Wake Forest Athletics
Men’s Cross Country Places Three to All-ACC Academic Team
1/26/2022 11:02:00 AM | Cross Country
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Three members of the Wake Forest cross country team have been named to the All-ACC Academic team, as announced by the league office on Wednesday.
The two Deacs include senior Zach Facioni, graduate students Thomas Vanoppen and Justin Robison.
"These student-athletes exemplify what it means to excel across all aspects of their lives," head coach John Hayes said. "The dedication and discipline they have demonstrated in their sport and in the classroom is something all Demon Deacons should aspire to."
This is the eighth time Facioni has been placed on the academic team, having gained mention on the 2018, 2019 and 2020 All-ACC Academic cross country teams and the 2019 and 2020 indoor and outdoor track teams. Additionally, Vanoppen earned his first academic honors as a Demon Deacon.
Wake Forest's nationally-ranked men's cross country team placed 10th at the NCAA Cross Country Championship and senior Zach Facioni earned All-America honors with his 19th place finish in a time of 29:19.2. This marked the Demon Deacons' best finish as a program since 1992 and Facioni is the first Demon Deacon to capture back-to-back Cross Country All-America accolades.
Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one's academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in the selection process.
Zach Facioni
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The two Deacs include senior Zach Facioni, graduate students Thomas Vanoppen and Justin Robison.
"These student-athletes exemplify what it means to excel across all aspects of their lives," head coach John Hayes said. "The dedication and discipline they have demonstrated in their sport and in the classroom is something all Demon Deacons should aspire to."
This is the eighth time Facioni has been placed on the academic team, having gained mention on the 2018, 2019 and 2020 All-ACC Academic cross country teams and the 2019 and 2020 indoor and outdoor track teams. Additionally, Vanoppen earned his first academic honors as a Demon Deacon.
Wake Forest's nationally-ranked men's cross country team placed 10th at the NCAA Cross Country Championship and senior Zach Facioni earned All-America honors with his 19th place finish in a time of 29:19.2. This marked the Demon Deacons' best finish as a program since 1992 and Facioni is the first Demon Deacon to capture back-to-back Cross Country All-America accolades.
Minimum academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0 grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one's academic career. Athletic achievements during the most recent season are also considered in the selection process.
Zach Facioni
- Senior Facioni captured All-America accolades at the national meet with his 19th place finish in a time of 29:19.2. He is the first Demon Deacon to earn back-to-back Cross Country All-America accolades.
- Facioni is just the fourth student-athlete to capture All-America accolades.
- This is his eighth ACC Academic honor.
- Vanoppen finished third on the team and 88th overall in the NCAA Championships, crossing in 30:05.5
- He earned an All-Region finish at the Southeast Regional, finishing fifth on the team and 17th overall in 29:51.3.
- Robison finished fifth on the team and 132nd overall in the NCAA Championships, crossing in 30:28.0
- He earned an All-Region finish at the Southeast Regional, finishing sixth on the team and 18th overall in 29:51.6.
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