DC’s Kleman Named Academic All-America

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Austin Kleman was voted First-Team Academic All-District IV and recently named as an ESPN The Magazine's Third-Team Academic All-America selection. The honor is voted on and announced by the College of Sports Information Directors of America. 

The award recognizes student-athletes for outstanding achievements in the classroom, as well as on the field or court of competition. In order to be eligible for the award, the athlete must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have reached sophomore status academically and participate in over half of the team's contests. 

Kleman earned his degree in molecular biology in May, after completing the program in three years. The Sidney, Ohio, native sported a 3.99 cumulative GPA en route to earning his second-straight Academic All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference award. Kleman also won Defiance College's 2009-2010 Gene Geren Award for having the highest cumulative grade-point average among all DC student-athletes and is a two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District performer. 

Kleman has been equally impressive on the tennis courts for the Yellow Jackets, ending his career as a two-time All-HCAC selection with 64 career victories in three seasons. The 64 wins include a 25-11 conference mark. Kleman rounded out his collegiate career with a 21-16 overall record in 2010, while going 10-3 in league action. 

Kleman's ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honor marks the fourth-straight year that at least one Defiance College student-athlete has earned the honor.