USTFCCCA RELEASE | USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams | USTFCCCA All-Academic Athletes

NEW ORLEANS – The Suffolk men's cross country team and captain Matyas Csiki-Fejer was awarded for its academic accolades as it earned 2021 All-Academic Award status, presented by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches (USTFCCCA) Thursday afternoon.  

For a team to qualify for the distinction, a squad must have a cumulative GPA of 3.1 on a 4.0 scale, including the most recent grading period. 

As a team, the Rams combined for a 3.366 GPA to hit the academic qualification and take home their fifth straight team academic award from the national organization. Suffolk was one of three Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) teams featured on the 173 NCAA Division III list along with Wentworth (3.43) and Roger Williams (3.34). 

Individually, Csiki-Fejer earned his third recognition during the cross country campaign. He has garnered the honor every year he has been eligible. 

For a student-athlete to be considered for the award, he/she must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-25 percent of their respective regional championship meet.  

On the course, the Manchester, Missouri native, finished fourth, the best regional run by a Ram, both men and women, as well as the highest place by a CCC student-athlete at regionals. He was only the third CCC competitor to run into the top 10 at regionals, first to do so since 2017 when Gordon's Damon Kilgore and Wentworth's Alex Robbins took ninth and tenth, respectively. His performance at regionals, which Suffolk hosted, led to a pair of all-region accoaldes. Academically, the graduate student kept his cumulative GPA perfect with a 4.00 2021 fall semester. He has never slipped under a 4.00 GPA over the course of his collegiate career, which spans seven semesters. 

Overall, there were 248 men from 91 different institutions who were named All-Academic Athletes for their efforts during the 2021 campaign. He is the only student-athlete from the CCC to etch their name on the national list. Additionally, Csiki-Fejer is the only Ram in the history of the men's cross program to earn the academic accolade.