Stanford stand-out Katie Ledecky and Michigan’s PJ Ransford are among the athletes highlighted by the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America Division I At-Large Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
Both Ledecky and Ransford were also selected as the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-America Team Members of the Year for the Division I at-large teams. The at-large teams featured in the Google Cloud Academic All-America program include fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, swimming & diving, water polo, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, and tennis.
CoSIDA explained how Ransford was selected as Team Member of the Year, stating in their official announcement,
“Ransford is a three-time Academic All-America® honoree, having earned first-team accolades the past two years. He is also a two-time NCAA Elite 90 Award recipient, a three-time College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) All-American and three-time CSCAA honorable mention All-American, and the 2016 Big Ten Conference champion in the 1,650-yard freestyle. He is a member of the 2017-18 U.S. National Team. Last month, he was chosen as one of University of Michigan’s recipients of the Big Ten Medal of Honor, as well as the Big Ten Postgraduate Scholarship. He graduated from Michigan in December with his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, having compiled a perfect 4.00 GPA.”
The organization continued by highlighting Ledecky’s numerous accomplishments,
“Ledecky is one of the most decorated swimmers in history, having earned five Olympic gold medals and 14 World Championship gold medals, as well as 14 USA Swimming national championships. She is the current world record holder in the 400-meter, 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle events, broke 11 American records, 15 NCAA records and six NCAA meet records during her collegiate career, and won eight NCAA titles, including 2018 crowns in the 500 free, 800 free relay and 1,650 free (setting an NCAA meet record in the latter event). A nine-time CSCAA All-American and 2017 recipient of the Honda-Broderick Cup and Honda Sport Award, Ledecky announced in March she will forego her final two years of NCAA athletic eligibility (while continuing her academic studies at Stanford) to pursue professional opportunities and train for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials after helping Stanford earn its second consecutive NCAA championship.”
A total of 45 men and 45 women were selected for the At-Large teams, with 11 men and 10 women representing swimming. One female water polo player as also selected.
CoSIDA Division I Academic All-America First Team:
- Laurent Bams (University of Alabama – Accounting)
- Robert Howard (University of Alabama – Accounting)
- Anton Ipsen (North Carolina State University – Industrial Engineering)
- Luke Kaliszak (University of Alabama – Pre-Med)
- Riley League (Davidson College – Philosophy/Economics)
- PJ Ransford (University of Michigan – Mechanical Engineering)
- Nele Albers (Fordham University – Computer Science)
- Ella Eastin (Stanford University – Human Biology)
- Katie Ledecky (Stanford University – Psychology)
- Hannah Moore (North Carolina State University – Nutrition Science)
- Sydney Zupan (Missouri State University – Cell & Molecular Biology)
CoSIDA Division I Academic All-America Second Team:
- Chris Cole (Southern Illinois University – Journalism)
- Caeleb Dressel (University of Florida – Natural Resource Conservation)
- Andreas Vazaios (North Carolina State University – Psychology)
- Alicia Finnigan (Liberty University – Interdisciplinary Studies)
- Makenzie Fischer (Stanford University – undeclared)
- Temarie Tomley (University of Alabama – Human Performance Exercise Science)
CoSIDA Division I Academic All-America Third Team:
- Marat Amaltdinov (Purdue University – Finance)
- Pawel Furtek (University of Southern California – Computer Engineering & Computer Science)
- Mitchell Petras (Louisiana State University – Petroleum Engineering)
- Sharli Brady (University of Missouri – Communication Sciences & Disorders)
- Bryn Handley (Southern Illinois University – Behavior Analysis & Therapy)
- Asia Seidt (University of Kentucky – Kinesiology)
CoSIDA contributed to this report.