Sioux Women's golf team excels on the course and in the classroom

Kory Wallen, UND Athletics
Normally Goon's World is dedicated almost entirely to the NHL and Fighting Sioux hockey, however, this story is worth a look. The Sioux women's golf team coached coached by King's Walk assistant pro Dan Frei was as impressive on the course as they were in the classroom. Goon's World salutes you and offer it's congratulations.

No small feat

While some may over look these women's accomplishments or brush it aside and say what is the big deal? I personally know from being a former college athlete myself, that playing in sports and carrying a +3.50 grade point average is no easy feat. Heck my GPA never made it past 3.2 the two years that I was in college sports. I also didn't study occupational theraphy, I know that course work is hard.

GRAND FORKS, N.D.--The University of North Dakota’s Kelli Dahle, Amanda Kaler, Kristi Lucken and Natalie Ruppert have been named to the 2007-08 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Division II All-American Scholar Team.

UND’s four selections were the third-most of any school in Division II, trailing only the five selections from Rollins College and the University of Indianapolis.

In order to be nominated for the NGCA All-American Scholar Team, student-athletes must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 and must have competed in at least 66% of her team’s regularly schedule competitive rounds during the year.

Dahle, a junior from Bemidji, Minn., was UND’s top finisher at the NCAA Division II Northwest Region championship and carries a 3.89 GPA in elementary education.

Kaler completed her junior season by earning a berth on the 2007-08 Academic All-North Central Conference At-Large team. The Fargo, N.D., native, who has a 3.71 GPA in political science, was an All-NCC first team selection last fall.

Lucken, a Fosston, Minn., native, was UND’s top finisher in three spring meets and carries a 3.93 GPA in occupational therapy.

Ruppert enjoyed a strong senior year during which she was named to the All-NCC first team and earned her third straight selection to the NCC Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll. The Minot, N.D., native had a 3.60 GPA and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.