LEXINGTON, Va. – For the second-straight year, VMI Men's Swimming & Diving juniors Matthew Picard and Sam Castle were named to the America East All-Academic Team on Wednesday.
 
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 and Picard were four-time medalists during the conference meet, tallying three bronze and one silver in the four days. The junior duo was invited to compete in this year's CSCAA National Invitational Championships.
 
Castle, a mechanical engineering major, was a force in the backstroke, holding a top-five time in the 50 & 100 Back and a top-10 mark in the 200 Back among all America East swimmers. During the league championship, Castle led four relay teams to the podium and placed fifth in the 100 Back and eighth in the 200 Back.
 
Picard, a mechanical engineering major, had top-10 league times in the 50 & 100 Free. Picard was also a part of the four medaling relay teams at the league meet. He also placed eighth in the 50 Free.
 
Men's Swimming & Diving All-Academic Team
Oxford Bayley, NJIT
Christopher Buonocore, Bryant
Sam Castle, VMI
Borys Endle, NJIT
Zac Kuzak, NJIT
Harrison, Lambert
Axel Mori, UMBC
Sean Neils, UMBC
Matthew Picard, VMI
Liam Preston, Binghamton
 
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