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Augsburg's Ryan Valek named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American

June 13, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS -- For the second year in a row, Augsburg College wrestler Ryan Valek (Sr., Belle Plaine, Minn./Scott West) was named to the 2006 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division Men's At-Large Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), it was announced on Tuesday.

A third-team selection last year, Valek was one of 15 student-athletes named to the first team this year. A total of 48 male student-athletes were named to the three Academic All-America teams.

A three-time All-American wrestler for the Auggies, Valek repeated his individual national runner-up finish at Valek Action165 pounds in the 2005-06 season, finishing 41-4. His lone losses on the season came to a defending Division I All-American, the 2006 Division II national champion and the 2006 Division III national champion. Valek had a 28-match winning streak during the season.

Valek also finished second nationally in 2004-05 with a 34-7 record, while finishing seventh nationally in 2003-04 with a 38-10 record. He finished his career with a 133-39 record, accumulating 39 pins, four technical falls and 20 major decisions, and was a part of Auggie teams that won a national title in 2004-05, while finishing second twice (2002-03, 2003-04) and third this season.

Academically, Valek is an accounting major with a 3.74 grade-point average. He earned National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Scholar All-America honors in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and was named an Augsburg Senior Honor Athlete (the highest honor Augsburg gives senior student-athletes) in 2006. Valek was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V first team for the second year in a row in May.

Since 1981, Augsburg student-athletes have earned 18 Academic All-America honors from CoSIDA, including seven first-team selections. Valek is the fourth Auggie to ever earn two Academic All-America honors, joining Josh Cagle (wrestling, 1999-2000), Scott Hvistendahl (football, 1997-98) and Karen Sterner (women's track and field, 1986-87).

The ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America program is administered by CoSIDA. Top student-athletes from non-Division I programs, who have already earned Academic All-District first-team honors, are eligible for inclusion on the team. Student-athletes must have a grade-point average above 3.20 (4.0 scale) and have outstanding athletic credentials. The Academic All-America ballot is voted on by a committee of CoSIDA members. The men's at-large team awards student-athletes in 12 sports -- golf, rifle, volleyball, gymnastics, skiing, water polo, fencing, ice hockey, swimming, wrestling, lacrosse and tennis.

From other Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference schools, joining Valek on the first team were Gustavus Adolphus senior tennis player Roy Bryan, and St. John's senior hockey player Adam Hanna. St. Cloud State senior tennis player Tony Larson was also named to the first team in the College Division.

In the University Division (Division I schools), Minnesota senior swimmer Travis Beckerle was named to the first team, along with Minnesota State Mankato junior hockey player David Backes.

Photo courtesy augsburg.edu