Academic honors
Binghamton University ties for second in Academic Cup
Binghamton recorded its highest full-year GPA in 15 years of America East membership (3.21), tying for second in the Academic Cup standings, which were released Thursday by the conference.
The Bearcats shared second-place with Hartford behind Cup winner New Hampshire (3.23). The second-place showing in the Academic Cup standings, combined with BU’s third-place finish in the Commissioner’s Cup, gave the Bearcats the highest combined ranking of any America East school in the two primary metrics for success. No other conference school finished among the top three in each category.
Men’s soccer has highest GPA in America East
The Binghamton men’s soccer team, which is coming off a trip to the 2015 America East title game, continues to be cited for its accomplishments in the classroom. On Thursday, the conference announced that the Bearcats posted a 3.27 GPA for the 2015-16 academic year – the highest among its seven men’s soccer programs.
Binghamton has now posted the top America East GPA in men’s soccer seven times since 2004. During that same stretch, the Bearcats have reached at least the conference finals six times.
Women’s lacrosse has highest GPA in America East
The Binghamton women’s lacrosse team has been recognized for its academic accomplishments by the America East. Last week the conference announced that the Bearcats posted a 3.32 GPA for the 2015-16 academic year—the highest among its seven women’s lacrosse programs.
The Bearcats have now posted the top America East GPA in women’s lacrosse five times in program history. The team earned the distinction in its inaugural season (2002), and then again in 2003, 2011, and 2013.
Binghamton is also in position to be recognized by the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) as an Academic Honor Squad. The Bearcats have previously earned that distinction seven times in the last eleven seasons. All NCAA women’s lacrosse programs that attain at least a 3.0 GPA or higher earn Academic Honor Squad status. The IWLCA will formally announce its honorees at a later date.
Women’s tennis player Dimuro honored by America East for academics
Annie DiMuro of women’s tennis has been named a 2015-16 America East Spring Scholar-Athlete. The junior was the representative for women’s tennis in the conference.
DiMuro is from Chester, New Jersey. In her junior season, she went 10-8 at #2 singles. The Bearcats won a match at the America East Championship for the second straight year.
She has a 3.52 grade point average while majoring in geography. DiMuro also earned America East Women’s Tennis All-Academic Team recognition for this season. She attended the NCAA Career in Sports Forum in Indianapolis last month.
Volleyball receives national academic award
Binghamton volleyball was recognized with an American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2015-16 school year. The Bearcats compiled a 3.36 team grade point average this year.
From the AVCA website:
“The award, which was initiated in the 1992-93 academic year, honors collegiate and high school volleyball teams that displayed excellence in the classroom during the school year by maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative team grade-point average on a 4.0 scale or a 4.10 cumulative team GPA on a 5.0 scale.”
Coach Glenn Kiriyama’s squad had nine student-athletes pick up Binghamton AD Honor Roll certificates between the fall and spring semesters. BU was one of 131 Division I programs to be honored this year. Four America East schools were recognized.
On the court, the Bearcats advanced to the America East Championship for the sixth time in eight seasons. Sarah Ngo and Gabby Alicea were both named Second Team All-Conference.
Men’s tennis repeats academic success
Binghamton men’s tennis has extended its longstanding tradition of academic achievement. The 2015-16 Bearcats were cited by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) with a Team Academic Award (3.2 and above GPA) - the eighth straight year they met the elite national standard.
In addition, Thomas Caputo, Frenk Kote and Ludovico Cestarollo all were named to the All-Academic Team for their lofty schoolwork (3.5 or higher GPA).
“We are proud to be named an ITA All Academic Team yet again,” head coach Nick Zieziula said. “The halmark of our entire athletics department is to succeed in the classroom and on the court and our current roster is doing a great job of carrying that tradition on. Our academic advising team, and especially Heather Miller, has done a great job in supporting our student athletes in their academic pursuits.”
The Bearcats as a team posted a 3.36 mark during the compeition semester in the spring.
A total of 40 men’s tennis players have been honored by the ITA in the last seven years.
Women’s lacrosse earns national academic honor
The Binghamton women’s lacrosse team was named an Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Collegiate Association (IWLCA) Zag Sports Academic Honor Squad for the 2015-16 school year. The Bearcats were one of 93 Division I programs recognized by the organization.
To qualify for Academic Honor Squad status, a team must compile at least a 3.0 GPA.
The Bearcats have received the IWLCA’s distinction eight times since 2005, including three times under Coach Stephanie Allen.
BU won six games in 2016, as the team broke numerous program records.
Track & field teams receive academic recognition
The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA) has announced its academic awards for the 2015-16 season and Binghamton is well represented. Both the Bearcat men’s and women’s teams earned All-Academic Team honors while senior pole vaulter Joe Miceli received the individual All-Academic accolade for the second time in his career.
In order to qualify for the USTFCCCA Team Academic Award, a program must have maintained at least a 3.00 GPA during the entire academic year. Binghamton’s men’s team attained a 3.27 while the women had a 3.44 GPA. This marks the third straight year that both Bearcat squads have earned All-Academic honors.
To qualify for All-Academic honors as an individual, a student athlete must have compiled a cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have either been ranked among the top 96 of an event during the indoor season or have competed at the Regional Meet during the outdoor campaign. Miceli, who also named All-Academic in 2014, placed 21st in the pole vault at the NCAA East Regional Meet in May.
During the outdoor track season, Miceli swept both the decathlon and pole vault at the America East championships and was named the Men’s Most Outstanding Field Athlete. During the indoor campaign, he was the runner up in the pole vault and won the heptathlon at the conference meet.
In the classroom, Miceli earned All-Academic honors from the America East during both the indoor and outdoor seasons. In addition, he earned the conference’s Elite 18 award at the conclusion of its indoor championships, for his academic and athletic accomplishments.
Miceli, who has one more season of eligibility remaining, is just the second Binghamton athlete to have earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors twice during their career. Rory Quiller was chosen in 2005 and 2007.