JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Junior Theo Bourghelle (Lesquin, France/LaSalle Lille) of the New Jersey City University men's tennis team has capped off his 2020-21 campaign with one of the most prestigious awards possible. The Gothic Knights' captain — fresh off several other highly-regarded accolades earlier this year — became just the fourth NJCU student-athlete in history to earn the distinction of Academic All-America, awarded by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). He was selected to the third team, officially earning the sixth Academic All-America honor in Jersey City history.

NJCU last earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2012-13 when Brian Ferrante of the men's golf program accomplished that feat as a second team selection. Julia Caseres of women's soccer earned third team in 2011-12. Katie Feehan, also of women's soccer, is the only multi-honoree after earning third team twice in 2005-06 and 2006-07, as well as first team in 2007-08. Bourghelle and Ferrante are now the only two at-large student-athletes to earn the honor for NJCU.

The reigning NJCU Male Athlete of the Year brings to an end his year of accolades as he prepares for the 2021-22 campaign to begin. He was the first commit in the restart of the Gothic Knights' tennis program and helped his team to Jersey City's first-ever New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) title. Heading in to the NJAC Tournament, Bourghelle was also named the conference's Player of the Year, as well as to the First Team in both singles and doubles. Lastly, he ended the year ranked #11 in singles in the final NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Rankings.