Bluffton University senior Thomas Gingrich (Goshen, Ind/Goshen) has been named Second Team Academic All-America by CoSida.

Gingrich, a biology and pre-medicine major with a 3.89 GPA, was named First Team Academic All-District honoree as a junior. A four-year starter at right tackle for the Beavers, Gingrich was also a three-time Academic All-HCAC performer.

He is just the third Bluffton athlete to be named Academic All-America, the second in as many years. Jenna Eshleman was a First Team volleyball selection in 2011 and Sara Betts earned Second Team Academic All-America honors as a softball standout in 2004.

Gingrich was one of just two Heartland Conference football players to be recognized along with fellow offensive lineman Nicholas Buchta from Rose-Hulman.

A starter from the first day he walked on campus three years ago, Gingrich has been instrumental in Bluffton's improvement over the last four seasons. His work up front has paved the way for a Bluffton rushing game that churned out over 145 yards per contest.

Gingrich was the first Bluffton football player to be recognized as Academic All-District since Brian Steiner and Cam Staley in 2002.

To be nominated for the CoSIDA Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average at his/her current institution.

Nominated athletes must have participated in at least 50 percent of the team’s games at the position listed on the nomination form. No student-athlete is eligible until he/she has completed one full calendar year at his/her current institution and has reached sophomore athletic eligibility.