PC’s Belknap, TC’s Swaminathan, Hanger Named to Verizon Academic All District College Division Men’s Soccer Teams

CLINTON, SC - Presbyterian College junior Doug Belknap (Chattanooga, Tenn,) has been named to the Verizon Academic All-District III College Division Men's Soccer first team announced today.

The 11-member first team is selected by voting members of the Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) in the district. Each member of the first team will now represent the district on the Verizon Academic All-American ballot.

In the classroom, Belknap carries a 3.93 GPA while triple majoring in Physics, Math, and Computer Science. He has named to the school's Dean's List (3.2 GPA) for one semester, the school's President's List (4.0 GPA) for four consecutive semesters and named to the South Atlantic Academic Honor Roll for two straight years. In addition, he was named to the Verizion Academic All-District III team last year.

On the field, he has tallied one assist this season while leading the Blue Hose defense which ranks in the top half of the South Atlantic Conference in scoring defense.

The Blue Hose, under the direction of third-year head coach Bret Boulware, has a 8-8-0 overall record, a second place finish in the South Atlantic Conference regular season, and will play in the semifinals of the Food Lion/SAC men's soccer Tournament this weekend in Greeneville, Tenn.

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Swaminathan, Hanger Named Academic All-District IV

STAMFORD, Conn. --- Tusculum College's Tony Swaminathan and Scott Hanger have been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-District IV Men's Soccer College Division team announced officials Thursday morning. Swaminathan was named the All-District First Team goalkeeper while Hanger garnered Second Team honors as a defender.

Swaminathan, a senior from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, has been a four-year starter in goal and is having his best season in 2002. He currently leads the South Atlantic Conference in goals against average allowing just 0.62 per outing, which is also one of the best in NCAA Division II. His nine shutouts this year are a new Tusculum single-season record and his GAA is also on pace to set new school marks.

Swaminathan has a 3.63 cumulative grade point average majoring in Physical Education. He is a three-time member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll while also serving as team captain.

Hanger, a 6-2 senior defender from Underwood, Australia, is a three-time All-Conference selection and has been named to the All-Region squad on two occasions. Hanger was the 2000 SAC Men's Soccer Player of the Year and last season was selected as SAC Scholar Athlete of the Year. He has been the anchor of the Tusculum defense that has accounted for a school record 12 shutouts this season and a team 0.57 GAA, which is ranked in the top 10 in the country. Hanger has recorded seven goals and five assists for the Pioneers, including one match-winner.

He has accumulated a 3.66 grade point average with a double major in Biology and Environmental Science. Hanger is a three-time member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

Hanger and Swaminathan have led Tusculum to a 16-2-1 record while capturing their first-ever South Atlantic Conference regular season title. TC is also ranked 20th in the nation and are the top-seed in this weekend's Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament, being held at Tusculum College.

Swaminathan advances to the Verizon Academic All-America ballot, which will be announced later this month. The Verizon Academic All-District team is selected by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America from institutions within District IV, which includes the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee.