TC’s Tony Swaminathan Named to Verizon Academic All-America College Division Men’s Soccer Team

STAMFORD, Conn. --- Tusculum College's Tony Swaminathan has been named to the 2002 Verizon Academic All-America College Division Men's Soccer Second Team announced today in voting by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Swaminathan, a senior goalkeeper from Brampton, Ontario, Canada, becomes the first Pioneer men's soccer player and the third Tusculum student-athlete to earn Academic All-America honors.

Swaminathan, a four-year starter in goal, joins former TC women's tennis standout Pam Holt and cross country runner Heather Rhoton as the only Pioneers to garner Academic All-America status. Holt was named to the Academic All-America Second Team last year, while Rhoton received Third Team honors in 1999.

Swaminathan has a 3.63 cumulative grade point average majoring in Physical Education. He is a three-time member of the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll and the Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll while also serving as team captain. Earlier this month, he garnered Verizon All-District IV First Team recognition.

He led the best defense in NCAA Division II, with his 0.61 goals against average and 10 shutouts. His GAA was the best in the South Atlantic Conference and is currently 11th overall in the country. Tony's 10 shutouts also established new school single-season record. He was named to the All-SAC First Team and was selected to the SAC All-Tournament squad for a second time in his career.

Swaminathan and the Pioneers had one of their best seasons in school history with a 17-3-1 record and captured their first SAC regular season championship.

His 1.64 career GAA was the second best defensive tally in school history and 11th best ever in the conference. Swaminathan also recorded 339 saves in his 71-match career, which are second on the Tusculum all-time list.

The Verizon Academic All-America Teams are selected by a vote of the 1,800-member CoSIDA. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Sports information directors nominate eligible athletes from their schools who are named to district teams prior to being voted upon the national level.