College Sports Information Directors of America

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Nancy Marazzi (nancy.marazzi@millsport.com) Dick Lipe (rlipe@bentley.edu) Millsport LLC College Sports Information Directors of America (203) 977-0539 (781) 891-2334 NEBRASKA’S JEFF LEISE CATCHES THE TITLE OF VERIZON ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® BASEBALL TEAM MEMBER OF THE YEAR FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR Three members from Rice University were named to Baseball’s National Team. STAMFORD, Conn., May 27, 2003 – Verizon and the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced today that Jeff Leise, an outfielder for University of Nebraska, has been named the Baseball Academic All-America of the Year (University Division) for the second straight year. Leise, a three-time Academic All-America First Team selection, has led his Huskers team to their second Big 12 title in the past three years. Named as Nebraska’s Male Student Athlete of the Year, he ranks on Nebraska’s career top-10 list in triples, hits, runs scored and stolen bases. After being selected by the Anaheim Angels in the seventh round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft on June 4, Leise turned down an offer by the Angels to return to Nebraska for his senior year. “We are so proud of Jeff because of the work habits and dedication he has shown by not only being a great athlete, but a great student as well,” said Head Baseball Coach Mike Anderson of the University of Nebraska. “Jeff has that ability to push his teammates to a higher level with the example he sets both on and off the field. He sets the tone by holding himself to a high standard and expecting the same from his teammates. Jeff is everything you would want in a student-athlete and as a person.” Huskers teammate, Aaron Marsden, was also named to Baseball’s First Team. A pitcher, Marsden ranks second in the Big 12 with 83 strikeouts and third in the conference in ERA. The Huskers have shown as much success in the classroom as on the field this season. During the spring semester, 20 of the 39 players on the roster posted GPAs of 3.0 or better. Nebraska is seeded number one in their region for the NCAA Division I Baseball Championships. Also seeded number one in their region for the upcoming tournament, and number five for the tournament overall, Rice University had three players selected for the Verizon Academic All-America baseball teams. Second team member pitcher Wade Townsend and third team members catcher Jeff Blackinton and infielder Vincent Sinisi have helped the No.2-ranked Rice Owls to capture their seventh consecutive WAC championship. In the College Division, senior Kyle Foster of Emory University was named Baseball’s Team Member of the Year. A three-time national team member, Foster holds school career records in hits, doubles, triples and total bases. Batting .481 this season, Foster has led the Emory Eagles to the NCAA Division III World Series for the second time in four years. The college division first team included two athletes who have earned perfect 4.0 grade point averages during their collegiate career -- Wisconsin Whitewaters junior pitcher Brady Endl and Clarkson senior infielder Matt Macaulay. The complete list of student-athletes named to the Verizon Academic All-America Men’s Baseball Team is attached. The Verizon Academic All-America Teams program recognizes student-athletes who have succeeded on the field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected by votes from CoSIDA, the 1,800-member College Sports Information Directors of America. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Since the program’s inception in 1952, over 12,000 student-athletes have been honored with the award. Under an agreement with CoSIDA, Verizon has been the exclusive sponsor of the Academic All-America program since 1985. A Fortune 10 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 136.6 million access line equivalents and 33.3 million Verizon Wireless customers. Verizon is the third-largest long-distance carrier for U.S. consumers, with 13.2 million long-distance lines, and the company is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. With approximately $67 billion in annual revenues and 227,000 employees, Verizon's global presence extends to the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com. For more information about the Academic All-America programs, visit www.cosida.com or email academicallamerica@millsport.com. 2002-2003 VERIZON ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® BASEBALL TEAM (UNIVERSITY DIVISION) FIRST TEAM PS. NAME SCHOOL YR HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR P Aaron Marsden Nebraska Jr. Grand Forks, N.D. 3.95/Business Administration P Jon Stallsmith Furman Sr. Fox Point, Wis. 3.93/Spanish,History C Ryan Schmidt Columbia So. Racine, Wis. 3.53/Biology IF Ryan Bear Central Florida Sr. Panama City, Fla. 3.72/Management IF Ross Bennett Baylor Sr. Cape Girardeau, Mo. 3.74/Biology, Pre-Dental IF Erick Streelman Nevada Jr. Bellflower, Calif. 