LEXINGTON, Va. – VMI Men's Swimming & Diving had two recipients named to the America East All-Academic Team as announced by the league office Wednesday afternoon.
 
Sophomores Matthew Picard and Sam Castle each earned All-Academic honors after a successful season in the pool and the classroom. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve and must appear in at least 50% of all competitions during the playing season. Student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically and must have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average.
 
Castle, a mechanical engineering major, was VMI's top swimmer in the backstroke, recording the top times in the 100 and 200 backstroke, earning first place six times, and was top three in every race. The Mechanicsville, Virginia, native broke three team records and four relay records at the America East Championships.
 
Picard, a mechanical engineering major, excelled in the freestyle, earning four first-place marks between the 50, 100, and 200 freestyle along with placing in the top three in every race. The Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, native shattered the 100 freestyle team record and four relay records at the America East Championships.
 
During the America East Championships, Castle nabbed silver in the 100 backstroke right before Picard earned bronze in the 100 freestyle. Both Keydets also played a key role in the 800 freestyle relay squad that placed third.
 
Men's All-Academic Team
Oxford Bayley               NJIT       Jr.         Mechanical Engineering         Nelson, New Zealand
Sam Castle                  VMI        So.        Mechanical Engineering         Mechanicsville, Va.
Christian Coleman        UMBC    Sr.         Psychology                              Lewisburg, Pa.
Uros Djokvic                  Bryant     Gr.       Healthcare Economics            Belgrade, Serbia
Oliver Gassmann          UMBC     Sr.        Business Technology Admin. Pennington, N.J.
Zachary Hopp                Maine     Sr.        Mechanical Engineering         Maple Grove, Minn.
Matthew Picard            VMI         So.       Mechanical Engineering         Mt. Pleasant, S.C.
Isaac Poole                    UMBC     Gr.       Mechanical Engineering         Shoreline, Wash.
Liam Preston                  BU           Jr.        Business Administration         Miller Place N.Y.
Jake Vecchio                  BU           Gr.       Mechanical Engineering         Port Jefferson Station N.Y.
 
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