Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior cross country student-athlete David Sanctis (Charlotte, N.C.) has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III track & field/cross country first team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Sanctis earns Academic All-District III for the first time in his Bulldog career.

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. The 12 first team selections advance to the national ballot for 2010 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® honors.

Sanctis is a two-time All-South Atlantic Conference performer, charting in the top 12 in the 2008 and 2009 league meets. In 2009, he earned three top 10 finishes. At Wingate’s athletic awards ceremony, Sanctis received the men’s cross country Coaches’ Award. His top 2009 times included a 27:31 8K and a 35:10 10K.

In 2008, the South Mecklenburg High School product posted five top 10 finishes. His best 2008 times were a 27:20 8K and a career-best 34:42 10K. In 2007, he posted a career-best 8K time of 27:11 at the Food Lion SAC meet. At the 2007 NCAA Division II regional meet, he ran a 35:09. In 2006, his top 8K time was 28:45, while he ran a 38:36 10K.

“David improved tremendously from his freshman year to his senior year,” Wingate head coach Dr. Dennis Johnson says. “He turned into the leader on the team (by the end of his career).”

Sanctis holds a 3.49 GPA. A Finance major, he graduated during Wingate’s May Commencement Exercises. During the summer of 2009, he did an internship with international investment banking & brokerage firm MorganStanley SmithBarney. Sanctis participated in Wingate’s Undergraduate Research Symposium in 2009.

A member of the Phi Eta Sigma national honor society, Sanctis was also active in campus life. He was involved in Wingate’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Sanctis was also a member of the Bulldog Running Club.

Student-athletes selected for ESPN The Magazine 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 or her institution.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a private four-year co-educational institution of 2,159 students offering active learning opportunities through personalized instruction, world travel, career discovery and community service.

Wingate offers 34 undergraduate majors in arts and sciences, business, communication, education, fine arts, music and sport sciences. It also offers graduate degrees in business, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration. In addition, the school awards the doctor of pharmacy and the doctor of education degrees.

Bulldog student-athletes compete in 19 NCAA Division II sports. Wingate University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past four years.

Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 34 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 43 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.

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2010 ESPN THE MAGAZINE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT III 
MEN’S TRACK & FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
(COLLEGE DIVISION, AS SELECTED BY CoSIDA)

FIRST TEAM
Steve Dry, Emory (Ga.)
Russell Snyder, Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Orolando Duffus, Saint Augustine’s
Ricky Flynn, Lynchburg
Henry Melius, Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
Tommy Fyffe, Emory (Ga.)
Alex Greenhouse, Emory (Ga.)
Christopher Copeland, Saint Augustine’s
Ben Joslin, Flagler
Alex Robin, Emory (Ga.)
Greg Decker, Emory (Ga.)
David Sanctis, Wingate