June 10, 2003

COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Missouri senior swimmer Matt Ferrarelli (Nottingham, England) has been named to the Verizon Academic All-America? Men's At-Large Second Team, as voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

The Men's At-Large category for Academic All-America honors contains the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Ferrarelli, who posted a 3.83 grade-point average in chemistry, earned All-America honors in the 400 individual medley after finishing 13th at the 2003 NCAA Championships. Missouri's only two-time Big 12 Champion in school history, Ferrarelli captured his second 400 IM title in Austin in March. A three-time CSCAA all-academic selection, he also is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree.

Ferrarelli holds four school records (200 backstroke, 200 IM, 400 IM and as a member of the 400 freestyle relay) and is a top-five performer all-time in four other events.

The Verizon Academic All-America Teams program recognizes student-athletes who have succeeded on the field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected by votes from CoSIDA, the 1,800-member College Sports Information Directors of America. To be eligible, an athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve and maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.20 on a scale of 4.00. Since the program's inception in 1952, over 12,000 student-athletes have been honored with the award.

Under an agreement with CoSIDA, Verizon has been the exclusive sponsor of the Academic All-America program since 1985.