Austin, Texas----Wingate University places three men's swimming student-athletes on the Google Cloud Academic All-America® men's at-large teams, officials announce this week. Senior Niklas Martin (Kempton, Germany) and junior Giacomo Viazzo (Lonato del Gardo, Italy) are first team selections, while junior Markus Furst (Jönköping, Sweden) is a third team choice. Wingate is the only school (NCAA or NAIA) with three men's swimmers on an Academic All-America® list (complete list).
 
Viazzo (first) and Martin (third) were named to the Google Cloud Academic All-America® men's at-large teams in 2018. Furst is a first-time honoree. With these three selections, Wingate Swimming has 30 student-athletes who have earned Academic All-America® at-large team distinction from CoSIDA.
 
"When you have the vast majority of your team excelling in and out of the pool, it makes life much easier for the entire staff to focus on using our resources to create an Olympic experience for everyone," Wingate head men's swimming coach Kirk Sanocki says. "When you have Niklas, Giacomo and Markus raising the bar, excelling on every level, those attributes become contagious amongst the entire team. As a result, all three have represented the team as captain throughout their swimming careers at Wingate."
 
NIKLAS MARTIN
 
-Martin holds a 3.97 GPA with his marketing major (mathematics minor)
 
-Academic All-America® at-large third team last year
 
-Senior team captain in 2018-19
 
-As a senior, All-Bluegrass Mountain Conference in six events
 
-For career, 19 All-BMC swims
 
-Four-year NCAA qualifier with four honorable mention AA swims at 2019 NCAA meet
 
-For career, two AA swims and nine HM AA swims
 
-School-record holder in 100 Back (48.42) and 200 Back (1:45.45)
 
-Also holds records in both medley relays
 
-Martin won prestigious A.F. Hendricks Award at WU's 2019 commencement exercises
 
-With faculty member Dr. Debbi Brock, Martin earned national recognition for an online platform he developed for social entrepreneurship faculty around the world to exchange teaching resources
 
GIACOMO VIAZZO
  
-Viazzo possesses a 3.95 GPA with his double major of chemistry and mathematics
 
-Academic All-America® at-large first team last year
 
-Served as a team captain as a junior in 2018-19
 
-Won 100 and 200 Breaststroke events at 2019 BMC Championships
 
-Qualified for four 2019 NCAA events
 
-Had four AA swims at 2019 NCAAs (2 first team, 2 HM)
 
-Finished second in the NCAA 200 Breaststroke this year
 
-School record holder in 200 Breaststroke (1:56.45) thanks to his 2019 BMC swim
 
-Earned four silver medals at 2018 BMC championship meet
 
-His 2018 BMC silvers include two solo, two relay events
 
-Earned three first team AA swims at 2018 NCAAs
 
MARKUS FURST
 
-Furst has a 3.95 GPA with his exercise science major
 
-Six-time All-Bluegrass Mountain Conference performer at 2019 BMC meet
 
-Qualified for 2019 NCAAs, posting three HM AA swims (200/400 Medley Relay, 800 Free Relay)
 
-Concluded 2018 season with second-place finish in 400 Free Relay (2:56.48) at NCAAs
 
-Bulldogs were number eight seed entering aforementioned NCAA 400 Free Relay
 
-At first BMC league meet ('18), seven swims and seven All-BMC honors
 
-Elected team captain for 2019-20 season
 
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
 
Wingate University head men's swimming coach Kirk Sanocki: "It comes as no surprise that Niklas, Giacomo and Markus would be considered for this prestigious honor. All three possess many of the same characteristics necessary for this type of consideration, but also bring unique qualities as well within our team dynamic. Niklas is systematic, Giacomo is very analytical and Markus very passionate…all three know how to utilize these qualities to assist their team while striving to reach their full potential."    
 
WINGATE SWIMMING ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® NOTES
 
-Wingate is the only school (NCAA or NAIA) with three men's swimming student-athletes on an Academic All-America® list.
 
-Five schools have two men's swimmers each: Alabama, N.C. State, Denison, Emory and Nebraska Wesleyan.
 
-With these three selections, Wingate men's and women's swimming has 30 student-athletes who have earned Academic All-America® at-large team honors from CoSIDA.

-Martin and Viazzo are the fourth and fifth Wingate men's swimming student-athletes to gain Academic All-America® honors more than once.
 
-Marko Blazevski ('14) and Lucas Cuadros ('17) are three-time selections. Reed Miller ('14) is a two-time choice.

-Wingate University now has 121 Academic All-America® selections all-time, with 112 since Jan. 1, 2000.
 
-The Bulldogs lead NCAA Division II in the 2000s, while leading all North Carolina colleges and universities during the same time frame.
 
GOOGLE CLOUD ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICA® PROGRAM
 
The Google Cloud Academic All-America® program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. The Division II Google Cloud Academic All-America® program is financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure, assisting CoSIDA with the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2018-19 DII Academic All-America® teams.
 
For more information about CoSIDA's Google Cloud Academic All-America® teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com or the Academic All-America® home page on CoSIDA.com.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
A comprehensive, independent and growing university, Wingate serves more than 3,600 students in North Carolina. Founded in 1896, the University offers 37 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Wingate is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences. Wingate blends in-class exploration with out-of-class application to deliver an uncommon and life-changing educational experience.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 13 years. Wingate is first in the 2000s among NCAA Division II and North Carolina's colleges and universities with 112 CoSIDA Academic All-America® selections. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 121 lifetime Academic All-America® honorees. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com. Current news and videos can be found at www.wingate.edu.