Second-consecutive year both student-athletes garner academic recognition

RINDGE, N.H. (July 2, 2013) – Franklin Pierce University men’s lacrosse standout Ben McDannell (Morrisville, Pa.) and baseball standout Ryan Thompson (Calgary, Alberta) were named to the 2013 Northeast-10 Conference All-Academic Team in their respective sport on Tuesday as announced by the league. It marked the second-consecutive year both student-athletes were named to the NE-10 academic squads.

To be eligible for selection to the Northeast-10 Academic All-Conference teams, a student-athlete must have met or exceeded the following minimum requirements: 1) participated in at least half of the team's competitions and been either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale); and 3) completed at least one academic year at his/her current institution.

McDannell, who graduated in May with a degree in marketing, was named to the men’s lacrosse academic team after posting a cumulative 3.56 grade point average for his career. He was a two-time captain, including serving as one during his senior season in 2013. An NE-10 All-Rookie Team honoree in 2010, McDannell led the Ravens to a combined 20 wins over his four seasons (2010-13). The four-year win total was impressive considering the program had won just 17 times total from 1998-2009.

Thompson, who graduated with his degree in communications in May, earned a spot on the baseball squad with a cumulative GPA of 3.8. He was named Franklin Pierce’s 2013 Richard Burns Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year for his impressive GPA and his outstanding career on the pitching mound. The 2011 NE-10 Pitcher of the Year, Thompson ranks second in program history for career earned run average and is tied for the school record for most wins in a single season.

Tuesday’s academic awards follow Monday’s announcements that 213 Raven student-athletes were named to the NE-10 Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, while the volleyball and women’s indoor and outdoor track & field teams each received the league’s Team Academic Excellence Award in their respective sport.

For more information on Franklin Pierce Athletics, please visit the department’s official site at http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu(.) To follow the department even further, please visit Franklin Pierce Athletics on YouTube (www.youtube.com/FranklinPierceSports), Twitter (www.twitter.com/FPUathletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceRavens). Fans wishing to purchase sport specific Franklin Pierce athletic apparel can do so on the athletic department’s online store at http://athletics.franklinpierce.edu/store(.)