Two Named Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District

Nov. 7 – (PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – Two Carnegie Mellon University senior men’s soccer players have been named to the Capital One Academic All-District team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Both defensive players, Ian Epperson (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) and Nick Gianopoulos (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Twp.) make their second appearance on the All-District team.

Carnegie Mellon is part of District 4 which is comprised of all Division III schools in the state of Pennsylvania. Epperson and Gianopoulos now move on to the national ballot for Capital One Academic All-America recognition.

Epperson completed his time as a Tartan on Saturday, November 5, as a three-year starter who was part of two NCAA tournament appearances and the best season in school history (2009). The outside back currently holds a 3.80 GPA in history and international relations. In the summer of 2011 he graduated from the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidates School and plans to commission following graduation in May. Epperson interned for the CIA for two terms and was the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) co-chair as a junior. This season he started 14 games and scored his first career goal which was also the game winner in a 4-1 win over Bethany College at home on September 24.

Gianopoulos is a central defender for the Tartans and is a two-year starter that was also part of two NCAA tournament appearances and the best season in school history. Off the field, Gianopoulos carries a 3.89 GPA in mechanical engineering and is working on his master’s degree in mechanical engineering with plans of graduating in 2012. He has interned with United Launch Alliance for two years designing and constructing a hydraulic cradle and constructing a high-powered sport rocket. He continues to work with a team at Carnegie Mellon to design a lunar rover for the Google Lunar X Prize. He also serves as a calculus, physics and mechanical engineering tutor, is a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Society and Students for the Exploration and Development of Space and supports Carnegie Mellon Athletics as a member of the SAAC.