LINK TO THE COMPLETE LISTING OF ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS

Wheaton, Ill. – Three members of the Wheaton football team have been selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V football team for 2009. Senior Brian Hollett earned First Team recognition at defensive back; senior Steven Lutes was a First Team selection at linebacker and sophomore Robert Ramsay was a Second Team defensive line pick. The recognition for the trio was announced on Thursday by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). As First Team All-District honorees, Hollett and Lutes have made the ballot for the prestigious ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America team that will be announced on November 24.

Brian Hollett is a Biology major at Wheaton, with a 3.53 cumulative grade point average. The starting safety for the Thunder, Hollett leads the team with 52 total tackles this year, including a team-high 35 solo stops. He has recorded two interceptions this season with four pass break-ups and a forced fumble.

Steven Lutes is a team captain for the Thunder this season with a 3.71 cumulative grade point average as a Psychology and Integrated Bible Theology double-major. The starting linebacker has recorded 30 total tackles this season, with seven tackles for lost yardage (-28 yards), including 2-1/2 sacks (-17 yards). Lutes has also registered five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and two passes broken-up.

Robert Ramsay is a sophomore defensive lineman for the Thunder with a 3.64 cumulative grade point average. Of Ramsay's 14 total tackles this season, five have been for lost yardage (-13 yards), including one quarterback sack. He leads the team with six quarterback hurries and has forced one fumble.

The Academic All-District Team is a part of the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America program that honors student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level in athletics and in the classroom. Members of the eight First Team Academic All-District squads advance to the national ballot, where they have the opportunity to be selected for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA; a 2,000-plus member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution. Since the program's inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Division I, II, III and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports. Through the years, Wheaton has had a total of 51 Academic All-American selections to the prestigious program, including 30 since 2000.