Gempel and Stecher Named to Division I Independent All-Academic Men's Golf Team

June 6, 2006

2005-06 D-I Independent Men's Golf All-Academic Teamin PDF Format
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GREELEY, Colo. - University of Northern Colorado men's golf student-athletes Tom Gempel and Jon Stecher were each named to the Division I Independent All-Academic men's golf team as announced on Tuesday.

The sophomore Gempel, who has a 3.49 GPA in business, had a breakthrough year during his sophomore season when he played in four varsity and two "B" team tournaments. His stroke average for those six events (72.6) was the best of any individual on the team and in his four varsity events, had a stroke average of 73.1, which was second behind Tim Knight. Gempel placed ninth at the U.S. Intercollegiate hosted by Stanford and tied for 12th at the Division I Independent Championships.

The junior Stecher, who has a 3.63 GPA in marketing, was a second-team Division I All-Independent selection in 2005-06. He finished fourth on the team in stroke average (74.2) and competed in six of eight events, netting a top 10 finish during the campaign. He was named Northern Colorado Male Student-Athlete of the Month for October, after placing 29th (227, +14) at the Boise State Bronco Invitational and 10th at The Prestige at PGA West, a very competitive tournament hosted by Stanford and UC Davis. At The Prestige, Stecher had rounds of 73, 71 and 72 to finish at even par, just three strokes behind the individual medalist; that was an improvement of 33 strokes and 64 places at the event from where he finished the year before.

There were 13 members on the team, who combined for a cumulative GPA of 3.62. The team consisted of four sophomores, six juniors and three seniors.

The Division I Independent All-Academic team was selected by sports information directors at member institutions. Nominations from each school were accepted for student-athletes who had at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA, had reached a sophomore athletic standing and participated in 50% of the team's matches for the 2005-06 school year.

There are 16 Division I Independent men's golf teams: Augusta State, CSU-Sacramento State, Florida A&M, Francis Marion, Idaho State, IPFW, Kennesaw State, Longwood, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Savannah State, South Dakota State, Texas Pan American, UC Davis, Utah Valley State and Weber State.