May 8, 2003

Thomas Makes USLIA All-American 1st-Team

St. Louis, Missouri -- Senior captain Chip Thomas (Tenefly, NJ/Dwight-Englewood), who was named Sunday as the 2003 Michigan lacrosse Most Valuable Player, earned another prestigious honor today when he was named to the USLIA All-American 1st-Team at the USLIA Awards Ceremony at the 1904 World's Fair Pavilion in St. Louis.  Thomas, a 1st-Team All-CCLA selection, was an Honorable Mention All-American last year.

Also named to All-American squads were sophomore defenseman Kirk Kozel (Barrington, Ill./Taft, CT), who made the 2nd-Team, and senior attackman Ben Herbst (Pikesville, MD/Pikesville), who made the 3rd-Team.  Both were also 1st-Team All-CCLA selections, along with Thomas.  Kozel, the 2003 CCLA Defensive Player of the Year, earned his first All-American recognition, and Herbst, Michigan's Offensive MVP this season, was a Honorable Mention selection in 2001, his last season playing.

Herbst and fellow 1st-Team All-CCLA honoree Mike Roth (Montclair, NJ/Montclair-Kimberly) were also named to the USLIA Academic All-American team.  The honor goes to student-athletes who carry at least a 3.2 cumulative grade point average and also make their All-Conference 1st or 2nd Team.

Michigan head coach John Paul also picked up the team's US Lacrosse plaque for winning the Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association championship this season.  It was the team's fifth straight CCLA crown.