June 10, 2003
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech All-American swimmer Shilo Ayalon and NCAA golf champion Troy Matteson have been named to the 2002-03 Verizon Academic All-America Men’s At-Large University Division First Team, announced Tuesday by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Georgia Tech is the only school with more than one honoree on the 15-member first team.
Ayalon, a senior from Kfar Hanassi, Israel, graduated with highest honor and a 3.81 grade point average in electrical engineering. Matteson, a senior from Austin, Texas, with a 3.28 grade point average, earned his degree in civil engineering last month.
Ayalon is a three-time All-American in the 1,650 yard freestyle, as well as a seven-time all-conference honoree. After setting an Atlantic Coast Conference record in the 1650 freestyle, he was named the Most Valuable Swimmer at the 2003 conference meet, and he was also tabbed to the ACC 50th Anniversary Team for Men’s Swimming & Diving. Ayalon earned postgraduate scholarship awards from the ACC and NCAA and plans to pursue a master’s degree in electrical engineering at Tech.
The 2002 NCAA individual champion, Matteson won the 2003 NCAA East Regional title and earned first-team All-America honors for the second time in his career. He owns the fourth-lowest career stroke average in Georgia Tech history, behind only current professionals Bryce Molder, David Duval and Matt Kuchar. Matteson was also awarded the 2003 Byron Nelson Award, presented to the nation’s top senior golfer, taking into account career athletic and academic achievement.
Both Ayalon and Matteson earned first-team Academic All-District III honors before moving onto All-America voting. Student-athletes in NCAA sports other than football, basketball, baseball, soccer and track/cross country were eligible for selection to the at-large team.
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