AUSTIN, Texas – IUP junior defensive back
Mike Pietropola (Wellsboro, Pa./Wellsboro) was named a second team selection on the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division II Football Team, which was selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and released on Tuesday afternoon.
The CoSIDA Academic All-America® teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.
Pietropola carries a 3.75 cumulative grade point average as a health & physical education major at IUP. He is a four-time member of the Dean's List and has landed on the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athlete list each year.
He is one of eight football student-athletes from the PSAC on the 50-person academic squad that consists of 26 first team and 24 second team selections. This is Pietropola's first career Academic All-America® honor.
Pietropola finished the 2017 season fifth on the team with 61 total tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack. He also intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter of the Crimson Hawks' 24-7 PSAC Championship victory at West Chester.
Pietropola played all 14 games and started six for the IUP defense, one of the top units in Division II. IUP finished the season 13-1 and advanced to the national semifinals for the first time since 1999. Pietropola totaled a career-high 13 tackles in IUP's 27-17 loss to West Florida in the semifinal round.
About the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Program
The Division II Academic All-America® program is being financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist CoSIDA with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2017-18 Division II Academic All-America® teams program.
For more information about the Academic All-District™ and Academic All-America® Teams program, please visit www.cosida.com.
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