Bonander Named to ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America At-Large Team

June 9, 2009

Alec Bonander, a 2005 graduate of West Lyon High School, has been named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men’s At-Large Team as a second-team selection. With this award, Bonander becomes the 46th Luther athlete to be so honored and this also marks the second time he has received this award in as many years. Last year he was a third-team selection.

Bonander was selected from a pool of first-team all-district honorees from eight regions. This year’s ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Men’s At-Large Team consists of 15 first-team, 15 second-team and 15 third-team honorees, for a total of 45 athletes chosen for this outstanding honor.

This is an annual award sponsored by ESPN The Magazine and the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) and is presented to student-athletes who excel both in the classroom and on the field of competition. They must maintain a grade point average of 3.20 or greater and be a major contributor to their sport. Sports information directors nominate and vote on the athletes selected. Since the program’s inception in 1952, CoSIDA has bestowed Academic All-America honors on more than 14,000 student-athletes in Divisions I, II, II and NAIA covering all NCAA championship sports.

Bonander, who wrestled at 197, completed his senior year with a record of 18-4, increasing his career total to 97-25. During his four years in a Norse uniform, he was a four-time national qualifier, who earned All-America honors twice. He was also named a National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-America three times.

Bonander is a management major who graduated with a grade point average of 3.82. He is the son of Rod and Lannie Bonander of Larchwood, Iowa.