May 8, 2002

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri State softball players Emmy Kisaka and Katie Cerneka were named to the Verizon Academic All-District VII softball team as announced by coordinators on Thursday.

Kisaka, a senior utility player, completed her four-year career at Southeast last weekend. Kisaka is an Athletic Administration major and carries a 3.85 grade-point average. Kisaka played in 30 games this past season, starting 17 of them. She hit .224 with eight RBI's, a double and a triple. Kisaka was also an All-District selection in 2001.

Cerneka, a junior outfielder, is a Communication Disorders major and has a 3.70 G.P.A. Cerneka played in 29 games in 2002, starting 26 of them, mainly in leftfield. She batted .315, which would have led the team, although she fell nine at-bats short of qualifying for that honor. She has 23 hits on the season including her first collegiate homerun.

"Katie and Emmy are two quality individuals that have proven that they can be successful on the field and also in the classroom," said Southeast head softball coach Lana Richmond. "They definitely are the definition of a student-athlete."

Southeast was one of only two teams in District VII to place two members on the team. Kansas University also had two members make the squad.

The Verizon academic all-district team honors student-athletes who excel both on the playing field and in the classroom. By being named to the all-district team, Kisaka and Cerneka will have their names placed on the national ballot for consideration for Academic All-American. The Verizon Academic awards are sponsored by and on voted on by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of American (CoSIDA).

District VII includes schools in the states of Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Selections are open to student-athletes who have reached sophomore academic standing and carry at least a 3.20 G.P.A.

2002 Verizon Academic All-District VII Softball Team
P Ingrid Werner, Missouri (4.00, Pre-Physical Therapy)
P Shelli Mellegaard, Creighton (3.76, Biology)
C Amber Burgess, Nebraska (3.42, International Studies/Comm. Studies)
IF Beth Yagge, Saint Louis (3.94, Physical Therapy)
IF Kristin Johnson, Iowa (3.71, Communication Studies)
IF Kristen Caldwell, UMKC (3.84, Pre-Nursing)
IF Courtney Wright, Kansas (3.94, Physical Therapy)
OF Kim Ogee, Nebraska (3.57, Family/Consumer Science)
OF Katie Cerneka, Southeast Missouri (3.70, Communication Disorders)
OF Shelly Musser, Kansas (3.23, Human Biology/Pre-Nursing)
DP Emmy Kisaka, Southeast Missouri (3.85, Athletic Administration)