5/26/2009
Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior defense Evan Schaller (Kirkville, N.Y.) has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III at-large first team (college division), as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Schaller is a three-time pick, as he was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III at-large first team in 2008 and the second team in 2007.
District III (college division) includes all non-NCAA Division I schools (Division II, III and NAIA) in Florida, Georgia, Virginia and North and South Carolina. Schaller and the other nine men’s first team selections move on to the national ballot for 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® honors.
Schaller was named to the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) NCAA Division II All-America second team in 2009. The cornerstone of the Wingate defense, Schaller led the Bulldogs with 63 ground balls this season. In addition, he posted one goal and two assists during the 2009 campaign. Schaller is a two-time All-Deep South Conference choice.
In 2008, Schaller had a career-high 96 ground balls as he helped the Bulldogs post an 11-3 overall record. Wingate allowed only 8.20 goals per game in 2008, ninth in the NCAA in scoring defense.
Schaller was named to the All-DSC tournament team in 2007 and 2008. During his Bulldog career, Schaller and his teammates won 40 games. Wingate has won or shared the Deep South Conference regular season title in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The Bulldogs won the DSC tournament crown in 2007.
Evan Schaller holds a 3.84 GPA with an Accounting major. Schaller spent the fall 2007 semester in London as part of the University’s Wingate-in-London program. He is an active member of the Bulldog campus community. Schaller has served as a tutor and a manager in Wingate’s Academic Resource Center, helping run the center and also tutoring students in accounting and religion. Schaller has also participated in the Up ‘til Dawn fund-raiser to benefit St. Jude’s Hospital.
Student-athletes selected for Academic All-District honors must be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials. They must possess at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.00 scale). They must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing and must have completed at least one full academic year at his institution.
The men’s at-large line-up for the Academic All-America® program includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling. There are four tennis student-athletes, three swimmers, two lacrosse student-athletes and one golfer on the 2009 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III at-large first team.
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,129 students, offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, international study, faith development, career discovery and community service.
Wingate offers 40 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physical education, physician assistant studies, sport administration and the doctor of pharmacy degree.
Bulldog student-athletes compete in 17 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past three years.
Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 31 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 40 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.
2009 ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT III
MEN’S AT-LARGE TEAM (COLLEGE DIVISION, AS SELECTED BY CoSIDA)
Carlos Bes Comeras, Embry-Riddle (Fla.), tennis
Harrison Brown, Emory (Ga.), swimming
Brian Creghan, Guilford, golf
Keith Diggs, Emory (Ga.), swimming
Will Keigler, Washington & Lee, lacrosse
Mason Norman, Wingate, swimming
Evan Schaller, Wingate, lacrosse
Bruno Seves, USC Aiken, tennis
David Sutton, Greensboro, tennis
Ben Taylor, Florida Southern, tennis