LANCASTER, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall men's cross country and track & field teams had five student-athletes (all sophomores) named to the College Sports Communicators academic all-district team. This award honors individuals who have excelled both academically and athletically as student-athletes must be at least a sophomore, rank in the top 50 in the region in at least one event, and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.
Competing in a number of events for the Diplomats, Greg Bruno earned academic all-district recognition in his first season eligible. Bruno posted a top 10 mark in school history in pole vault during the indoor season and was also a member of two conference scoring relays.
Benjamin Ford was another academic all-district selection during his first eligible season. Ford made his biggest throwing events impact in the hammer when he posted the second-best mark in school history and won bronze at the conference's outdoor championship meet. He is ranked in the top 10 at F&M across three different events.
Zach Houff was a top performer on the Diplomats' cross country team in the fall, but made his impact on the national stage during the indoor track & field season as he qualified for the NCAA Division III Championships in the 800 meters. Houff is already F&M's school record holder in both the indoor and outdoor 800 meter run following his sophomore season.
After helping the football team to a Centennial Conference Championship, Ben Ostroski took his talents to the throwing events during the spring and received academic all-district distinction. Ostroski scored in both the discus and hammer throw at the outdoor championships to follow up his bronze medal in the weight throw from the indoor season. Ostroski ranks in the top 10 at F&M for each of those events where he represented the Diplomats at the conference championship.
Tommy Tapino was also a member of the cross country team before carrying his distance success to the track & field squad. A top 10 performer at the 5,000 meter distance during both the indoor and outdoor seasons, Tapino's best finish at the conference championships this season came with an 18th-place showing at the indoor championship hosted by F&M.
