BEVERLY, Mass. – The Endicott football , highly successful on the field this season, saw two of their players earn CoSIDA’s Capital One Academic All-District First Team honors and are now eligible for Academic All-American status which will be announced on Tuesday, December 6^th. 

Senior running back Mike Lane (Medfield, Mass.) and senior center Mike Zupkosky (Westford, Mass.) both earned the honor for their efforts academically and athletically as the award recognizes student-athletes that are a starter or a key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached sophomore athletic and academic standings at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director.

CoSIDA, the College Sports Information Directors of America, has been recognizing NCAA scholar-athletes since the 1950's, has honored more than 15,000 deserving athletes across all divisions in 12 sports.  Lane and Zupkosky are the first Endicott football players to achieve this honor.

Lane, a Criminal Justice major, has maintained a 3.31 GPA over the course of his four years at Endicott while participate in a number of internship and volunteer opportunities to enhance his resume.  Most recently, Lane is currently working at the Salem Juvenile Probation office assisting in a number of child service, care and protection cases.  He has also completed internships with the Needham Police Department and the Medfield Police Department where he observed officers and department personnel and learned basic firearm safety.  On campus, Lane has been a dedicate member of the Office of Admissions, giving tours to prospective students and assisting in office work.

On the field, Lane has become one of New England’s premier running backs since his rookie season in 2008.  With over 4,200 yards rushing and 31 touchdowns, Lane will finish in the top 10 all-time for running backs in the region.  This season, the senior captain has run for 1,424 yards, with an average of 5.1 yards per carry, and has a total of 13 touchdowns.  On September 10^th, Lane broke his own school record for rushing yards in a game with 226 yards and later in the year, scored four rushing touchdowns against Plymouth State on October 15^th for another program record. 

Lane has been named NEFC Academic All-Conference twice.  He was named NEFC Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008 and has been a NEFC Boyd Division First Team Running back in each of the last two seasons.

Zupkosky, also a Criminal Justice major with a 3.70 GPA, has been a member of Endicott’s Dean’s List, a member of the NEFC Academic All-Conference Team and the Endicott Academic Varsity Club.  Athletically, he earned NEFC Boyd Second Team Center honors in 2010.

Zupkosky has also been assertive in preparing for a post-college career with internships at the Massachusetts State Police A-Troop Headquarters, the Fitchburg Police Department, the Westford Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police Student Trooper Academy.  He obtained important training from his troopers, sergeants and lieutenants on field work and office responsibilities.  

As a member of the Endicott football team, Zupkosky has been part of a senior-heavy offensive line that has led the Gulls rushing attack to an average of 204.6 yards per game and a 4.8 yards per carry clip.  Zupkosky and his teammates have only allowed nine sacks on the season in 10 games.