Murray Named Academic All-American

Lincoln -- Nebraska wrestler Matt Murray was named to the 2004 CoSIDA Academic All-American Men’s At-Large second team for the University Division on Tuesday. Murray becomes the third Husker to earn this honor, joining Ryan Tobin (first team, 1998) and Justin Ruiz (second team 2003).

Murray, a mathematics education major, has a 3.85 cumulative grade-point average. He was also named to the 2004 National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team and was a first-team academic All-Big 12 selection.

On the mat, Murray capped an outstanding junior season with a second-place finish at the NCAA Championships at 141 pounds. He finished the year with a 27-4 overall record, while also earning second-place finishes at the Big 12 Championships and the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. His performance helped the Huskers to a 19-3 dual record, a second-place finish at the conference meet and a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Championships.

The CoSIDA Academic All-America program honors 816 male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. 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, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.20 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/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 Division I, Division II, Division III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.

2004 CoSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA MEN’S AT LARGE UNIVERSITY DIVISION TEAM

Second Team

Name, Sport, School

Cl.

Hometown

Major

Attila Banhidy, Water Polo, California

Sr.

Eger, Hungary

Economics

Ben Birkmann, Tennis, Jacksonville

Jr.

Bremen, Germany

Finance

Yann Dannis, Ice Hockey, Brown

Sr.

St. Jerome, Can.

Business/Economics

Tim DeBlois, Lacrosse, Cornell

Sr.

Fayetteville, N.Y.

Economics

Billy Hurley, Golf, Navy

Sr.

Leesburg, Va.

Quantitative Economics

Chris Martin, Tennis, Illinois

Jr.

Tulsa, Okla.

Finance

Michael Miller, Rifle, Navy

Sr.

Albuquerque, N.M.

Aerospace Engineering

Matt Murray, Wrestling, Nebraska

Jr.

Colby, Kan.

Mathematics Education

Scott Paltrowitz, Tennis, Cornell

Sr.

Queensbury, N.Y.

Business Administration

Mike Polidor, Ice Hockey, Air Force

Sr.

Imperial, Pa.

Astro. Engineering

Tommy Rappold, Swimming, Clemson

Jr.

Roanoke, Va.

Computer Info. Systems

Luke Recker, Tennis, IUPUI

Sr.

Jasper, Ind.

Finance

Thomas Soberg, Tennis, High Point

Sr.

Sodra Sansby, Sweden

International Business

Tony Swanson, Swimming, Northwestern

Sr.

Coon Rapids, Minn.

Mechanical Engineering