Tyler Denlinger named Academic All-American

2017 Jun 26

Tyler Denlinger (Perkasie, Pa./Dock Mennonite Academy) is wrapping up his collegiate career in style. EMU's track & field/cross country runner was named to the Academic All-America Second Team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), becoming just the second-ever Eastern Mennonite male to be named one of the nation's top academics.

Denlinger joins men's soccer player Adam Shank as the only two EMU men named to an Academic All-America team. Shank landed on the Third Team in 2005.

A 12-time All-ODAC middle distance runner, Denlinger graduated from Eastern Mennonite University this spring with a 3.94 GPA as a biology major, with plans to enter the medical field. The Old Dominion Athletic Conference also honored him with the Jopson Award as the conference's top male scholar-athlete.

Over his four years, Denlinger was a multiple All-Region performer. Between indoor and outdoor track, he was voted the ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete five times, and broke five EMU records: indoor 1000m and mile, outdoor 800m and 1500m, and a team mark in the 4x400m relay.

Off the track, Denlinger was involved in EMU's Student Government Association and the residence life staff. He also provided cadaver dissection demonstrations for local community members.

Director of Cross Country/Track & Field Isaac Bryan said his senior approached both his athletic and academic rigors with the same diligence.

"Tyler's extreme work ethic was evident in both his running and academic work," Bryan explained. "Perfection was his goal in both so he would study for hours in between his intense training sessions for track. He knew that good grades and fast times weren't going to come without dedication and a strong work ethic."

Denlinger was the only ODAC cross country/track & field athlete among the 45 men named to an Academic All-America team this year.

CoSIDA has honored 12 Eastern Mennonite athletes as Academic All-Americans, all since 1985. Click here to see the all-time list of Academic All-America award winners.