May 20, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's gymnast Miguel Pineda (Galloway, Ohio) has been selected to the CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-District First Team in recognition of his standout efforts in the gym and in the classroom. The junior all-arounder will now advance to the national ballot and have the opportunity to earn academic all-America honors.
Pineda boasts a sterling 3.99 grade point average in his chosen field of study, science. A two-time CGA First Team All-American Scholar Athlete and 2010 Big Ten Distinguished Scholar recipient, Pineda helped the men's gymnastics squad earn the Varsity `S' Award, an honor presented to the Penn State men's and women's teams with the highest team GPA, at the 24th SAAB Annual Academic Achievement Awards Banquet.
Pineda was also the 2011 recipient of the prestigious Elite 88 Award; an honor presented to him at the NCAA/CGA Men's Gymnastics Awards Banquet, held prior to the 2011 National Collegiate Championships in Columbus, Ohio in April. The Elite 88, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 88 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Pineda played an integral role in Penn State's 2011 success, particularly in serving as a cornerstone of one of the nation's most talented still rings line-ups. His continued emergence as a dominant force in the event at the 2011 National Collegiate Championships helped the Nittany Lions advance past the qualifier and into the team finals for the first time since 2008. Pineda set a career high in the rings, scoring a 15.900, to place first in the national qualifier and then followed it up by a second place finish in the individual event finals, earning his first All-America honor. He also medaled in the still rings at the Big Ten Championships, placing third. Overall, Pineda totaled 15 top three finishes in the event, including four title wins. He also significantly contributed in the pommel horse and parallel bars throughout the season.