Wayne State University Athletics

Women's Cross Country 2/18/2022 12:21:00 PM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Women's Cross Country Places Nine Student-Athletes on GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team

Nine Excellence Team honorees ranks third in the GLIAC.

DETROIT -- Nine (9) members of the 2021 Wayne State University women's cross country squad were recognized with GLIAC (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) All-Academic Excellence Team accolades. The nine selections to the All-Academic Excellence team is the second-most for WSU in the 12 years it has existed. Over the last 12 years, 83 Warrior women's cross country student-athletes have earned GLIAC All-Academic honors.

Criteria states the student-athlete must be an active member on the roster at the end of the season, and not a freshman or a first-year transfer student.

The nine student-athletes receiving All-Academic Excellence Team honors for maintaining a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 were redshirt seniors Emma Willett (Holgate, Ohio) and Gabbi Willett (Holgate, Ohio), redshirt junior Chloe Wandell (Muir, Mich. / Ionia), along with redshirt sophomores Thailyia Christensen (Flushing, Mich.), Cameron Martella (Gaylord, Mich.), Katherine Ray (Novi, Mich.), Makenzie Wank (Richland, Mich. / Gull Lake) and Charlene Yarema (Romeo, Mich.) as well as redshirt freshman Emily Esker (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin).

This is the fourth time that both Willett's (Secondary Education) were named to the All-Academic Excellence team in cross country. Wandell (Kinesiology) was recognized for the third time, while Christensen (Marketing), Martella (Public Health Honors), Ray (Sport Management), Wank (Biomedical Engineering Honors) and Yarema (Communication Sciences and Disorders Honors) were honored for the second straight season. Esker (Mathematics) is a recipient in her first season eligible.

The women's cross country squad posted a 3.618 term GPA for the Fall 2021 semester, with an overall team cumulative GPA of 3.769 for the 20 student-athletes on the team. Five student-athletes had a perfect 4.0 term GPA for the fall semester with an additional 10 student-athletes receiving Warrior Elite status for a term GPA of at least 3.5. Both Willett's completed their student teaching programs in the fall which are pass/fail, but they are included in the cumulative GPA mark.

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Players Mentioned

Thailyia Christensen: 5' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

Emily Esker: 5' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

Cameron Martella: 5' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

Katherine Ray: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

Chloe Wandell: 5' 4"; Senior

Makenzie Wank: 5' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

Emma Willett: 5' 7"; Redshirt Senior

Gabbi Willett: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior

Charlene Yarema: 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Thailyia Christensen
: 5' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

Emily Esker
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Freshman

Cameron Martella
: 5' 3"; Redshirt Sophomore

Katherine Ray
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

Chloe Wandell
: 5' 4"; Senior

Makenzie Wank
: 5' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

Emma Willett
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Senior

Gabbi Willett
: 5' 8"; Redshirt Senior

Charlene Yarema
: 5' 6"; Redshirt Sophomore