Four Canes Named All-ACC Academic
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Josh Johnson, Lea Johnson, Tiffany Okieme and Gian Piero Ragonesi were named to the 2015 All-ACC Academic Team for indoor track and field.
Josh Johnson and Ragonesi are two of 40 student-athletes selected to the 2015 Men’s Indoor Track and Field All-ACC Academic Team, while Lea Johnson and Okieme were among the 44 student-athletes named to the 2015 Women’s Indoor Track and Field All-ACC Academic Team.
“I’m very proud of them and proud to say they are a part of our program,” Miami director of track and field/cross country Amy Deem said. “The things that they have accomplished like being accepted into medical school and getting ACC scholarships, I think it shows what college track and field is about. It’s just preparing yourself for the next step in life. Lea, Tiffany, Josh and Gian show that not only are we trying to get it done athletically, but that they are students first.”
Lea Johnson claims her fifth All-ACC Academic honor and her third for Indoor Track and Field. A superb student-athlete, Johnson was a First Team Indoor All-American after placing eighth at the NCAA Championships in the weight throw. The Saint Louis, Mo., native also claimed her second consecutive ACC Indoor title in the women’s weight throw, while earning First Team All-ACC honors for her gold medal performance at the 2015 ACC Indoor Championships. She also ranks second in UM history in the weight throw with a personal-best mark of 21.45m. A microbiology and immunology major, Johnson is set to graduate from the University of Miami in a few weeks and plans to attend medical school.
A psychology major, Okieme earned her first All-ACC Academic award after transferring to Miami in the fall. The junior joined her teammate at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships, where she placed ninth in the women’s weight throw and earned Second Team All-America honors. Okieme won a bronze medal in the weight throw at the ACC Indoor Championships, earning First Team All-ACC honors for her performance.
Josh Johnson earned his first All-ACC Academic honor after a strong showing during the 2015 indoor season. The sophomore sprinter placed sixth at the ACC Indoor Championships in the 60m, earning Second Team All-ACC honors. An industrial engineering major, Johnson also competed in the 60m and on Miami’s 4x400m relays during the indoor campaign.
Ragonesi claims the second All-ACC Academic honor of his collegiate career. The thrower ranks second in UM history in the indoor shot put and third in school history in the weight throw. A human resources management major, Ragonesi competed in both the shot put and weight throw at the 2015 ACC Indoor Championships.
Every member the 2015 Indoor Track and Field All-ACC team earned All-ACC honors, All-America honors and/or posted a mark in their respective event during the season that ranked among the top eight in the conference. Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.00 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.00 cumulative average during one’s academic career.
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