LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky first-team All-Southeastern Conference outfielder Collin Cowgill has been named a College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA) First-Team Academic All-American, it was announced on Tuesday.
Cowgill, a four-year junior who has graduated with a degree in communications, has posted a 3.867 cumulative GPA during his academic career. Finishing his undergraduate degree with a 4.0 in his final semester, Cowgill becomes just the seventh Academic All-American in UK?s history and the first since Andy Green was honored in 2000.
The 2008 UK Male Student-Athlete of the Year, Cowgill makes his second Academic All-America appearance, as the Lexington, Ky., native was named a second-team Academic All-American in 2006. Senior Andrew Albers joined Cowgill on the All-District team, released earlier in May. Brian Spear, James Paxton and Greg Dombrowski were each named to the second-team All-Academic District team in May.
Cowgill has had a monster season, helping lead UK to just its fourth 40-win season the 104-year history of the program ? the second in the past three years. Starting all 59 games despite battling through a hamstring injury, Cowgill has hit .359, with 13 doubles, two triples and 18 home runs, driving in 57 RBI and drawing a team-best 48 walks. Cowgill ranks fourth in the SEC with 23 stolen bases.
With 75 runs scored in 2008, Cowgill has set a new school-record for runs scored in a season, topping Billy White?s 74 runs scored in 1988.
?Collin has shown, over his four years at the University of Kentucky, his ability to balance a rigorous academic schedule with his demanding athletic activities and to graduate in four years, Collin is truly special,? Kentucky Senior Academic Counselor Michael Stone detailed. ?He gives his best in everything he does and that is all one can ask of any student. He cares about his performance in the classroom and that was reflected in the numerous academic honors he received at UK, most notably being named the Male Scholar Athlete of the Year at the 2008 CATSPY?s. I am extremely proud of Collin being named a CoSIDA Academic All-American, he is deserving of such an honor.?
In the SEC rankings, Cowgill checks in 11th in average (.359), fifth in slugging (.687), sixth in on-base percentage (.487), second in runs scored (75), sixth in RBI (57), fifth in home runs (18), fourth in total bases (145), third in walks (48) and fourth in stolen bases (23-for-27).
Kentucky opens NCAA Tournament play on Friday vs. Michigan in the Ann Arbor Regional. A No. 3 seed, UK joined No. 1 seed Arizona and fourth-seeded Eastern Michigan.
UK will send junior lefthander and first-team All-SEC pitcher Chris Rusin (6-2, 2.84 ERA) to the mound on Friday, to face Michigan ace right-handed junior Zach Putnam (8-0, 2.64 ERA). First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. ET.
FIRST TEAM
University Division
Pitcher Rob Musgrave
WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY VII Sr. Carbondale, Kan. 3.76 Accounting
Pitcher Eitan Barbalat
BRADLEY UNIVERSITY V Sr. Thornhill, Ontario 4.00 Cell and Molecular Biology
Catcher Buster Posey
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY III Jr. Leesburg, GA 3.79 Finance
Infield Jeff Grantham
ST. JOHN’S UNIVERSITY (NY) I Sr. Randolph, N.J. 3.97 Physics
Infield Thomas Nelson
TENNESSEE TECH UNIVERSITY IV Sr. Weaver, Ala. 4.00 Biology – Health Science
Infield Brett Lilley
NOTRE DAME, UNIVERSITY OF V Sr. North Canton, Ohio 3.74 Accounting
Infield Shane Peterson
LONG BEACH STATE UNIVERSITY VIII Jr. Temecula, Calif. 3.85 Finance, Real Estate and Law
Outfield Randy Moley
ST. BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY I Sr. Lancaster, N.Y. 3.95 Management Sciences
Outfield Collin Cowgill
KENTUCKY, UNIVERSITY OF IV Jr. Lexington, Ky. 3.84 Communication
Outfield Matt Nohelty
MINNESOTA, UNIVERSITY OF V Jr. Rothschild, Wis. 3.98 Computer Science
Designated Hitter Jason Buursma
BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY II Sr. Seattle, Wash. 3.64 Economics
