GREENWOOD, Ind. -- Capping off two of the most decorated careers in Christopher Newport athletics history, Dylan Rice and Max Wayne were celebrated as CoSIDA Academic All-Americans after the two men's lacrosse standouts collected second-team plaudits from the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Together, they were two of only nine men's lacrosse players in the nation to earn the prestigious honor. They were celebrated in the highly competitive "At-Large" category, which includes student-athletes from every sport outside of baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and track & field. This year, the At-Large team included representatives from 10 different sports ranging from lacrosse, golf, and tennis to wrestling, fencing, and water polo.

Overall, 45 men from around the nation earned a spot on one of the three CoSIDA Academic All-American squads, while Rice was one of only two three-time honorees.

With his award, Rice became only the sixth standout in the history of collegiate lacrosse to earn three CoSIDA Academic All-American awards after hauling in third-team honors in 2020 and second-team nods in 2021. Meanwhile, he is also a perennial All-American for his work on the field. Putting his collective success into perspective, he is just the fourth men's lacrosse player in the history of the sport to be a three-time All-American and three-time Academic All-American. Only former Duke standout Max Quinzani, Brown star Phil Goss, and Merrimack and Virginia legend Charlie Bertrand boasted equally impressive résumés.

Together, Rice and Wayne also became only the 10th pair of men's lacrosse teammates at any level of the NCAA to earn Academic All-American honors in the same year. Additionally, they joined former Cornell standouts Mitch Belisle and Matt McMonagle as the only duo in the history of the sport to earn Academic All-American honors in the same season in which they were celebrated as first-team USILA All-Americans.

One of the most productive offensive standouts in lacrosse history, Rice pieced together a record-breaking career during his time with the Captains. In 2022, the fifth-year phenom established new single-season program standards with 105 points and 72 goals. Overall, he ranked eighth in the NCAA in goals and 11th in points.

Tormenting the opposition throughout the season, Rice had at least two points in each of his 20 appearances. Among his finest moments, he set a new single-game school record with eight goals against Roanoke on February 12. His 10 points in that contest also matched the program standard, which he also equaled on March 27 with an identical eruption against Whittier.

For his work during the year, Rice was celebrated as a first-team All-American by the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association and a second-team honoree by USA Lacrosse Magazine. Additionally, he was a first-team All-League honoree and garnered three Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week awards.

In his career, Rice is a four-time All-Conference, All-State, and All-American selection. Earning his place among the game's elite performers, he graduated with 244 career goals, which not only stands as a program record but also marks the 13th-most scored by any player in NCAA history. His 339 total points also place him first in school lore and 21st on the national charts.

Meanwhile, off the field, Rice is a two-time recipient of the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. A graduate student, the Mechanicsville, Virginia native wrapped up his bachelor's degree in finance with a near perfect GPA last spring.

Punctuating his career as one of the most decorated standouts in Christopher Newport athletics history, Wayne was a bedrock on the defensive unit since his freshman campaign. Fittingly, the fifth-year star added a perfect punctuation mark to his tenure in 2022. Anchoring the back line, he ranked 10th in the NCAA with 55 caused turnovers, which also marked the third-most in school history.

Blanketing the opposition throughout the season, Wayne registered at least one takeaway in all 20 games and had two or more on 17 occasions, including the final 11 outings of his tenure. Additionally, he led all defensemen in the conference with 51 ground balls and was one of only 14 players in the entire NCAA to finish the year with at least 50 takeaways and 50 ground balls.

Hauling in awards for his performance during the season, Wayne was named both the USILA National Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first standout in the country to earn both awards since 2004. He was also a first-team USILA and USA Lacrosse Magazine All-American and secured the league's Defensive Player of the Year honor as well.

For his efforts over the past five seasons, Wayne secured six total All-American honors from USILA, USA Lacrosse Magazine, and Inside Lacrosse. He was also a four-time All-Conference and All-State selection and became the first Division III standout selected in the history of the Premier Lacrosse League Draft. Making the most of his time at Christopher Newport, he graduated as the program's all-time leader with 84 career starts while ranking second with 179 caused turnovers.

Equally impressive on the scholastic side, Wayne was a two-time Academic All-District selection and a perennial member of the Academic All-Conference Team. A graduate student, the Ashburn, Virginia native received his bachelor's degree in computer science in 2021.

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