June 12, 2007

Academic All-American Matt Silver (Photo by Kevin Colton)

GENEVA, N.Y.—Recent Hobart College graduate Matt Silver (Weston/Weston, Conn.) was named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Men’s At-Large Academic All-America second team. He is the first Hobart tennis student-athlete to earn Academic All-American honors, which are voted on by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Overall, Silver is just the 10th Statesman to be named an Academic All-American since Shawn Fazio ’81 became this first in baseball in 1979. Recognition for the academic success of Hobart’s student-athletes has been building momentum over the past four years. Including Silver, six Statesmen have graced the Academic All-America teams since 2003.

A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Silver earned a bachelor’s degree summa cum laude with honors in biology. He is a three-time Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Liberty League All-Academic pick.

On the court, Silver compiled a 45-31 career singles record, earning All-Liberty League Singles honors in 2004 and 2007. He also garnered a spot on the all-conference doubles team in 2005 and 2007.

To be eligible for the Academic All-America teams, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum 3.2 cumulative grade point average, be a starter or significant reserve, be at least a sophomore in academic standing, and be voted to one of the eight Academic All-District first teams.

Silver was selected the Academic All-District second teams in 2005 and 2006, before moving up to the first team this year.

CoSIDA selects Academic All-America teams in 12 programs: football, women’s volleyball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball, men’s track & field/cross country, women’s track & field/cross country, men’s at-large, and women’s at-large. A first team and second team are selected in both the University (Division I and I-AA) and College (Division II, III and NAIA) Divisions.