YSU ACADEMIC BANQUET Michaelis, Johnson: Year's best

The record-setting runners were named the male and female athletes of the year.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
YOUNGSTOWN -- In Youngstown State University's 2003-04 sports year, no one excelled quite like coach Brian Gorby's runners.
Two of them -- Kurt Michaelis and Leslie Johnson -- captured one last race as they were honored Thursday at YSU's student-athlete academic banquet as The Vindicator's male and female athlete of the year.
Michaelis, who received the same honor in 2003, is the first two-time winner in the 17-year history of the award.
A track and cross country runner, Michaelis is in Palo Alto, Calif., for the Cardinal Invitational Olympic qualifying meet at Stanford University.
"Last year, it was an all-around great feeling to receive this award, but this year, it is sort of bittersweet knowing this marks the end of my collegiate career," said Michaelis in remarks read by teammate Tony Orcena.
Next week at the Horizon League outdoor meet, Michaelis will be favored to win the steeplechase as he ranks 10th in the U.S. He also owns the league's top time in the 1500 meters and the school record for distance medley.
An exercise physiology major, he has a 3.38 grade-point average. A graduate of Holgate High, he is a five-time member of the Horizon League Academic All-League team.
Johnson's reaction
Johnson, who has a 3.81 GPA as a business-marketing management major, said she found out about her honor last Saturday at 6:15 a.m. when she was preparing to leave for a track meet.
"I was in shock -- I knew that they had put me up for it, but I never imagined that I would get it," said Johnson, a three-time Horizon League All-Academic team member. "I wanted to call someone, but it was so early."
A graduate of Oregon High, she helped YSU win the Horizon League women's indoor track and field championship.
In the 400, she set a school record (57.25). She also was part of the league record-setting 4x400 relay team, with Jeanna Cunningham, Danielle Bolt and Alex Casi.
"Our team is just awesome," Johnson said. "You need someone to train with, someone to push you. Without them, this would not have happened."
Time management
Johnson said maintaining high marks is difficult because of time spent away from campus.
"It's challenging because we travel so much," Johnson said. "In outdoor season, we're usually gone from Wednesday to Sunday, and it's hard to get your work done. But I was fortunate to have a lot of teachers who were very understanding."
Thursday's banquet honored 140 student-athletes with GPAs of 3.0 and higher. Sixteen have 4.0 GPAs.
Recognized were YSU's academic All-Americans -- Adam Baumann (basketball) and Scott Thiessen (football).
Baumann and softball player Amber Smith were given leadership awards from the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.
The women's swimming & amp; diving team (3.23) and men's golf team (3.12) were cited for highest team GPAs. The swimming & amp; diving team also received the Community Outreach Award.