SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Senior Ryan Puglisi of the Union College men's lacrosse team was recognized by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) for his academic and athletic achievements this season with a spot on the 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District At-Large Team, announced on Thursday afternoon.
 
Puglisi was one of only 10 student-athletes from District 3 selected in arguably the most competitive Academic All-District program of all. Unlike most sport-specific categories, the Men's At-Large program comprises athletes from 12 different sports: fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, swimming, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling. To be nominated for Academic All-District honors, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA above 3.30 and reach sophomore athletic and academic standing at the school.
 
Puglisi is the third player in Union men's lacrosse history to earn Academic All-District recognition (and first since 2013), and just the sixth Dutchman overall to earn Men's At-Large honors at the Division III level since 2001. In total, Union has produced 101 Academic All-District selections since 2001, including a school record-shattering 13 this season with two categories still to be announced.
 
Puglisi is a team leader on the field and in the classroom for the Dutchmen. On the turf, the team captain was named to the USILA All-America third team as one of the top defenders in the country, following a season in which he started all seven games and recorded 10 ground balls and seven caused turnovers to go with his first collegiate goal and assist. A preseason All-America honorable mention, he also was named to the IMLCA All-Region first team and the All-Liberty League first team in 2021 as well.
 
He is just as strong outside of competition for Union, as the mechanical engineering major boasts a 3.85 cumulative GPA and earned a perfect 4.0 last trimester. A member of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, the Methuen, Mass., native is also a student researcher in the Aerogel Lab and a member of the Orientation Committee.

With his selection, Puglisi advances to the national Academic All-America ballot, where first-, second- and third-team Academic All-Americans will be announced in early August. Puglisi will look to add his name to the list of Union's 30 Academic All-America honorees and become the second Union men's lacrosse player to earn the prestigious national honor.