Bowling Green State University Athletics
Lefeld Named Academic All-American
February 28, 2007 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2007
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University senior center Matt Lefeld has been named third team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Lefeld, a native of Coldwater, Ohio, holds a 3.97 grade point average and is majoring in purchasing and supply chain management. He is the first Falcon athlete this year to earn Academic All-American accolades.
"I'm very humbled by this honor," said Lefeld. "I have had tremendous support from my family, Coach Dakich and my professors and have prided myself on giving the best effort I could on the court and in the classroom."
Lefeld, a two-time Academic All-MAC and CoSIDA All-District choice, is now listed as one of the top 15 scholar-athletes in all of Division I men's basketball. Slowed by foot problems which require hours of therapy to play or practice, he has started 16 games this season and averaged 3.0 points and 2.1 rebounds.
"Matt will be the best at whatever he does in life," said BGSU Coach Dan Dakich. "He absolutely is representative of what a student-athlete should be."
To be honored, a student-athletes must have a GPA above 3.2 and be a starter or important reserve.
Lefeld is just the fourth men's basketball player in the history of the program to be honored with this distinction. John Heft was an honorable mention pick in 1969, Joe Faine earned second team honors in 1980 and Steve Martenet was a third team choice in 1988. Over time, BGSU student-athletes have been named Academic All-American on 65 occasions.
ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men's Basketball Team
First Team
Graham Dow, Cornell, Sr., 3.99 Biology A.J. Graves, Butler, Jr., 3.39, Math Adam Halsuka, Iowa, Sr., 3.5, Finance/Marketing Lee Humphrey, Florida, Sr., 3.68, Exercise Physiology Joe Reitz, WEstern Michigan, 3.72, FinanceSecond Team
Jim Goffredo, Harvard, Sr., 3.45, Economics Justin Hare, Belmont, Jr., 3.85, Exercise Science Jack Leasure, Coastal Carolina, Jr., 3.76, History Jamaal Tatum, Southern Illinois, Sr., 3.57, Speech Anthony Tolliver, Creighton, Sr., 3.53, Finance Brett Winkelman, North Dakota State, So., 3.81, Industrial EngineeringThird Team
Chris Chalko, Elon, Graduate, 3.69, Doctor of Physical Therapy Matt Lefeld, BGSU, Sr., 3.97, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management Mike Schachtner, UW-Green Bay, So., 3.84, General Studies Rodney Stuckey, E. Washington, Jr., 3.34, Interdisciplinary Studies
