Feb. 9, 2006

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Senior Grey Ballard, junior Steven Curfman and sophomore Julian Valentin secured spots on the 2005 All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Men's Soccer Team as announced today by Commissioner John D. Swofford.

To be eligible for the All-ACC Academic Team, a student-athlete must have earned a 3.00 GPA for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career.

Ballard not only captured the Edwin G. Wilson Award -- top student-athlete at Wake Forest -- but was a finalist for the John Wooden Citizenship Cup. The Elkin, N.C. native registered a perfect 4.00 grade point average this past fall, raising his cumulative GPA to 3.954. Ballard also played in 17 games, started nine and scored one goal in 2005.

Curfman registered a 3.222 grade point average in the fall and improved his cumulative GPA to 3.130. The Raleigh native started all 20 matches he played and finished with five goals and three assists for 13 points.

Valentin recorded a 3.357 grade point average this past fall and raised his cumulative GPA to 3.326. A native of Lancaster, Pa., Valentin started 22 games in the back for the Deacs and chipped in with three goals and one assist.

Grey Ballard, Sr.     MF     4.000     3.954     Math & Computer Science
Steven Curfman, Jr.   D      3.222     3.130     Computer Science
Julian Valentin, So.  D      3.357     3.326     Undeclared