Sports News: Spring 2002

Thursday, May 23, 2002

ZIMMERMAN NAMED TO MEN'S ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAM

BETHLEHEM, PA --- Junior Wes Zimmerman (Boyertown, PA/Boyertown HS) has named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District II College Division Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Team selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

By making the All-District Team, Zimmerman is now forwarded onto the national ballot to try for Verizon Academic All-American® accolades, which will be announced on Tuesday, June 18th.

To be eligible for Verizon Academic All-America® honors, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 3.20 grade-point average, be a sophomore, junior or senior; and be a starter or significant reserve. The College Division is made up of all the NCAA Division II and III Schools in the nation as well as all NAIA schools. Student-athletes from NCAA Division I schools are named to the University Division Teams. District II is made up of schools from Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

This year marks the 50th year of the Academic All-America program, as the inaugural team was announced on December 6, 1952. Since that time, more than 12,000 students have been named Academic All-America team members at colleges and universities at all levels for every recognized NCAA sport. The 22 members of the original team, which included football players only, will be honored with a series of events throughout the current academic year. The program's popularity resulted in a significant expansion for the current academic year, as 816 student-athletes --- a 19 percent increase over the previous highest number -- will be selected to 12 different Academic All-America teams during the 2001-02 academic season. 2001-02 marks the first year for the track & field/cross country program as both sports used to be included in the at-large program.

Zimmerman had a season best time of 27:49.0 at the Lehigh Valley Cross Country Championships, which placed him 25th of 78 runners. During the outdoor track & field season, Zimmerman has Moravian's best times in 5,000 meters (15:47.31) and 10,000 meters (33:15.9). Zimmerman has been named to Middle Atlantic Conference All-Academic Team six times (twice in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track.

Zimmerman will now try to become the 23rd Verizon Academic All-Americans in Moravian history and the 18th in the last nine years.  Moravian currently has seven student-athletes eligible for Verizon Academic All-America honors.