Ashland University senior swimmer Julie Widmann (Littleton, Colo./Heritage) has been named the 2013 Capital One Academic All-American of the Year on the Women's At-Large Team. The announcement came today (June 5).
Widmann is also a first team Academic All-America. She is joined on the first team by AU senior golfer Holly James (Strongsville, Ohio/Walsh Jesuit).
This is the second consecutive year Widmann has been named a Capital One First Team Academic All-American. This is the first time James has appeared on the team. Widmann is the second AU student-athlete to be honored as the Capital One Academic All-American of the year. Senior Kari Daugherty (Fresno, Ohio/Dayton) was honored as the Capital One Academic All-American of the year in women's basketball.
Ashland has had five Capital One first team All-Americans this year and one third team selection (see list at end of release). Senior Garrett Grey (Grahamsville, N.Y./Tri-Valley) is on the national ballot in track and field. That team will be announced later this month.
The Capital One Division II Academic All-America Team is selected by sports information directors from around the country. The Capital One Academic All-America Division II Women's At-Large program includes the sports of bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis and water polo.
Widmann ended her career as a 23-time All-American. She is the only women's swimmer in school history to win four national championships. Three of those national crowns came in the 200 free relay. She also won a national championship in the 100 backstroke. At the 2013 national championship meet, Widmann was on the 200 relay that was first. She was second in the 50 free and 100 back and was fifth in the 100 free. Widmann led the Eagles to a 12th place finish. With Widmann leading the way, the AU women placed 12th or better at nationals for four consecutive years.
Widmann secured All-GLIAC honors 21 times. She holds conference records in the 200 free relay and the 50 free. In 2011-12, Widmann received a GLIAC Commissioner's Award. For the past two years, she has been a member of the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team (3.49 GPA or higher).
The Colorado native is a marketing major with a 3.90 grade point average. She was one of three student-athletes on the 2013 first team that earned first team honors in 2012.
James is a management information systems major with a 4.00 grade point average. She helped lead AU to the 2013 NCAA Division II national championships in Daytona Beach, Fla. That was the second trip in school history to the NCAA Championships. At the NCAA Championships, James received the NCAA Elite 89 Award, which is presented to the student-athlete at the championships with the highest grade point average.
James finished in a three-way tie for second place at the East Regional Championships and tied for fifth at the GLIAC Championships. She was named an honorable mention All-American by the Women's Golf Coaches Association of America.
James is a member of the GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team.
Ashland University 2012-13 Capital One Academic All-Americans
| Student-Athlete | Sport | Team | GPA/Major |
| Kari Daugherty | Women's Basketball | First Team | 3.97/Middle Childhood Ed. |
| Donnie Dottei | Football | First Team | 3.74/Integrated Mathematics |
| Daiva Gerbec | Women's Basketball | First Team | 3.94/Biochemistry |
| Holly James | Women's Golf | First Team | 4.00/Management Info. Systems |
| Brittany Snider | Volleyball | Third Team | 3.52/Biology |
| Julie Widmann | Women's Swimming | First Team | 3.90/Marketing |
Daugherty and Widmann were named the Capital One Academic All-Americans of the Year.
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