May 22, 2003

Austin George Named Verizon First-team Academic all-District; Matt Pray and Steve Jones on Second team

Three of Truman's four nominees for Verizon At-Large Academic All-District honors were named to the first and second teams released today.

Sophomore golfer Austin George (Wichita, Kan./Andover) was the only first-team pick and now advances to the Verizon at-large all-America ballot.

Senior swimmer Matt Pray (Naperville, Ill./North) and sophomore tennis player Steve Jones (Oakville, Mo.) were named to the second team.

George completed the fall semester with a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. He recently finished tied for 31st at the NCAA Central regional tournament and finished 12th at Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championships this past spring. George was the team's top finisher at the Spring Central Regional Invitational, finishing tied for fifth, and placed among the top three on the team in six of seven tournaments this season, averaging 79.3 per round. George shot a career-best round of 73 at the Missouri-Rolla Invitational last year. He has a career average of 78.9 George was also named an MIAA presidential scholar in 2002 and was recently named to the MIAA commissioner's academic honor roll.

Pray, who had a 3.50 GPA after the fall semester, became the highest national finisher in the history of the men's program as a sophomore in 2001 when he placed second in the 200-yard butterfly. The four-year and 21-time all-America culminated an outstanding career at the NCAA Division II Championships this year where he was third in the 200-yard butterfly, breaking his own Bulldog mark with a time of 1:47.99. Pray was also fourth in the 100-yard butterfly, and was part of the 400-yard medley relay team that finished fourth (3:23.55) and set a new Truman record; the 800-yard freestyle relay team that sixth and set a Bulldog mark (6:52.54); and the 200-yard freestyle relay squad that was sixth. His time of 48.58 in the prelims of the 100 fly surpassed the old Truman standard that was also held by Pray.

He is a two-time College Swimming Coaches Association of America academic all-America.

Jones was 13-11 at No. 5 singles and 2-5 with three No. 3 doubles partners this past season. He maintained a 3.95 GPA through the fall 2002 semester. Jones was an academic all-MIAA pick as a freshman after earning all-conference status with a second-place finish at No. 3 doubles at the league tournament. For his career, Jones is 19-20 in singles and 13-20 in doubles play. He was recently named to the MIAA commissioner's academic honor roll.

Men's Tennis | Men's Swimming | Men's Golf | Truman Athletics