Nov. 26, 2013
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky men’s soccer senior Tyler Riggs has been selected 2013 First-Team Capital One Academic All-America by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.
Riggs becomes the first player in program history to earn Academic All-America accolades in all three eligible seasons. As a sophomore, Riggs was named third-team, before earning first-team Academic All-America honors as a junior and senior. In order to be eligible, student-athletes have to be a starter or key reserve, be of at least sophomore academic standing and must have at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA.
A native of Louisville, Ky., and a product of St. Xavier High School, Riggs has a 3.93 GPA as a mechanical engineering major, making just one “B” in his collegiate career. A preseason candidate for the Senior CLASS Award, given to the nation’s top men’s soccer senior student-athlete, Riggs is a three-time, first-team Academic All-District selection by CoSIDA.
Riggs becomes the seventh Kentucky player all-time to earn CoSIDA Academic All-America honors and the first to win it in multiple years. He joins Sean Endicot (1995-96), Ilkka Jannti (2001-02), Chris McAlpine (2001-02) and Chad Hagerty (2007-08) as UK’s Academic All-America selections.
On the pitch, Riggs completed one of the most storied careers in program history in 2013, becoming the first player to lead the Wildcats in scoring in four consecutive seasons. He finished his UK career ranking second in goals (29), fifth in points (69), sixth in shots (144) and sixth in game-winning goals (seven), adding 10 assists. He was a third-team All-Conference USA selection in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
As a freshman in 2010, Riggs led the team with five goals, including two game-winning tallies, before exploding for 11 goals and five assists as a sophomore. In 2012, Riggs helped lead UK to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2003, pacing the club with seven goals and four assists. As a senior in 2013, Riggs led the team with six goals and one assist, highlighted by charting the ninth hat trick in school history in a senior day win over Florida Atlantic.