3.98/Secondary Education IF Dustin Young New Mexico Sr. Albuquerque, N.M. 3.61/General Management OF Jordan Foster Lamar Jr. Arlington, Texas 3.76/Accounting OF Jeff Leise ** Nebraska Sr. Omaha, Neb. 3.79/Psychology OF Josh Phifer Air Force Sr. Torrington, Wyo. 3.87/Operations Research DH Sean Wilson Duquesne Sr. Fox Chapel, Pa. 3.62/Elementary Education SECOND TEAM PS. NAME SCHOOL YR HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR P Michael Srp Texas- Sr. Boerne, Texas 4.00/Finance, Construction San Antonio Management P Wade Townsend Rice So. Dripping Springs, TX 3.72/History, Economics, Managerial Studies C Tim Marks Butler Sr. Kankakee, Ill. 3.75/Biology IF James Burt Miami (Fla.) Sr. Allendale, N.J. 3.82/Finance IF Spencer Harris Virginia Tech Sr. Louisa, Ky. 3.89/Nutrition, Foods and Exercise IF Billy Hess Columbia Sr. Casselberry, Fla. 3.34/Psychology IF Steve Sollmann Notre Dame Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio 3.26/Marketing OF Beau Hearod Alabama Sr. Jennings, La. 3.62/Finance OF Mark Johnson Wichita State Jr. Andover, Kan. 4.00/Mechanical Engineering OF Troy Shelby Western Illinois Sr. Fairview, Ill. 3.94/Agriculture DH Bryan Erstad Wichita State Jr. Jamestown, N.D. 3.56/Business Administration THIRD TEAM PS. NAME SCHOOL YR HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR P J.P. Gagne Notre Dame Sr. Bloomington, Minn. 3.35/Finance P Thomas Pauly Princeton Jr. Atlantic Beach, Fla. 3.53/Chemical Engineering C Jeff Blackinton Rice Jr. Bainbridge Island, Wa. 3.72/Biochemistry IF Brooks Colvin SW Missouri St. Jr. O’Fallon, Ill. 3.91/Finance IF Mike DeRenzo Penn State Gr. Murrysville, Pa. 3.78/Computer Engineering IF James Nowicki Ball State Jr. Highland, Mich. 3.97/Pre-Medical IF Vincent Sinisi Rice So. The Woodlands, Tex. 3.36/Kinesiology OF Tom Beechem Dayton Jr. Park Hills, Ky. 3.99/Mechanical Engineering OF Clint King Southern Miss Jr. Brandon, Miss. 3.77/Accounting OF Josh McCurdy Niagara Sr. Thorn Hill, Ontario 3.31/Computer Science DH Mitch Walk William & Mary Jr. Staunton, Va. 3.67/Business, Finance ** Denotes Verizon Academic All-AmericaÒ Team Member of the Year – University Division 2002-2003 VERIZON ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® BASEBALL TEAM (COLLEGE DIVISION) FIRST TEAM PS. NAME SCHOOL YR HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR P Brady Endl Wisconsin-Whitewater Jr. Jefferson, Wis. 4.00/Business, Economics P Joe Neal Central Oklahoma Sr. Chickasha, Okla. 3.90/Accounting C Eric Cummins Missouri-Rolla Sr. Freeport, Ill. 3.72/Engineering Management IF Eric Bell George Fox Sr. Spokane, Wash. 3.83/Business Marketing IF Kevin Culp Westminster Sr. Canfield, Ohio 3.89/Mathematics IF Bryce Gardiner Western Oregon Sr. Sisters, Ore. 3.88/Computer Science IF Matt Macaulay Clarkson Sr. Massena, N.Y. 4.00/Accounting OF Jason Cloar Rollins Sr. Ormond Beach, Fla. 3.59/Political Science OF Kyle Foster ** Emory Sr. Huntington, W.Va. 3.82/Chemistry & Computer Science OF Matt Moore Rose-Hulman Jr. Evansville, Ind. 3.34/Chemical Engineering DH Bramer Owens McMurry Jr. Plano, Texas 3.98/Marketing & Finance SECOND TEAM PS. NAME SCHOOL YR HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR P Peter Dean Washington and Lee Jr. Vienna, Va. 3.61/Pre-Med P Brandon Roznovsky St. Mary’s (Texas) Jr. Shiner, Texas 3.72/Accounting C Jeremy Knicely Longwood Sr. Elkton, Va. 3.53/Business Administration IF Eric Cirella Salve Regina Jr. Jamestown, R.I. 3.87/Business Administration IF Luke Klinker Nebraska Wesleyan Sr. Omaha, Neb. 3.98/English & History IF Brendan Rokke Southwest State Jr. Tracy, Minn. 3.96/Psychology IF Josh Stratman Emporia State Sr. Omaha, Neb. 3.50/Communications OF Ryan Alexander Muskingum Sr. Adena, Ohio 3.60/Early Childhood Education OF Ashley Farr South Carolina-Aiken Jr. West Columbia, S.C. 3.49/Communications OF Joshua Sargent George Fox Jr. Oak Harbor, Wash. 3.48/Accounting, Finance DH Rob Daggett Elmhurst Sr. Meridian, Miss. 3.33/Finance & Economics THIRD TEAM PS. NAME SCHOOL YR HOMETOWN GPA/MAJOR P Evan Weinstein Longwood Jr. Toronto, Ontario 4.00/Business Administration P Anthony Zambotti Indiana (Pa.) Sr. Shelocta, Pa. 3.30/Computer Science C Bob Ritter Pittsburgh-Johnstown Sr. Johnstown, Pa. 3.64/Mechanical Engineering Tech. INF Kyle Butt Winona State Sr. Appleton, Wis. 3.75/Marketing, Business Admin. INF Mike Calano Tusculum So. Suwanee, Ga. 3.95/Undeclared INF Tom Carroll St. Thomas Sr. Sioux City, Iowa 3.22/Biology, Business INF Ryan Joy Pacific (Ore.) Sr. Olympia, Wash. 3.53/Computer Science INF David Yount Wingate Jr. Forest City, N.C. 3.53/Sport Management OF Jason Longo SUNY Inst. of Tech. Gr. Utica, N.Y. 3.55/Business OF Mike Milstead Cal State Dominguez Sr. Murrieta, Calif. 3.70/Physical Education Hills OF Noah Welte Thomas More So. Maysville, Ky. 3.90/History DH Jesse Gregory Kenyon Sr. Gainesville, Fla. 3.63/Physics & Economics ** Denotes Verizon Academic All-AmericaÒ Team Member of the Year – College Division