Nov. 7, 2002

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest junior defender Wiggy Saunders was named to the Verizon Academic All-America District III Men's Soccer Team, as announced by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) on Thursday.

Saunders, a native of Columbus, Neb., was one of 11 men's soccer players selected from a district that covers Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. He was one of two Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes selected to the team.

This season, Saunders has played in all 17 of Wake Forest's games this fall with 14 starting assignments. He has been a key member of a defense that has allowed just 10 goals in 17 games, the lowest mark among all teams in the ACC. He has helped the Deacons shutout a school record nine opponents.

Criteria for selection to the Verizon Academic All-America team include being a starter or key reserve, sophomore athletic/academic standing and a 3.2 cumulative GPA. Saunders, along with the other District III selections, will now advance to the national Academic All-America ballot.

Saunders is majoring in biology and has compiled a 3.55 cumulative GPA.