Hempstead, NY - Hofstra All-American wrestler Lou Ruggirello has been named to the 2011 Capital One Academic All-District I men's at-large first team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced. The senior, who graduated from Hofstra in ceremonies Sunday, will now advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot.

Ruggirello, who won his second Colonial Athletic Association Scholar-Athlete of the Year award in April after receiving the honor in 2009, is both a four-time CAA champion and NCAA qualifier at 133 pounds. He earned his first All-America award this year by placing seventh at the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia in March. A senior majoring in finance, the Walden, New York native is a four-time CAA Commissioner's Academic Award recipient and a five-year member of the Hofstra Athletics Academic Honor Roll.

Ruggirello is a two-time (2008-09) member of the National Wrestling Coaches Association All-Academic Team. He posted a 32-5 overall record in 2010-11 including a 17-1 mark in dual matches with 13 wins by fall. In his Pride career, Ruggirello finished second on the Hofstra all-time career victory list with a 131-26 record including a 72-7 mark in duals.

The Academic All-America® program has honored thousands of student-athletes since its inception in 1952. It encompasses all sports in which the NCAA conducts championships. There are separate teams selected in football, women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball and men's and women's track and cross-country. For student-athletes in other sports, such as wrestling, lacrosse, swimming, tennis, golf, hockey, they are eligible for the men's and women's at-large programs.

The Academic All-District teams (in eight geographic districts) are voted on by the CoSIDA membership at large, with First Team selections advancing to the national Capital One Academic All-America® ballot. At that point, First Team, Second Team and Third Team Academic All-America® performers are chosen by the Academic All-America Committee members and CoSIDA Board of Directors.

Currently, a Capital One Academic All-America® University Division (NCAA Division I participants) team and a College Division team (combining NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, Canadian, and two-year schools) are selected for each sport category. Beginning with the 2011-12 academic year, this national program will grow to four programs - with NCAA Division I, Division II and Division III teams and a separate College Division program combining NAIA, Canadian and two-year school honorees.

The Capital One Academic All-America® Program is a highly selective scholar-athlete honor. Approximately 1,950 of the 12,000 student-athletes nominated annually receive "First-Team Academic All-District" honors, and only 820 currently gain the prestigious Capital One Academic All-America® honor; of those 820, only 288 earn prestigious Academic All-America® First Team accolades.

The College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA, www.CoSIDA.com), now in its 55th year as an organization, was founded in 1957-making it the second oldest management association in intercollegiate athletics. Today, it is a vibrant 2,700-plus member national association comprised of the sports public relations, communications and information professionals throughout all levels of collegiate athletics in the United States and Canada.

2011 Capital One Academic All-District I Men's At-Large Team

District 1 Winners
University Division
FIRST TEAM
Kuba Kotynia SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY  Sr. Lodz, Poland 3.94 Math and Computer Science
Sven Vloedgraven BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY Sr. Lochem, Netherlands 3.83 Accounting
Ali Arat FORDHAM UNIVERSITY  Gr. Istanbul, Turkey 3.80 Business
Eric Packer DARTMOUTH COLLEGE  Jr. Anchorage, Alaska 3.86 Engineering
John Galloway SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY  Sr. Syracuse, N.Y. 3.56 Public Relations
Jay Laing U.S. MILITARY ACADEMY  Sr. Columbus, Ohio 3.92 International Relations
Johnathan Falcone YALE UNIVERSITY  Sr. Flemington, N.J. 3.79 Economics
Chase Polacek RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC Inst. Sr. Edina, Minn. 3.44 Bus. & Mgmt.
Lou Ruggirello HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY  Sr. Walden, NY 3.51 Finance
Mike Daly HOLY CROSS, COLLEGE OF THE  Jr. South Burlington, Vt. 3.83 Economics