Notre Dame juniors Niko Fraser and Lauren Neiheisel were named Individual Academic All State for cross country by the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association. MITCA is the governing body for both track and cross country coaches in the State of Michigan.
The criteria for earning MITCA All State is based on both performance and academics, with individual athletes earning the award for finishing in the top half of the field at the state finals and having an unweighted GPA of 3.8 or higher. Fraser's unweighted GPA was 3.991 and Neiheisel's was 3.958.
In addition, the entire boys cross country team received Academic All State for competing at the state finals and having a team unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher.
The Notre Dame boys team's GPA was 3.872, the fifth highest in Michigan.
“I am very proud of our cross country athletes,” said Andy Guest, cross country coach and Notre Dame interim president. “Not only did they perform on the field, they also performed in the classroom. They are great representatives of our school and what it means to be a student-athlete at Notre Dame.”
In addition for Irish cross country, earning Team Academic All State were Brendan Fraser (3.794), Niko Fraser (3.991), John Pieper (3.790), Josh Fisher (3.981), Mitchell Guest (3.444) and Ethan Lazzara (3.806). James Ohlsson also was a key part of the varsity team that competed at states, but freshman are not eligible for Academic All State.
The Notre Dame boys cross country team earned Team Academic All State. From left, Ethan Lazzara, Josh Fisher, James Ohlsson, Brendan Fraser, Niko Fraser, John Pieper and Mitchell Guest.
Follow us on Twitter @NDPMA
About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.