Tufts Tops in Academic All Americans

(7/6/2009)

In a press release by the USTFCCCA, eight Jumbo men were named to the 2009 Academic All American Track & Field Team is spring. No other school in the nation had more. Tufts shared top billing with the Claremont-Mudd Scripps Colleges who also posted eight Academic All Americans to the 2009 squad. Over the past four years, the Tufts men\'s XC and Track & Field programs have been honored with 43 Academic All American spots.

Seniors, James Bradley (High Jump), Phil Rotella (DMR), and Skip Pagel (Decathlon) were joined by Jesse Faller (5k, DMR), Nick Welch (5k), Scott Brinkman (DMR), Billy Hale (DMR), and Jared Engelking (Decathlon) on this years team.

This award represents these athletes ability to excel both in and out of the classroom. Tufts and schools like Tufts require a difficult balance between athletics and academics which make the successes of these student/athletes all the more impressive. Their achievements in the classroom and on the track are only overshadowed by the leadership and work ethic that they display on a daily basis.

It is the position of this coach that this, less sought after, award should be held in much higher esteem than a mere All American certificate. An Academic All American from a school like Tufts has the mind, body, and determination to do just about anything they set themselves towards. Best of luck to our graduating seniors and I can\'t wait to see what the returning Jumbos will do for their encore season.