth Chippewa soccer player to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, and the first since Bailey Brandon in 2012.
"To become an Academic All-American it involves two phases, the individual success and the work that Christie has put in in terms of her GPA and the normal adversity that one encounters with being a student-athlete, plus the personal adversity that she has had to deal with and overcome," CMU coach Peter McGahey said. "And you have to have a team that performs at a level that allows you to be recognized as well.
"Historically if you look at the people who have meant a lot to our program, you see some of the fabric of the legacy within this program with the importance of both academic achievement and the high level of soccer achievement. You look at what Christie's accomplished, the Enberg Award, Academic All-America, and I think she really is one of those players who defines what our program is all about."
