NEW ORLEANS (Blugolds.com) — After winning the program's first national championship, the men's cross country team continues to win awards as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) named the Blugolds the 2015 Scholar Team of the Year while  Josh Thorson (Jr.- Plymouth, MN/Wayzata) was named Scholar Athlete of the Year.

USTFCCCA Scholar Athlete release | USTFCCCA Team Academic Awards release

In order for a team to be deemed the Scholar Team of the Year, it must meet two criteria — finish in the top 10 of the NCAA national meet and have a cumulative GPA of 3.1 or better. UW-Eau Claire boasts a team GPA of 3.32.

Thorson was no worse than third at four of the five meets in which he competed, including a second-place finish at NCAA national meet. Thorson maintains a 3.87 GPA and is a graphic design major. This is the first time an athlete from UW-Eau Claire has been named Scholar Athlete of the Year.

In total, there 268 men from 151 teams who nabbed USTFCCCA All-Academic honors. To earn that distinction, student-athletes must have a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher and finish in the top 25 percent at their respective regional.