ESU Academic Awards History
EAST STROUDSBURG – East Stroudsburg University wrestler Brendan McKeown has earned a second selection on the Capital One Academic All-America Men's At-Large team for the 2013-14 academic year, it was announced Wednesday.
McKeown (Scotia, N.Y./Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) was named to the Academic All-America third team for the second straight year. He is the only Academic All-America selection in ESU wrestling history and is the 11th ESU student-athlete to earn multiple career Academic All-America honors.
A graduate student, McKeown is pursuing his Master's degree in Management and Leadership after previously earning his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from ESU. He had a 3.5 grade-point average through his first semester of graduate work after obtaining a 3.46 GPA as an undergraduate.
On the mat, McKeown earned his third straight trip to the NCAA Division II Championships during his final season at ESU. He was ESU's first three-time national qualifier since Jeremy Sluyter was a four-time DI qualifier from 1997-00.
He earned All-America status in 2013, placing sixth in DII at 174 pounds. He was a three-time finalist in Super Region 1 and was the 2013 regional champion and Outstanding Wrestler.
He posted a 15-5 overall record and was ranked No. 5 in DII throughout the 2013-14 season. He went 9-3 against DII opponents and was 10-0 in duals for ESU's best mark since 1997. He had two falls, four technical falls and two major decisions among his 15 victories.
In his career, he was 74-37 overall (36-12 in duals) with nine falls, nine tech falls and 14 major decisions.
McKeown was named ESU's Co-Men's Senior Athlete of the Year with All-America baseball outfielder Chris Knott at last month's Athletic Awards Banquet.
He is ESU's fourth Academic All-America selections this year, joining Robert Bleiler (football) and Nemanja Nikolic and Khriswayne Wallace (men's soccer)
Three weeks ago, McKeown became the seventh ESU student-athlete to earn three career mentions on the Academic All-District first team.
He joins 10 other student-athletes who have earned multiple Academic All-America honors, listed below:
Khriswayne Wallace (men's soccer) – fall 2012, 2013
Nemanja Nikolic (men's soccer) – fall 2011, 2013
Rose Mascoli (women's T&F/XC) – spring 2011, 2012, 2013
Corinne Fitzgerald (women's T&F/XC) – spring 2012, 2013
Matt Freed (football) – fall 2009, 2010
Paul Wagner (men's T&F/XC) – spring 2009, 2010
Kamar Samuels (men's soccer) – fall 2002, 2003
Katie Horst (field hockey) – spring 1997, 1998, 1999
Rob Stone (men's T&F) – spring 1996, 1998
Laura Mason (women's T&F) – spring 1983, 1984, 1985
About the Academic All-District and All-America program
ESU is tied for second in the PSAC with 74 Academic All-District selections in the last seven years (2007-08 through 2013-14).
During the 2012-13 academic year, the Warriors had eight Academic All-Americans (including McKeown) and 11 student-athletes named to Academic All-District teams.
The Academic All-District and All-America teams recognize student-athletes for athletic and academic achievement and are nominated and voted on by members of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).
This marks the third year that separate teams have been selected for Division II, Division III and College Division (NAIA/Canadian schools/two-year schools) institutions. The previous "College Division" included all DII, DIII, Canadian and junior college programs.
District 2 of Division II follows the NCAA's regional model and includes all schools from the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference), Mountain East Conference and CIAA (Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association).
