May 9, 2002

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest senior pitcher Dave Bush was named to the Verizon Academic All-America District III Baseball Team, as announced by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) on Thursday.

Bush, a native of Devon, Pa., was one of 11 baseball players selected from a district that covers Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. He was one of three Atlantic Coast Conference student-athletes selected to the team.

This season, Bush is the NCAA leader in appearances with 33, owns a 6-1 record with a 1.83 ERA and 10 saves. He has struck out 38 batters in 39.1 innings with just seven walks.

Criteria for selection to the Verizon Academic All-America team include being a starter or key reserve, sophomore athletic/academic standing and a 3.2 cumulative GPA. Bush, along with the other District III selections, will now advance to the national Academic All-America ballot.

Bush is a double major in sociology and psychology and has compiled a 3.24 cumulative GPA. This honor follows a long list of on-the-field accomplishments for Bush, one of the most decorated players in Demon Deacon history.

A preseason first team All-American, Bush is a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Award, presented to the top player in college baseball by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.

Last year as a junior, Bush was the ACC Tournament's Most Valuable Player, first team All-ACC, third team All-American and has been called the best closer in college baseball by several national publications. He was a fourth-round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays last June but elected to return for his senior year at Wake Forest.

Bush is the school's all-time leader in saves (35) and appearances (135), second in ACC history in both categories and is chasing the NCAA career record for appearances.