Lerg Earns Academic All-America Honors

Goaltender the sixth player in MSU history to be both All-American and Academic All-American

East Lansing, Mich. - Michigan Statehockey goaltender Jeff Lerg (Livonia, Mich.) has been named a First Team Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and ESPN The Magazine, in an announcement made on Tuesday, June 10. Lerg becomes the sixth player in MSU history to earn both All-America honors on the ice and in the classroom in the same season.

“We’re very proud of Jeff’s accomplishments,” noted head coach Rick Comley. “He really does do everything the right way, and its nice to see that his efforts in all areas get recognized. He represents our program and Michigan State University well.”

The ESPN the Magazine/CoSIDA At-Large Men’s At-Large program includes the sports of fencing, golf, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, rifle, skiing, tennis, volleyball, water polo and wrestling.

Lerg, a rising senior who will captain the Spartans in 2008-09, owns a cumulative grade-point average of 3.77 as a finance major. One of the top goaltenders in the college game, the netminder has put together one of the most accomplished playing resumes of any player in MSU history. In 2007-08 alone, he was a Hobey Baker finalist, a second-team American Hockey Coaches Association/RBK All-American, a first-team All-CCHA selection, and Player of the Year finalist. Most recently, he was named the Michgian College Athlete of the Year and was one of five finalists for the AAU’s Sullivan Award, honoring the top amateur athlete in the United States. In addition, he was voted “Michigan’s Best,” the top sports figure in the state in a reader vote by the Detroit Free Press. Lerg anchors one of the stingiest defensive units in the country, as the Spartans ranked 12th nationally in team defense (2.33 goals against per game).

Lerg joins elite company, as just five previous hockey players have earned both All-America and Academic All-America honors. Ron Scott was the first, as he earned First Team honors both on the ice and academically in 1982 and 1983. Kelly Miller was a first-team selection in both in 1985, while Don McSween was a First Team academic pick in 1986 and 1987 while earning Second Team All-America honors. Tyler Harlton was a second team All-America in 1998 and earned First Team Academic All-America honors the same season. Most recently in 2003, Brad Fast was a Second Team All-America and Second Team Academic All-America pick.Â