Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men's Soccer Player Ryan Weber Named To Academic All-America Team
2/5/2002 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Feb. 5, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell senior men's soccer player Ryan Weber (Longmont, Colo./Niwot) has been named to the 2001-02 Verizon Academic All-America University Division Men's Soccer Second Team. With his selection, Weber becomes the 101st student-athlete in Bucknell history to garner Academic-All America status.
As a part of an overall expansion of the Verizon Academic All-America program, a men's soccer team was selected in the University (Division I) and College (Divisions II-III) Divisions for the first time in the history of the program.
In order to be eligible for Academic All-America honors, a player must be at least a sophomore and a starter or significant reserve on his/her team, and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or better.
A spot starter throughout his career, Weber saved his best season for last. As a senior, the defender scored the first two goals of his career and equaled his career-high with three assists, while starting in 14 of Bucknell's 18 games. Both of his scores came in victories, including the final game of his career against Army.
In the classroom, Weber is especially successful, maintaining a 3.92 grade point average as a Business Administration/Accounting major. A four-year member of the University's Dean's List and the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, he received a 4.0 GPA at the conclusion of the 2001 fall semester. Weber is a three-year recipient of the President's Award for Distinguished Academic Achievement and a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.
"It is a great honor for Ryan, and something I believe he deserves," said Bucknell head coach Brendan Nash. "For four years Ryan has worked extremely hard both in the classroom and on the soccer field. I cannot remember any point where Ryan was not giving 100% in both arenas. To the men's soccer program Ryan has truly defined "student-athlete", and to see him recognized as one of the exceptional ones in the country is the perfect ending to his Bucknell career."
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 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.
Following is a complete listing of the 2001-02 Verizon Academic All-America University Division Men's Soccer Teams:
First Team Name School Hometown Class GPA/Major Luchi Gonzalez* SMU Miami, Fla. Sr. 3.39/Finance Andrew Hooker UNLV Victoria, British Columbia Sr. 3.92/Mechanical Engineering Anders Hoyem Northeastern Oslo, Norway Sr. 3.95/Finance/Insurance Ilkka Jantti Kentucky Lahti, England Sr. 3.88/Finance/Management Torsten Knor Seton Hall Moenchengladbach, Ger Sr. 3.84/Finance Aaron Lauber Wisconsin Franklin, Wis. Gr. 3.85/Accounting Chris McAlpine Kentucky Centerville, Ohio Sr. 3.93/Finance/Economics Terry McNelis Duquesne Reading, Pa. Jr. 3.72/Physical Therapy Chris Norbert Davidson Belleville, Ill. Sr. 3.80/Biology Mike Roach NC-Asheville Greensboro, N.C. Sr. 4.00/Chemistry Gregory Strohmann Seton Hall Wertheim, Germany Sr. 3.72/Finance Diego Walsh SMU Miami, Fla. Jr. 3.48/Business
* Verizon Academic All-America Team Member of the Year - University Division
Second Team Name School Hometown Class GPA/Major Dan Bestic Dayton Canfield, Ohio Sr. 4.00/Pre-Med Oran Bjaneso Akron Bergen, Norway Sr. 3.73/Finance Scott Blount Furman Brentwood, Tenn. Sr. 3.44/Business Admin./Economics Michael Charles Rhode Island Glendora, Calif. So. 3.91/Biological Science Ingo Dittel Seton Hall Hanover, Germany Jr. 4.0/Finance Bryan O'Quinn Massachusetts Feeding Hills, Mass. Sr. 3.69/Sports Management Bryn Ritchie Washington Medford, Ore. Sr. 3.64/Business Colin Rogers Indiana Wilmette, Ill. Sr. 3.48/Finance Sociology Brandon Thompson Western Kentucky Owensboro, Ky. Sr. 4.00/Electronic Engin. Technology Ryan Weber Bucknell Longmont, Colo. Sr. 3.92/Business Admin./Accounting Saul Wolf Cal.-Irvine Irvine, Calif. Sr. 3.69/International Studies
Third Team Name School Hometown Class GPA/Major Tom Blesso Providence Billerica, Mass. Sr. 3.81/Finance Eric Chapman Syracuse Wallingford, Pa. Jr. 3.88/Political Science/Spanish Ryan Dougherty Saint Joseph's Philadelphia, Pa. Sr. 3.42/Elem. And Special Education Justin Langan Western Illinois Davenport, Iowa So. 4.00/Biology Dennis Ludwig Rutgers Mt. Laurel, N.J. Sr. 3.304/Management Kyle Milligan Akron Hudson, Ohio Sr. 3.58/Exercise Science Kevin Sapanli San Diego State San Diego, Calif. So. 3.96/Business Peter Sjolin Hartford Helsingborg, Sweden Jr. 3.93/Economics Matt Strode Hartwick Devon, England Sr. 3.75/Psychology Andrew Terris Stanford Newton, Mass. Jr. 3.68/Economics Chris Wingert St. John's Babylon, N.Y. So. 3.82/Communication Arts
