GREENWOOD, Ind. -- After a successful year both on the field and in the classroom, six members of the Christopher Newport men's lacrosse program picked up Academic All-District honors from the College Sports Communicators on Tuesday afternoon.

Brett Kelley, Daniel Siaton, and Jamie Smith all received the award for the second straight season, while Randolph Campbell, Will Cramp, and Jackson Platner were honored for the first time. Overall, the six honorees marked the most in program history, eclipsing the five award-winners in 2023.

In order to be eligible for the award, student-athletes must have at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA while serving as a starter or key reserve. The All-District honor is the prerequisite for All-American accolades, which will be voted on by a national committee later this month.

Founded in 1952, the CSC (formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-American program recognizes standouts from all sports across all divisions of the NCAA. There are over 20,000 total nominations every year with fewer than 10 percent of those student-athletes receiving the nation's highest academic honor.

In his first season with the Captains after spending his freshman campaign at Providence, Campbell made an immediate impact at CNU. During the spring, the sophomore standout ranked fifth on the team - and second among midfielders - with 19 goals and 27 points. He registered at least one point in 15 of his appearances, including hat-tricks against Elizabethtown on January 30 and Franklin & Marshall on March 3. The economics major also had three assists in a league win at Mary Washington on April 1 and a goal in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament against Pfeiffer on May 9.

Seeing action in all 22 games during his sophomore season, Cramp remained one of Christopher Newport's top short-stick specialists. A key contributor on the defensive end, he registered 10 takeaways while hauling in 36 ground balls. Among his finest efforts, he had two strips in a top-25 win over No. 12 Washington and Lee on February 18 and five rollers against Pfeiffer in the national playoffs on May 9. Meanwhile, on the offensive end, the business major chipped in with five points, including three goals. Two of his points came during a victory at Mary Washington on April 1.

Orchestrating one of the finest seasons by a defenseman in program history, Kelley starred on the back line during a terrific junior year. Honored as a first-team All-American by USA Lacrosse Magazine, he posted 52 caused turnovers, which led the Coastal Lacrosse Conference and ranked ninth among all players in the NCAA. His 84 ground balls also marked the most by a defenseman in school lore. Consistently effective, the finance major notched a takeaway in 21 of his 22 appearances, including five against No. 5 Salisbury on May 3. Additionally, his six goals were the most by a long pole in program history.

Securing All-American accolades for the second straight season, Platner remained one of the top midfielders in the country. During his sophomore campaign, he finished with 26 goals and 11 assists. He produced multiple points in 12 of his appearances, including three goals and three helpers in a win over No. 13 Washington and Lee during the third round of the NCAA Tournament on May 10. Equally effective during the regular season, the finance major also had hat-tricks in conference wins over Stockton on March 28 and Kean on April 4 while adding three more points in a victory against No. 6 Salisbury on April 18.

Concluding his career as an All-American, Siaton hauled in national accolades from both USA Lacrosse Magazine and the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association. Starring as a short-stick defensive midfielder, the senior caused 14 turnovers and scooped up 40 ground balls. He had two strips in three of his outings, including a pair of takeaways in the Coastal Lacrosse Conference Semifinals against Mary Washington on April 29. Equally effective in transition, the accounting major recorded seven points, including an assist against No. 13 Washington and Lee during the postseason on May 10.

One of the most lethal offensive contributors in NCAA history, Smith became just the third Division III standout to lead the nation in goals in back-to-back seasons. Stockpiling All-American honors for his performance, he tied his own school record with 84 goals during the spring. That equaled the 20th-most in collegiate lacrosse history. Among his work, the finance major produced 19 multi-goal efforts and 16 hat-tricks. Making a consistent impact, he scored at least once in all 22 games, including seven strikes against Elizabethtown on January 30 and Ohio Northern on March 8.

Aided by the efforts of the decorated performers, Christopher Newport advanced to the NCAA Quarterfinals for the sixth straight season while finishing with an 18-4 record.

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