BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior Danielle Poto has been selected to the 2015-2016 Academic All-America® NCAA Division III Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Poto, a third team selection, is the seventh student-athlete in Bridgewater State history to garner Academic All-America® honors and the fourth in the last four years as she joins Connor Foley (track/cross country, 2015), Amber White (softball, 2014), Sullivan Cohen (swimming, 2013), Philip Klotzbach (men's tennis, 1999), Winnie McGarry (softball, 1990) and Alan Probst (baseball, 1984). Cohen, Foley and Klotzbach were also third team selections, while McGarry, Probst and White were first team honorees.
The CoSIDA Division III Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division III national governance structure, to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2015-16 Division III Academic All-America® teams program.
To be eligible for Academic All-America® honors, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.
A native of North Andover, Massachusetts, Poto wrapped up an amazing academic career at Bridgewater State with an impressive 3.95 grade point average. She graduated last month with a degree in Spanish with a minor in Secondary Education, and was named to the Dean's List in each of her eight semesters at Bridgewater State. Danielle is also a 12-time MASCAC All-Academic Team selection.
In addition to taking classes at BSU, Danielle also served as a long-term substitute Spanish teacher at Freetown-Lakeville Middle School during the 2015-2016 academic year.
Danielle excelled as one of the top distance runners during the 2015-2016 athletic seasons. In the fall, Danielle captured All-Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) honors with a second place finish at the MASCAC Cross Country Championships and garnered All-New England accolades as she finished 31st at the Division III New England Championships. She was selected as the MASCAC Runner of the Week on September 7th and was named to the MASCAC All-Sportsmanship Team.
This past winter indoor season, Danielle helped the Bears capture their third straight MASCAC championship as she won the MASCAC and New England Alliance individual title in the 3,000-meter run. She was also twice named the MASCAC Track Athlete of the Week during the indoor campaign.
Poto capped off a terrific four-year career with an impressive spring outdoor season. She captured the Division III New England crown in the 10,000-meter run with a career-best time of 35:59.46. Danielle also won both the MASCAC and New England Alliance championships in the 5,000-meter run and earned All-ECAC honors in the same event. She was selected as the MASCAC Track Athlete of the Week three times in the spring.
Danielle qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the first time in her career. She placed 11th in the 10,000-meter run at the national championship meet hosted by Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.