May 26, 2009

ATHENS, Ohio - Rachelle Coetzee, a senior on Ohio University's field hockey team, was selected to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District IV Women's At-Large First Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America have announced. Coetzee is one of just two Mid-American Conference student-athletes named to the first team, while Ohio swimmer Rachel Heim was tabbed Second-Team Academic All-District IV on the women's at-large team.

In addition to the Academic All-District honors, Coetzee (Bloemfontein, S.A.) has garnered Academic All-MAC, All-MAC First Team, All-MAC Tournament Team and All-West Region Second Team accolades this year. She was also selected to and played in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Division I Senior All-Start Game in Louisville, Ky. on Nov. 22. The senior was named MAC Scholar Athlete of the Week Sept. 4, as well.

Coetzee, who made the Dean's List for the first two quarters of the 2008-09 school year (so far), has a 3.97 grade point average and is majoring in management information systems and accounting.

The three-time Academic All-MAC performer led the Bobcats with 11 goals this year, including two game-winners and a pair of multi-goal games. Coetzee tallied six assists and totaled a team-best 28 points. She fired 62 shots, with 29 landing on goal, to finish her career ranked fourth on Ohio's all-time shots chart with 241. Coetzee played in all 23 games this season, starting 21, while helping lead the Bobcats to their third-straight MAC championship game.

CoSIDA's District IV consists of universities in the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, while the women's at-large team consists of student-athletes participating in bowling, crew, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis and water polo.

To be eligible for the all-district teams, student-athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of their games, have been enrolled at their institution for at least a year and carry a 3.30 cumulative GPA or better. The teams are then voted on and selected by members of CoSIDA.

With Coetzee being named to the first team, she is now eligible to be placed on the CoSIDA Academic All-America team, which will be announced Thursday, June 11.