AUSTIN, Texas – The 2021-22 Academic All-America® Division II Men's Track & Field / Cross Country Team, selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), were announced on Wednesday afternoon, recognizing the nation's top student-athletes from each division for their combined performances on the track and in the classroom, honoring Lees-McRae senior
Brian Sims Jr. as a member of the
Third Team All-America®.
Sims Jr. becomes the sixth Bobcat in school history to garner this academic distinction and joins Lees-McRae men's soccer senior Johannes Oeksnevad, who was named to the
Division II men's soccer team back on Dec. 9, as student-athletes to earn this academic honor during the 2021-22 season.
In addition to earning an impressive 4.00 GPA as a History major, Sims Jr. was a member of both the Lees-McRae men's basketball team, under head coach
Steve Hardin, and the track & field program, under head coach
Ley Fletcher and associate head coach John Boisette. Sims Jr. became the first Bobcat in school history to earn Indoor All-American honors by finishing fifth in the 400-meter dash at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in March and earned a spot at the this year's NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May.
Sims Jr. was also a three-time Academic All-District team as he was named to the Division II Men's Track & Field All-District Team on May 26, the Division II Men's Basketball All-District Team on February 17, and the Division II Men's Track & Field All-District Team last July.
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