ABILENE, Texas — Four Hardin-Simmons soccer players have been named to the Capital One Academic All-District VIII teams as voted on by the College Sports Information Director’s of America.

Caitlin Cramer was named to the first-team for the women with her 4.0 GPA in exercise science. Matt Pitcock was named to the men’s first team. He has a 3.88 GPA as a business major. They will both go on the ballot for Academic All-American honors.

Megan Ryan and Chris Hunter were named to the second team.

The Capital One Academic All-District team (formerly ESPN The Magazine) had taken on a different format for the 2011-12 school year. In the past, HSU was in district VI previously and it was against just Division II, Division III and NAIA teams now the teams are just Division III.

With Division III generally regarded as a more rigorous academic division, getting players on the teams has increased in difficulty. Hardin-Simmons nominated 14 players in men’s and women’s soccer and to nominate players they must have a 3.30 or better GPA, be at least a sophomore and play in 50 percent of the contests.

The teams are voted on by sports information directors across the district and there academic and athletic credentials are taken into account when voting on the teams.

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