Saturday, June 24, 2006
The South Range graduate made first-team academic All-American.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
EDINBORO, Pa. -- Julie Nemergut from South Range High continues to reap academic and athletic honors at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.
A senior distance runner on the Edinboro women's track team this spring, Nemergut has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American Women's Track & amp; Field/Cross Country First Team along with senior teammate Kelly Richards (General McLane High, Edinboro).
This is the second straight year that both women were named academic All-American for both sports. Richards made the second team last year while Nemergut was picked to the third team.
Nemergut, who still has one more year of intercollegiate eligibility remaining because she was an injured red-shirt in 2005, has a 3.91 grade-point average as a major in special education and elementary education.
She also has achieved numerous track and cross country honors over four years, including being selected to the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Top Ten team in track this spring for the fourth straight year for athletic and academic achievement.
Richards also made the PSAC Top Ten team this year for track.
Will do student teaching
Nemergut must complete her student teaching in order to graduate in the spring of 2007, and will begin that process at the start of the 2006-07 school year.
But although an outstanding cross country performer as well for Edinboro, she will bypass that sport this coming season to focus on student teaching, and then complete her final year of track in the spring.
Nemergut already has been awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship to any school of her choosing, and plans to begin work on her master's degree in 2007.
"I can have until 2009 to use that [scholarship]," Nemergut said. "I can use that at any college I would like to for my graduate degree.
"It was [for] $7,500. There is no other requirement for it, but when I go to grad school I would like to get a graduate assistantship."
She is guaranteed the $7,500 scholarship no matter what other assistance she receives.
Two-time All-American
Nemergut capped this season by placing seventh in the 10,000-meter run (37:23.05) at the NCAA Division II National Championships to make All-American honors for the second time. She also qualified for the finals in the 5,000-meter run but placed 11th.
She also won the 5,000-meter run at the PSAC Championships to make All-PSAC. Earlier this year, she placed ninth in the 10,000 at the Penn Relays.
She also was recognized in late April as the winner of the Nancy Acker Award which is presented to the school's top senior female athlete.
Nemergut said she is planning for a career as a counselor or coach on the intercollegiate level.
"I'd like to really work with student athletes whatever career I do in coaching or counseling," Nemergut said. "I'd like to get a master's degree in social work.
"You can get a license in counseling. Right now, I am leaning toward collegiate work. I have a lot of respect for the lifestyle [that] student athletes have to lead."
She said she will continue running this summer and is hoping for a strong final track season in the spring.
Wants running career, too
"I would like to walk away with one or two All-Americans in track next spring and set myself up for a post-collegiate running career because it is definitely what I would like to do," Nemergut said.
"After college, I would like to start running half-marathons and marathons and compete in USA running events and perhaps tryout for the U.S. team and compete internationally."
Nemergut is the daughter of Kathy and Jack Nemergut. Her father is the South Range boys cross country and track coach and girls cross country coach. She also has a sister and brother who have run in intercollegiate competition.
Her sister, Kim, recently graduated from Coastal Carolina where she ran track and cross country for four years. Kim will attend the University of South Carolina and study for a master's in social work.
Brother Dan just completed his first year at Youngstown State where he also runs track and cross country.
kovach@vindy.com