Courtesy Plymouth State Sports Information

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – One of the stars of Plymouth State University's men's ice hockey team has been recognized nationally for his successful achievements in the classroom as well as on the ice, earning one of the highest academic awards in college athletics.

Senior Kyle Greco (Hillside, Ill./Fenwick) has been named to the Capital One Academic All-America Division III Men's At-Large First Team (as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America/ CoSIDA).  Greco was a Capital One Academic All-America Third Team selection last year and is a two-rime Capital One Academic All-District First Team choice.

 A three-year veteran for the Panthers, Greco is a two-time Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) First Team All-Star. He led the team this season with 14 goals and finished second with 28 points, helping the Panthers to their second consecutive MASCAC regular season championship.  The two-year Panther assistant captain was also a two-time finalist for the Concannon Award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston, given to the top American-born Division II/III player in New England.

 A three-time selection to the MASCAC All-Academic Team, Greco is a Business Administration major and has been named to the PSU President's List every semester at PSU (after transferring from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point).  He assists with the local youth hockey program, and he was part of a student group that placed 2nd out of 15 teams in an Apprenticeship Business program.

 Greco becomes the third student-athlete from Plymouth State to earn two Academic All-America honors from CoSIDA, joining men's soccer player Paul Andrew in 1995 and 1996 and skier Tim Mitchell in 2001 and 2002. Other Academic All-Americans from Plymouth State include football player Chris Simon in 1985, women's swimmer Kerry Fritz in 1996; and men's hockey player Chris Chambers in 2010.

Capital One Academic All-America At-Large selections come from the NCAA sports of Bowling, Crew, Fencing, Field Hockey, Golf, Gymnastics, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Rifle, Skiing, Swimming, Tennis, Men's Volleyball, Water Polo and Wrestling.  CoSIDA also selects Capital One Academic All-America Teams in Football, Women's Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Cross Country/Track & Field.

 To be eligible for the Capital One Academic All-America program, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve with legitimate athletic credentials and maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale).  He/she must have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing and must have completed at least one full academic year at that institution.  Academic All-District First Team selections advance to the national ballot for Academic All-America honors.