ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon men's water polo team has continued its academic excellence out of the pool. The Golden Knights have produced the ninth-highest team grade-point average among Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) programs and seven Golden Knights have been named to the 2009 CWPA Scholar-Athlete team recently announced by the organization.

Brown University was the CWPA's top academic program, owning a 3.57 cumulative team grade-point average. Harvard University (3.41), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (3.36), Bucknell University (3.33) and Johns Hopkins University (3.29) completed the top five.

Princeton University (3.20), Washington & Jefferson College (3.15), Fordham University (2.94), Gannon University (2.85) and Iona College (2.81) rounded out the top 10.

Ben Syme (Victoria, B.C./Claremont Secondary), Jamison Anton (North Wales, Pa./North Penn), Ben Feasley (Takoma Park, Md./Montgomery Blair) and John Krakowski (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) were named to the “Superior” team, which is reserved for student-athletes with cumulative grade-point averages between 3.41 and 3.7.

Syme owns a 3.68 cumulative GPA while majoring in Sports Marketing. The junior produced 17 goals, six assists and 18 steals last season. Anton has a 3.57 mark as a Secondary Education/Social Studies major. The sophomore had 19 goals, 13 assists and 36 steals in 2009.

Feasley produced a 3.47 cumulative grade-point average as an undeclared major. The true freshman recorded five goals and four assists during his first collegiate season. Krakowski has a 3.41 GPA while being Gannon's leader in goals (49). The senior also dished out 23 assists and made 19 steals.

Kyle Kuser (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), Greg Nelson (Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) and Ralph Clayton (Maple Glen, Pa./Upper Dublin) landed a spot on the “Excellent” team reserved for cumulative GPAs between 3.20 and 3.40.

Kuser has a 3.36 cumulative GPA while being an undecided major. The junior had one goal, one assist and three steals last season. Nelson owns a 3.30 cumulative GPA while majoring in Sports Management and Marketing. The sophomore finished the 2009 campaign with 33 goals, 12 assists and 23 steals. Clayton had a 3.20 grade-point average as a History major. The sophomore did not record any statistics in limited action last season.

A record 310 student-athletes were named to the 2009 CWPA Scholar-Athlete Team. Previously named the All-Academic Team, the program honors varsity and club student-athletes who have achieved grade point averages of 3.2 or higher and competed during the 2009 men's season.

Overall, 90 athletes were honored with Outstanding (3.71-4.0) recognition, while 119 earned Superior (3.41-3.7) and 101 were recognized with Excellent (3.2-3.4) accolades. Among varsity athletes, 109 earned distinction with 23 Outstanding, 51 Superior and 35 Excellent honorees.

For the complete 2009 CWPA Scholar-Athlete Team, as well as the complete team GPA rankings, please click here.