Senior Niro Wimalasena Named to Capital One Academic All-America® Team
Capital One DIII Academic All-America® Men's Soccer Team
TOWSON, Md. – Case Western Reserve University senior defender Niro Wimalasena (Mason, Ohio/Mason) has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America® Men's Soccer Team, announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
A chemical engineering major with a 3.72 grade point average, Wimalasena earns third-team honors after earning first-team Academic All-District status in each of the past two seasons. The team captain started all 20 matches this season as the Spartans (15-5) captured the second University Athletic Association Championship in program history and advanced to the NCAA Championship Tournament Second Round. Wimalasena helped lead the team to eight shutouts and a 0.98 goals against average.
For his career, Wimalasena started a school-record 76 matches and was selected to the All-UAA Team in each of his four seasons.
The Capital One Academic All-America® Teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. To be eligible for Academic All-America® consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. Only student-athletes named to their respective Academic All-District First Team become eligible for Academic All-America® consideration.
Wimalasena becomes the first Case Western Reserve men's soccer player to earn the award since Kevin Bigart garnered second-team honors in 2007.
Since the program's inception, a total of 72 Case Western Reserve student-athletes have been named Academic All-American®. In 2010 and 2011, a combined 12 Spartans received Academic All-America® acclaim.
