New Orleans, La. - University of Wisconsin-La Crosse sophomore Bria Halama of Independence (H.S.) has been selected the 2013-14 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division III Indoor Scholar Athlete of the Year, the USTFCCCA announced.  A therepeutic recreation major with a 3.93 cumulative grade point average, Halama becomes UW-L's first honoree since Caitlin Schetter earned the recognition in 2009.  Halama captured the triple jump title at the 2014 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Championships to help the Eagles record a second-place team finish. 

Halama set a school record (40-1 1/2) in becoming the first student-athlete in school history to win the indoor triple jump crown.  She became the first individual to win an indoor national title for the Eagles since Schetter captured the long jump in 2009.  Halama was also a member of UW-L's national title 4x400-meter relay (3:45.25) at the 2014 NCAA III Championships, joining Jenna Halvorson, Shannon Klein and Claire Elliott.  Halama earned her third All-America award of the 2014 indoor championships with a fifth-place finish in the 400-meter dash (55.98). 

The USTFCCCA Scholar Athlete of the Year Awards are determined from among those who earned All-Academic status and placed highest in individual events at the NCAA Championships.  Those who earn multiple individual championship titles rank higher in the tie-breaking process, and cumulative grade point average is weighed as the final tiebreaker to establish a winner.  Separate awards are given to track athletes and field athletes for the indoor and outdoor seasons, resulting in four categories.

UW-L's women's track & field team led all of NCAA Division III with 14 student-athletes named to the 2013-14 USTFCCCA All-Academic Team.  Massachusetts Institute of Technology finished second with 13.  A total of 416 student-athletes representing 126 institutions compose the group.  The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) led the nation with 53 All-Academic selections. 

To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 and have met either of the following athletic standards, competed in an NCAA Indoor or Outdoor Championship and finished the regular season ranked in the national top-35 in an individual event or ranked in the national top-25 (collective listing) in a relay event on the official NCAA POP list provided by TFRRS.org.

UW-L seniors Kayla Ashland (3.39 grade point average; marketing major), Kelly Conner (3.39; marketing) and Jenna Halvorson (3.55; psychology), juniors Claire Elliott (3.73; early childhood education), Erin McCauley (3.53; biology), Julianne Merkes (3.69; biology) and Maya Vazquez (3.58; therapeutic recreation), sophomores Kayla Anderson (3.47; exercise sport science: pre-professional), Bria Halama (3.93; therapeutic recreation), Meg Heafy (3.36; therapeutic recreation), Meaghan Howell (3.66; exercise sport science: pre-professional), Addie Korb (3.52; clinical lab science) and Laura Mead (3.89; psychology) along with freshman Mallory Hall (3.57; exercise sport science-teaching) earned individual All-Academic status.

UW-L also earned a 2013-14 USTFCCCA All-Academic Award with a 3.33 cumulative grade point average.

The Eagles swept the 2014 WIAC Indoor and Outdoor titles, capturing its 22nd indoor title in school history and 29th outdoor crown.  The 22 indoor and 29 outdoor titles are the most in WIAC history.  UW-L placed second at the 2014 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships and fourth at the outdoor meet under head coach Pat Healy.