June 7, 2012

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - Three Patriot Leaguers earned Capital One Academic All-America distinction in at-large sports, it was announced Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). One student-athlete earned first-team distinction, while two were named to the third team.

Army junior Brendan Buckley was the sole student-athlete to capture first-team laurels from CoSIDA with his placement on the men's side. He was joined by Colgate junior Jim Queeney, who earned placement on the third team. Both Buckley and Queeney play men's lacrosse.

On the women's side, Navy women's lacrosse junior Jasmine DePompeo garnered third-team recognition.

The Capital One Academic All-America at-large program includes the sports of fencing, bowling, rowing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming and diving, tennis, water polo and wrestling.

Buckley, the Patriot League Men's Lacrosse Scholar-Athlete of the Year, owns a 3.99 cumulative GPA while majoring in engineering management at the United States Military Academy. A native of Massapequa, N.Y., Buckley finished the season leading the Patriot League with 2.0 caused turnovers per game, and emerged this spring as the Black Knights' leading close defenseman. He logged a career-high five caused turnovers in Army's thrilling 6-5 win at Bucknell in double overtime April 7, a victory that began the Black Knights' push to the No. 3 seed in the League Tournament.

Queeney was the only junior captain of the Colgate men's lacrosse team that captured its first NCAA Tournament victory with a 13-11 decision May 12 at sixth-seeded Massachusetts. The Reading, Mass., native owns a 4.15 GPA studying mathematics, and posted two goals, 29 ground balls and nine caused turnovers in 18 games this season, all starts.

DePompeo finished the season with League-highs in assists (47) and points (92) while guiding the Navy women's lacrosse team to its third straight League title. The Mids advanced to the NCAA Tournament after winning a play-in game for the third consecutive season before falling 14-7 at No. 5 North Carolina in the first round. DePompeo, a junior from Sayville, N.Y., has a 3.38 GPA in political science. She scored four goals and tallied an assist for a team-high five points in the loss to the Tar Heels.

Thursday's announcement brings the Patriot League's total to eight Academic All-America selections for the 2011-12 academic year, with five earning first-team honors.

Two student-athletes from Patriot League schools competing in non-League sports were also recognized Thursday. Junior Ryan Leets of the Army men's ice hockey team was named to the second team, while Lehigh junior wrestler Robert Hamlin was a third-team selection.

To be eligible for Academic All-America consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, III and NAIA, covering all NCAA championship sports.

For more information about the Academic All-America® Teams program, visit www.cosida.com.