July 2, 2008

Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina sophomore Elin Mickelsson and freshman Katja Dammann were today named to the 2007-08 National Golf Coaches Association (NGCA) Division I All-American Scholar team. The WCU duo were among seven recognized from the Southern Conference and represented the only multiple selections from any one conference school.

It is the second-time in her first two seasons at Western that Mickelsson garnered the All-America plaudits from the association. Since 2000, 11 different WCU women's golfers have been honored by the group. Former golfers Brandy Andersen (2002-06) and Bianca Melone (2003-07) hold the distinction of being the only Catamounts to garner the distinction all four years. In addition to those two, Mickelsson joins three others as multiple recipients.

Dammann and Mickelsson ranked two-and-three, respectively, on Western's single-season scoring charts for the 2007-08 year, with Mickelsson posting WCU's best finish twice during the year. Dammann, a Pinehurst, N.C., native, averaged 78.23 strokes per round during the season to post the 20th-best, single-season in school history. Mickelsson, a second-year player from Gavle, Sweden, recorded the 26th-best season scoring average at 78.65.

Through 52 rounds in her career, Mickelsson ranks ninth on Western Carolina's career scoring charts with a 78.54 average.

A combined 402 women's golfers - including 170 at the Division I level - spanning the three NCAA classifications (I, II & III) were recognized with this prestigious honor. The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all college athletics. The minimum grade point average (GPA) is 3.50 and student-athletes must have competed in at least 50-percent (Division I) or 66-percent (Division II & III) of the college's regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year.