Oct. 30, 2008
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky senior midfielder Chad Hagerty and junior forward Tim Crone have been selected ESPN The Magazine first-team Academic All-District, the College Sports Information Directors Association announced on Thursday morning.
Hagerty and Crone help lead the Wildcats on the pitch and in the classroom, as the Kentucky soccer program has established an excellent reputation for academic success. Hagerty, a native of Louisville, Ky., has totaled a sparkling 4.0 GPA as an exercise science-kinesiology major. Hagerty, who attended St. Xavier High School, earned CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades in 2007, as well as being named one of 12 members on the Conference USA All-Academic team in 2007. Upon graduation, Hagerty has plans to apply to physical therapy school.
On the pitch, the 5-foot-9 midfielder has led the Wildcats with five assists in 2008, while playing in 15 of 16 games. Hagerty, a member of the 2007 C-USA Academic Honor Roll, has played in 838 minutes with 11 starting assignments.
Crone, a crafty 5-foot-7 forward, ranks second on the team with five goals, adding two assists, while playing in all 16 games. Crone, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, has played in 784 minutes and totaled a team-best three game-winning goals. In the classroom Crone has excelled, posting a 3.4 GPA as a business-finance major. A year ago, Crone had a breakout season, highlighted by two goals in UK’s upset win over No. 1 SMU, earning him a bevy of national player of the week honors.
All-time, UK has had seven CoSIDA Academic All-District honorees, including one for the last six consecutive years. Hagerty becomes the third all-time Wildcat to earn CoSIDA Academic All-District honors twice in his career. As first-team All-District honorees, Hagerty and Crone are eligible for Academic All-America honors, a feat accomplished three times by a UK player since 1995. For the last three consecutive seasons, UK has been honored as the UK Athletics Academic Team of the Year at the annual Catspy Awards and boasts four National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Awards since 1999.
Kentucky (9-4-3, 5-1 C-USA) returns to action on Sunday, facing No. 22 SMU in Dallas, Texas, at 1 p.m. ET.
