May 25, 2006

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech senior wrestler Mike Faust and senior swimmer Neil Savage were named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III men's at-large team, it was announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Faust was a first-team selection, while Savage was named to the second team.

Faust, who is majoring in management, holds a 3.42 grade point average. The heavyweight wrapped up his collegiate career with a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships, earning All-America honors. The Baltimore, Md., native posted a 37-8 overall record, including a 15-2 record in dual competition. For the second straight year, Faust went undefeated in regular season Atlantic Coast Conference competition, posting a 5-0 record in his senior campaign en route to being named ACC Wrestler of the Year. He also won his second consecutive individual heavyweight title at the 2006 ACC Championship.

Faust, as a first-team selection, will be placed on the national ballot for Academic All-AmericaÆ honors.

Savage earned a 3.93 grade point average majoring in marketing. At the ACC Championships, he finished 17^th in the 400 IM and 19^th in the 500 free. Savage also placed 24^th in the 200 breaststroke. The Roswell, Ga., native had his best outing of the season against UNC-Wilmington, winning the 200 free and 500 free. He also won the 500 free at West Virginia.

The at-large team consists of student-athletes that compete in various Olympic sports. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000 member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

To be eligible, student-athletes must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his or her current institution and be nominated by his or her sports information director. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.