ESU Academic Awards page  |  2017 Men's Cross Cross Country/Track & Field Academic All-America Teams

EAST STROUDSBURG – The College Sports Information Directors of America released its 2017 Academic All-America teams for men's cross country and track & field on Thursday, with East Stroudsburg University graduate student Alex Zubko named to the first team for a second-consecutive season.

Zubko (Dallas, Pa./Dallas) becomes the first male student-athlete in ESU history to be honored as a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-America selection. He is the fourth student-athlete overall, joining Rose Mascoli (Women's Track/Cross Country, 2011-13), Katie Horst (Field Hockey, 1996-98) and Laura Mason (Women's Track & Field, 1983-85).

Academic All-America honorees were chosen from eight All-District teams, which were announced in late May. The Academic All-District and Academic All-America teams recognize student-athletes for athletic and academic achievements and are nominated and voted on by members of CoSIDA. A total of 45 student-athletes were named Academic All-America, with 15 each selected to the first, second and third teams.

Zubko returns to the first team for a second year in a row after earning third team accolades back in 2015. He has a perfect 4.0 grade-point average while working towards his master's degree in exercise science. Zubko already has his bachelor's degree in exercise science, having completed his undergraduate studies with a 3.95 GPA. He is the fifth student-athlete in ESU history to earn multiple first team Academic All-America selections.

Zubko was a second team All-PSAC cross country runner in each of the past two seasons, finishing 27th in a field of over 130 runners in both 2016 and 2015. Regionally, Zubko was ESU's No. 2 finisher at the NCAA DII Atlantic race last fall, and he added a 33rd place showing at the regional competition in 2015. Zubko was ESU's top scorer at four meets during his collegiate career.

On the track this spring, Zubko was the lone Warrior to qualify for the PSAC Championships in both the 5,000 and 10,000-meter races. He managed PSAC qualifying times in the 10K in each of his four seasons at ESU. Zubko was previously honored as the PSAC Outdoor Champion Scholar in 2015.


About the Academic All-District and Academic All-America program
 
Six Warriors were named Academic All-America this year – Zubko, senior back Emily Howell (field hockey - second team), senior goalkeeper Danielle Ard (field hockey - third team), redshirt junior offensive lineman Devon Ackerman (football - first team), senior back Andrea Polanco (women's soccer - second team) and senior back Hannah Gombos (women's soccer - third team).

ESU has now had 42 Academic All-America selections over the past 10 years. The Warriors' 36 selections from 2007-08 through 2015-16 were tied for third in the PSAC. ESU is also tied for second in the PSAC with 103 Academic All-District selections in the last 10 years (2007-08 through 2016-17)
 
This marks the sixth 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.
 
Including this year, ESU has had 46 student-athletes combine for 65 Academic All-America awards in school history, with 30 student-athletes combining for 42 awards in the last nine years.
 
At the district level, 97 ESU student-athletes have combined for 144 Academic All-District selections.
 
 
Three-time Academic All-America selections
Alex Zubko, Men's T&F/CC - 2015-17
Rose Mascoli, Women's T&F/CC - 2011-13
Katie Horst, Women's At Large/Field Hockey – 1997-99
Laura Mason, Women's T&F - 1983-85


Two-time Academic All-America First Team selections
Alex Zubko, Men's T&F/CC - 2016-17
Devon Ackerman, Football - 2015-16
Rose Mascoli, Women's T&F/CC - 2012-13
Matt Freed, Football - 2009-10
Katie Horst, Women's At Large/Field Hockey - 1998-99