ERIE, Pa. – Mercyhurst College linebacker
Bryan Boyce and senior tight end
Josh Szeluga were named a CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District II selections while sophomore defensive back
Ian Wild was named to the Second Team, as announced today by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Boyce and Szeluga now move on to the national ballot in consideration for Academic All-America honors. For Boyce, this is the second consecutive season he will be on the national ballot after earning an Academic All-America certificate a year ago, becoming the first Laker to accomplish the feat since Tom Brediger received an honorable mention nod in 1998.
Of the three linebackers named to the list, Boyce owns the highest grade point average with a 3.83 grade point average in biology. The first semester graduate student has started 25 contests for the Lakers during his tenure and ranks 23rd all-time on the Mercyhurst list with 201 career tackles, 11 shy of overtaking 19th-place heading into this season’s finale at West Chester. Currently, the Hubbard, Ohio native ranks eighth on the team with 31 stops, including seven tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Another All-Region repeat honoree, Szeluga owns a 3.52 GPA in business. The Cheektowaga, N.Y. product was a Second Team selection a year ago and will make his first appearance on the national ballot. The senior has had a very successful career for the Lakers, collecting team highs in receptions (42) and yards (476) while posting a shared-high in receiving touchdowns (3). His spotlight year has helped him climb the all-time lists in receptions and receiving yards, ranking fourth with 115 catches and sixth with 1,370 yards.
Representing the Lakers on the Second Team, Wild owns a 3.90 GPA in international business and has been a two-year starter for the Mercyhurst defense. He will start his 18th career game this Saturday and currently ranks second on the squad in tackles (68) while leading the unit in forced fumbles. The Pittsburgh, Pa. native tied for the highest GPA among defensive backs on either the First or Second Team and was one of just six sophomores to earn recognition on either team as well.
The trio is among 15 student-athletes selected to the list from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, including six to the First Team. Additionally, Mercyhurst is the only PSAC member to have two student-athletes advancing to the national ballot.
The Region II college division is composed of all NCAA Division II, III, NAIA and junior colleges in Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. The teams are selected by vote of the regions sports information directors. In order to be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore with a 3.3 grade point average or higher.
For a complete listing of all CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine University and College Division All-District honorees, please click
here.