TROY, N.Y. – The 2011 Capital One Academic All-District Men's At-Large Teams have been announced and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) student-athletes Chase Polacek and Adam Updegrove have been recognized. Polacek was a First Team selection in the University Division, while Updegrove was a Second Team honoree at the College Division. As a First Team selection, Polacek is now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.

Polacek, a senior forward from Edina, Minn., is a business and management major with a 3.44 cumulative GPA. The assistant captain of the men's hockey team, he led his squad in scoring with 21 goals and 27 assists for 48 points. Polacek was also the team leader in power play goals (11), short-handed goals (2) and game-winning tallies (9). 

A two-time ECAC Hockey Player of the Year, Polacek helped carry the nationally-ranked Engineers into the NCAA Tournament – the team's first appearance since 1995 – as RPI went 20-13-5 overall and 11-9-2 in conference play. Ranking in the top 20 nationally in five statistical categories, he was recognized for his outstanding season with a number of accolades, including All-ECACH First Team, AHCA First Team All-America, INCH All-America, USCHO.com All-America, Hobey Baker Top 10 finalist and the All-College Hockey News First Team.

Polacek, who concluded his career with 160 points (65 goals, 95 assists) in a school record 154 games played, was also a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and was a three-time team Most Valuable Player. Additionally, the former Academy of Holy Angels standout served as a Student Ambassador and volunteered his time with a number of organizations across the Capital Region, including Relay for Life, STRIDE Adaptive Sports, the United Way, the Center for the Disabled and as a clinician for various youth hockey teams.

A sophomore diver out of Carson City, Nev., Updegrove carries a 4.00 cumulative GPA as a mechanical engineering major. He helped the Engineers men's swimming & diving team capture the Liberty League Championship title in 2010-11 and finished fifth off the 1-meter board at the UNYSCSA Championships as RPI placed fifth overall. 

Updegrove, who is also a midfielder on the men's soccer team, started all 19 games for the Engineers in 2010, compiling three goals and two assists for eight points as the team posted a 9-5-5 record (4-1-2 LL). An All-Liberty League First Team selection, he led the team in shots (42) and shots on goal (21), while posting two game-winning tallies as the squad advanced to the Liberty League Tournament Championship game.

A volunteer for numerous organizations and a member of the Eagle Scouts of America, Updegrove has interned with Chromalloy, an engineering company that repairs, replaces and designs parts for gas turbine engines. The Rensselaer Medalist, and singer for the Festival Chorus at RPI, also worked to build a Zenith STOL CH801 4-seat airplane kit and a Superior XP-360 aircraft engine.