“Dennis Mitchell doesn’t subscribe to the myth that college athletes can’t excel both athletically and academically. The University of Akron’s head track and field coach has good reason. His teams routinely disprove it. Akron’s track and field program has succeeded in competition and in the classroom.”
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Dennis Mitchell doesn’t subscribe to the myth that college athletes can’t excel both athletically and academically.

The University of Akron’s head track and field coach has good reason.

His teams routinely disprove it.

Akron’s track and field program has succeeded in competition and in the classroom. During his 11-year tenure, Mitchell has mentored 55 individual Mid-American Conference champions, 30 All-Americans and 24 student athletes who were named to the Academic All-MAC team.

After the women’s indoor track and field team won its third-straight championship at the 2007 MAC Indoor Championships in February and the men’s team finished in third place, four senior members of the team were named to the Academic All-MAC team.

Randall Hafner represented the men while Jessica Bright, Lisa Ravn and Rachel Zubricky represented the women. The three selections from the women’s team tied for the league-best.

Mitchell said that his program strives to recruit and mold well-rounded student athletes, and he takes pride in the academic success experienced by his athletes.

It’s a great honor because that’s what it’s all about, Mitchell said. Great student, great athlete – that’s the complete person we want.

To be eligible for selection to the men’s or women’s academic teams, student athletes must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 and participate in at least half of their respective team’s events.

The 2007 MAC Indoor Women’s Coach of the Year instills in his student athletes that they can perform as well as they want to in all aspects of their collegiate career. He points to past team members that have the results to prove his assertion.

You can be as great as you want to be at both, Mitchell said. You can be a straight-A student (and) be an All-American. We’ve had people do that.

We try to let them know that that’s your whole goal: to get as much out of school as you can along with getting as much as you can out of athletics. That is the reason you’re here. That’s our priority.

Hafner, a fifth-year senior and second-team All-MAC performer, holds a 3.54 GPA in education. He was one of only 17 student athletes to be named to the academic team for two consecutive years.

Zubricky, the 2007 MAC champion in the mile, holds a 3.84 GPA in general studies.

Both Hafner and Zubricky are grateful to see their academic achievements recognized.

It definitely means a lot to me because I’ve always strived to get good grades, Hafner said. I think that the better you do in your academic career, it can also put forth toward your athletics. Both sides are very important.

Zubricky was also flattered.

I think it’s really important, she said. That’s why we’re here: to get an education. It’s nice to get recognized for your hard work in the classroom.

Since the track and field season consists of an outdoor and indoor season, good time management becomes essential to the successful juggling of academics and athletics.

I think the biggest thing is time management, Zubricky said. Doing work everyday and not just letting it pile up and then trying to get it done.

Hafner agreed with his teammate.

It’s all about managing your time wisely and taking care of your things when you need to, he said.

The success experienced by the senior athletes is pivotal to the stability and growth of Akron’s track and field program, Mitchell said.

You have to have that leadership. People have to see those individuals at the top getting it done, he said. You have to have good people to work with, to train with and have people that set good examples.

The track and field team has student athletes at every athletic scholarship level. Some qualify for academic aid in addition to a partial athletic scholarship. Others receive no aid.

They make some great sacrifices, Mitchell said. Not only are they making sacrifices in terms of their time to be great students and athletes, but also financially, sometimes.

Mitchell has a special respect for those student athletes who are in the sport because it’s their passion and who are dedicated to their sport and academic career.

It’s always great to see that person that’s truly into the sport and that truly wants to be great in both, he said, not because of what money they receive, but because they love what they’re doing.

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” #1.1362129:1744929014.jpg:Hafner__Randall.jpg:Randall Hafner maintains a 3.54 GPA as a thrower for the Zips.:Jeff Harwell / Zips Sports Photography”