Feb. 28, 2003

Greenville, SC - The Southern Conference today announced its TIAA-CREF Academic All-Conference teams for winter 2003. A total of 77 student-athletes, representing all 12 Southern Conference institutions, were named to the team.

Four Bulldog Wrestlers made the squad out of the nine selected to the team. Vince Bartges, Keith Clifton, Mike Martinez and Ryan McClester have been selected to the TIAA-CREF Academic All-Conference.

The 77 student-athletes averaged a 3.565 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and have competed in at least one-half of their team's competitions during the winter.

This is the first time that the Southern Conference has named an All-Academic Team by season. This new honor is made possible by a grant from the Southern Conference's Education Partner, TIAA-CREF.

TIAA-CREF, with approximately $259 billion in assets under management, is the premier retirement system for the education and research sector in the U.S., serving 2.5 million participants at 15,000 institutions. Additionally, the TIAA-CREF group of companies offers mutual funds, after-tax annuities, life insurance, and trust services to the general public. The TIAA-CREF group also manages 13 state-sponsored college savings programs, more than any other company.

Wrestling

Student-Athlete School Pos Yr GPA Major Hometown

Keith Clifton The Citadel 184# Jr. 3.4 Business Administration Colleyville, TX

Ryan McClester The Citadel 125# So. 3.2 Political Science Lugoff, SC

Mike Martinez The Citadel 141# So. 3.6 Biology Temple Terrace, FL

Vince Bartges The Citadel 149# Sr. 3.5 Business Administration Goose Creek, SC

Jerod Lenderman Appalachian St 197# So. 3.76 Business Adminstration Havelock, NC

Lee Roper Appalachian St 165# So. 3.59 Mathematics Rutledge, GA

Ben Smith Chattanooga 141# Jr. 3.7 Exercise Science Cleveland, TN

Nate Parmenter UNC Greensboro 165# Sr. 3.52 Business Administration Canandaigua, NY

Adam Britt VMI 157# Sr. 3.52 Civil Engineering Mechanicsville, VA