SEWARD, Neb. – Two standouts from Concordia’s nationally recognized track and field programs have earned prestigious honors from College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). On Tuesday (June 20), CoSIDA announced sophomore Sam Liermann and senior CJ Muller as members of the Academic All-America® College Division Track & Field/Cross Country Teams. Both were recognized as first team selections. Muller earned the same honor as a junior in 2016.
The CoSIDA Academic All-America® Track and Field/Cross Country Teams have been released to recognize the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. For more information about the Academic All-District™ and Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit http://cosida.com.
Liermann enjoyed a big outdoor season that included championships at both the GPAC and NAIA national meets in the shot put. The native of Wisner, Neb., also placed fifth in the shot put at the 2017 indoor national championships. A transfer from the University of Nebraska, Liermann has already collected four All-America awards as a Bulldog. She is a recreation and sport studies major.
An Omaha native, Muller concluded his collegiate career with six All-America awards. Muller won individual GPAC titles in the 600 meters in each of the last two years. He’s also a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete. Muller ran a leg for the 2015 All-America 4x400 meter relay that clinched the first-ever team national title in the history of Concordia University. The 2015 4x4 group continues to own the school record in the event. Muller earned his degree in biology.
Liermann and Muller are the fourth and fifth Concordia student-athletes to be named CoSIDA Academic All-America selections during the 2016-17 academic year (see list below). Mullers joined Amy Ahlers (golf) and Chandler Folkerts (basketball) as repeat Academic All-Americans.
2016-17 academic all-district honorees
(*Academic All-American)
*Amy Ahlers, Golf
*Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
Le’Dontrae Gooden, Football
*Hallick Lehmann, Football
*Sam Liermann, Track & Field
*CJ Muller, Track & Field
Lucas Wiechman, Track & Field
2015-16 academic all-district honorees
(*Academic All-American)
*Amy Ahlers, Golf
*Stephanie Coley, Track & Field
*Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
*Hallick Lehmann, Football
Adam Meirose, Football
Becky Mueller, Basketball
*CJ Muller, Track & Field
*Kim Wood, Cross Country/Track & Field
2014-15 academic all-district honorees
(*Academic All-American)
Amy Ahlers, Golf
*Brendan Buchanan, Soccer
Stephanie Coley, Track & Field
*Chandler Folkerts, Basketball
Jaydee Jurgensen, Baseball
Adam Meirose, Football
Bailey Morris, Basketball
*Rachel Mussell, Soccer
Shawn Rodehorst, Golf
Ben Sievert, Cross Country/Track & Field
Melissa Stine, Soccer