MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Six Panthers of the Milwaukee men's and women's track and field teams were named to the Horizon League All-Academic team for the outdoor season, the League office announced today.
 
Seniors Alex Cotter (3.651/Architecture), Brady Irwin (3.654/Occupational Studies), Bryce McMurtry (3.401/Computer Science), and junior Michael Sippy (3.646/Information Science Technology) of the men's team as well as juniors Kyra Arendt (3.956/Film Production) and Megan Safranski (3.987/Human Resources) of the women's team all earned spots on this year's squad.
 
To be eligible for the Horizon League All-Academic team, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve, have completed one year at the member school and passed 24 semester credit hours at the institution. Eligible candidates must have complete one academic year prior to the start of the athletic season. Student-athletes must also have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.20 on a 4.00 scale.
 
The four-time All-Academic honoree, Alex Cotter, holds a 3.651 GPA in Architecture. He also has had an outstanding outdoor career at Milwaukee. During his sophomore campaign, Cotter finished runner-up in both the 800m and the 1500m at the 2018 Horizon League outdoor meet. The following year, the senior placed third in the mile and ninth in 800m at the 2019 League meet to help the Panthers bring home the team runner-up trophy. Cotter also holds the fifth fastest 1500m in program history.
 
Withstanding a 3.654 in Occupational Studies, Brady Irwin is a three-time All-Academic honoree. The senior also has proven to be one of the best high jumpers in the League. Irwin has podiumed in high jump at every League meet, including a third-place finish as a freshman, fourth-place finish as a sophomore, and the runner-up at the 2019 Horizon League Outdoor meet as a junior. His PR outdoor height of 6-8 (2.03m) is tied for 10th in program history.
 
Senior Bryce McMurtry earned his third All-Academic honor in his career. McMurtry carries a 3.401 in Computer Science, but he also dominates in the outdoor season. Last season, McMurtry competed in the decathlon for the first time ever, placing third at the 2019 Horizon League outdoor meet. He also placed sixth in javelin and ninth in both the 110m hurdles and long jump. As a sophomore, he helped the 4x100m relay to a runner-up finish while also placing third in long jump, eighth in javelin, and ninth in the 110m hurdles at the 2018 League outdoor meet. McMurtry also saw the podium as a freshman, finishing sixth in long jump at the 2017 League outdoor meet. He nearly broke the long jump school record as a sophomore, but now holds the second-best mark in program history.
 
The now two-time All-Academic honoree, Michael Sippy, holds a 3.646 in Information Science Technology. The junior also has shined on the track. At the 2019 Horizon League Outdoor meet, Sippy won the bronze medal in the 800m and was a member of the fourth place 4x400m relay. He scored important points to help the Panthers take home the team runner-up trophy. As a freshman, Sippy placed fourth in the 800m and helped the 4x400m to a silver medal at the 2018 outdoor League meet.
 
Junior Kyra Arendt, a four-time All-Academic honoree with a 3.956 in Film Production, is no stranger to the podium. Arendt is a two-time Horizon League Outdoor Triple Jump runner-up. Additionally, as a sophomore, she helped the 4x100m to a third-place finish and placed fourth in long jump. During her freshman campaign, Arendt was named the Freshman Field Athlete of the Year and claimed the bronze medal in long jump and was a member of the fifth place 4x100m relay. With just two outdoor seasons under her belt, Arendt currently holds the fifth-best triple jump mark and 10th-best long jump mark in program history.
 
Earning her second All-Academic honor just this year, Megan Safranski continues to shine in the classroom with a 3.987 GPA in Human Resources and on the track. As a freshman, Safranski finished fifth in steeplechase at the 2018 Horizon League outdoor meet with a time of 11:33.19, which ranks fourth in program history. During her sophomore campaign, she then placed fifth in the 1500m at the 2019 League outdoor meet. Her time of 4:39.62 ranks eighth all-time in program history.