Click here to view entire CoSIDA ESPN Academic All-District 7 team

ITHACA, N.Y. — Fort Lewis College defensive lineman Nick Frizzell was named to the ESPN Academic All-District 7 first team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-America Committee announced today.

“I'm ecstatic for the young man,” said first-year head football coach Cesar Rivas-Sandoval. “He's one of the hardest workers on the field and off. He truly embodies what all Fort Lewis College student-athletes strive to be like.”

Frizzell, a 6-foot, 245-lb. senior from Evergreen High School, carries a 3.92 grade point average in Business Administration-Marketing. Last month he was named to the RMAC All-Academic first team. In 2009, he earned RMAC All-Academic second team accolades and the D2 Athletic Directors Association/WeatherPORT Academic Achievement Award.

Frank Atherton was named to the ESPN Academic All-District 7 second team.

Atherton, a 6-foot-2, 170-lb. junior punter from Hawaii Prep in Kamuela, Hawaii, has a perfect 4.00 GPA in Exercise Science-Exercise Specialist option with a minor in Exercise Science-Coaching. He was named to the RMAC All-Academic second team last month.

“Frank has been a pleasant surprise on the football field,” said Rivas-Sandoval. “We always knew that he was an exception student. We're very happy that Frank will be part of our program for at least one more year.”

Three Academic All-District teams are chosen in each district, with those on the All-District first teams placed on the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration. Thus, Fizzell will be on the Academic All-America ballot.

Fort Lewis travels to No. 8 Nebraska-Kearney (8-1, 7-0) at 11 a.m. (MDT) next Saturday in its final road trip of the season.