MEDFORD, MA (July 9, 2025) - Tufts University's
Michael Ayers,
Parker Merril,
Charlie Tagliaferri and
Joey Waldbaum have been selected to the 2024-25 Academic All-America® men's at-large team announced today by College Sports Communicators. Tagliaferri and Waldbaum are on the first team, Ayers is on the second team and Merril received a third-team award.
Tufts' four Academic All-America® men's at-large selections are tied for the second most in the nation for Division III. The amount is twice as many as all other NESCAC schools combined (2).
This honor recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined athletic and academic achievements. To be nominated, student-athletes must be a significant contributor to the team with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at his current institution. A limit of six nominations per school is set. For lacrosse players, nominees must have competed in 90 percent of the team's total games played or have started 66 percent of the team's total games.
For the Academic All-District® Men's At-Large Teams, student-athletes from the following sports are eligible - Men's Fencing, Men's Golf, Men's Gymnastics, Men's Ice Hockey, Men's Lacrosse, Men's Rifle, Men's Skiing, Men's Volleyball, Men's Water Polo and Men's Wrestling.
Ayers on defense, Merril on face-offs, Tagliaferri at midfield and Waldbaum on defense were key contributors to the Tufts men's lacrosse team that won its second straight NCAA Championship in the spring. Head coach Casey D'Annolfo's Jumbos finished undefeated at 23-0. All four players were USILA All-Americans with Tagliaferri and Waldbaum on the first team, Ayers a second-teamer and Merril on the third team. All four were also 2025 Tufts University graduates with honors - Ayers in Economics (3.69 GPA), Merril in Biopsychology (3.76), Tagliaferri in Economics (3.72) and Waldbaum in Biology (3.91).
Waldbaum made the Academic All-America® men's at-large first team for the second straight year. Tagliaferri is also recognized for the second straight year including a third-team selection for 2024.
With these four honorees, Tufts University Athletics now has 13 Academic All-America® recipients for the 2024-25 academic year thus far. That's the most ever for a single year at Tufts.
See the full 2024-25 Academic All-America® Men's At-large Teams HERE.
--JUMBOS--
