July 14, 2003
Poughkeepsie, NY - Marist College junior tennis player Viktor Sapezhnikov (Brooklyn, NY) became the first student-athlete in Marist College history to earn First Team All-America honors, when he was named to the Verizon/CoSida At-Large Academic All-America First Team. Sapezhnikov becomes the third student-athlete this year, and fifth all-time, to earn Academic All-America honors, joining David Bennett (2003 - Basketball 2nd Team), Jenny Shanks (2002- Soccer 3rd Team), Amanda Koldjeski (2000 - Softball 2nd Team) and Gregg Chodkowski (1995 - Basketball 3rd Team)
A graduate of Brooklyn Poly Prep, Sapezhnikov has helped the Red Foxes to three of their five consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Titles and the ensuing NCAA Tournament appearances. This year, Sapezhnikov helped the Red Foxes post a school-record setting 22 wins en route to the conference title. He posted a 20-3 record at number five singles, while also earning 18 wins in doubles play. Over his three years, Sapezhnikov has won 67 singles matches for the Red Foxes.
A business major at Marist College, Sapezhnikov recently received news that he has been selected to attend London School of Economics, one of the most prestigious business schools in the world during the 2003-04 academic year. He will have one year of tennis eligibility remaining, and plans to compete for the Red Foxes again in the 2004-05 season.
Sapezhnikov became eligible for the national All-America Team when he was named First Team All-District on May 22nd. The Collegiate Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) are responsible for voting the All-Academic Teams, based on athletic and academic achievements of the athletes. To earn selection to the Verizon Academic All-America Team, a student-athlete must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better, be a starter or significant reserve and have completed at least one full academic year at the school. The nominees are then voted on by the Sports Information Directors of the Region, with the top choices being made eligible for national honors. District I encompasses all Division I schools located in New York State and the New England states. The regional First Team selections then become eligible for the national team, selected by the national committee.
The at-large team encompasses those athletes who compete in the following sports: swimming and diving, tennis, rowing, lacrosse, fencing, wrestling, and volleyball.
