Worcester, MA --- WPI men’s soccer midfielder Ben Gilde has been named to the ESPN The Magazine All-District I first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America (Co-SIDA). Gilde was also selected first team All-District I last season en route to being named a third team All-American.

Gilde, who now advances to the national ballot, is one of three midfielders who selected to the first team in the College Division, which is comprised of NCAA Division II and III and NAIA programs in New England, New York and Eastern Canada.

Gilde sports a 3.87 GPA while majoring in Actuarial Mathematics and minoring in Management and Spanish. Gilde was honored with the Charles O. Thompson award for outstanding academic success at WPI as a freshman. This past spring as a sophomore, Gilde was honored with the Leo S. Jansson Award, who best exemplifies the high standards expressed in “The WPI Athlete.”

This season Gilde led the Engineers in goals (4), assists (4) and points (12). The Crimson and Gray finished with a 3-13-1 record but tied second-seeded Babson 1-1 in the first round of the NEWMAC Tournament before the Beavers advanced on penalty kicks.

Gilde, a junior who hails from Manchester, NH, is the son Walter and Helen Gilde. He played scholastically for head coach Chris Leberge at Manchester Central while being home schooled. He will be spending next term in Melbourne, Australia working with the Victoria Zoo to help develop an education program for students visiting the zoo.

For more information, please contact WPI Sports Information Director Rusty Eggen at   508-831-5328