From University of Rochester Athletics
Seniors Alex Swanger and Griffin Drake have been named to
the Capital One Academic All-America Division III Men's Soccer Team
for the 2014 season. Voting for the honor was conducted by the
College Sports Information Directors of America.
This is the second Capital One Academic All-America honor for
Swanger and the first for Drake. Swanger is a repeat selection on
the Capital One Second Team this year. Drake was selected to the
Third Team. This is just the second time in school history that two
men's soccer players have been named to the Academic All-America
Team in the same year by CoSIDA. In 2005, Nathan Micklos and
Jeremy Goico were honored.
Both men were instrumental in helping Rochester secure a bid to the
NCAA Division III playoffs in 2014. The bid was the
16th in Rochester's soccer history and the ninth in
the last 10 years. The Yellowjackets defeated Salisbury University,
4-0, in the first round of NCAAs. In the second round, Rochester
tied Franklin & Marshall College, 2-2, through double overtime.
F&M advanced to the Sweet 16 on a penalty kick tiebreaker.
Rochester finished the year at 10-5-4.
Swanger started all 19 games this season. He finished with two
goals and three assists for seven points. He was named Second Team
All-UAA at season's end, his fourth consecutive year with All-UAA
honors. In 2013, he was named to the NSCAA All-America Team and as
an NSCAA Scholar All-American in addition to his Capital One
Academic All-America honor.
He carries a cumulative grade point average of 3.86 on a 4.00
scale, majoring in financial economics. He has been working as a
research assistant in a campus Medical Center group –
Surgical Health Outcomes & Research Enterprise. He is
completing his Pre-Med requirements. In September, he was selected
as a Garnish Scholar-Athlete, identified as one of the top 10
senior scholar athletes on campus. He volunteered at St. Mary's
Hospital which offers medical care for the homeless.
Drake was a defender on an always-tough Rochester defense. The
Yellowjackets surrendered 17 goals in 19 games, posting eight
shutouts and holding four other teams to one goal. Rochester was
3-1-1 in its last five regular-season games and gave up two goals
in that five-game stretch. During the season, Rochester defeated
then-third-ranked St. Lawrence (3-2) and then-fourth-ranked
Brandeis (2-0). The Yellowjackets tied then-third-ranked SUNY
Oneonta, 0-0, on the road.
He carries a cumulative grade point average of 3.94 with a double
major of political science and philosophy. He served as a tutor for
the political science class Business In Politics. Drake did
research work for the campus Provost. In 2013, he was designated as
a Provost's Scholar (top student-athletes in the junior class) and
as a Garnish Scholar in 2014 (as one of the top senior
student-athletes). He worked as a broadcaster on the campus
internet radio station and as a blogger. During Rochester's trip to
Germany in late spring, he blogged for the team webpage on the
athletic department website. Drake was a Teaching Assistant for the
class Argument in Political Science. He has done community service
at two area grade schools.