Matt Burton Earns NCAA Elite 88 Academic Award
December 17, 2009 | Men's Water Polo
Dec. 17, 2009
Just before the USC men's water polo team captured the NCAA championship title this month, the Trojans saw one of their own earn top honors on the academic side of things at the 2009 NCAA Tournament. At the pre-competition banquet in Princeton, N.J., the NCAA presented USC sophomore Matt Burton as the recipient of the Elite 88 award for holding the highest cumulative GPA of all NCAA men's water polo tournament participants.
Burton, a communications major with a 3.87 GPA, also was a standout in the pool for the Trojans in their run to a second straight NCAA championship - the fifth overall for the USC men's water polo program. A stubborn defender on the nation's top defensive team, Burton also contributed 17 goals to the Trojans' cause in 2009.
The Elite 88, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 88 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 88 championships.
