WASHINGTON, D.C. - Catholic football placed four student-athletes on the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team it was announced today. 

Representing the Cardinals are Mason Stillwell, Michael Hopkins, Ben Ciesielski, and Andrew Tabor. Stillwell, Hopkins, and Ciesielski have been chosen to move onto the Academic All-America ballot. Hopkins is a two-time selection while the other three athletes have picked up the honor for the first time. 

The 2024 Academic All-District® Football teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America® program separately recognizes football honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and the NAIA.

Ciesielski, a junior left tackle from Orchard Park, N.Y., earns the honor after a breakout 2024 campaign that saw him earn All-Landmark Second Team honors. The 6-3 tackle posted a 3.94 GPA while majoring in Biology (Pre-Med) while getting the job done on the field. 

His blocking helped Catholic to a 5-5 record, the fourth straight season in which Catholic finished .500 or better. Off the field, he has been named to the Landmark Academic Honor Roll while being named to the Dean's List every semester. Ciesielski is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and earned the NY Seal of Biliteracy in French. 

Hopkins, the two-time honoree, is a junior linebacker from Shaker Heights, Ohio. Majoring in Business Administration, Hopkins has posted a GPA of 3.97 to this point. A regular on the Dean's List with Highest Honors, Hopkins is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and is a Busch School of Business Student Ambassador. 

On the field, the 2023 All-Landmark Honorable Mention selection led the defense with 70 tackles in 2024, adding six tackles for loss. Hopkins contributed a sack, an interception, and two pass break-ups for the Cardinals. In the final game of the season, Hopkins surpassed 200 career tackles. 

Stillwell, a senior captain and defensive back, hails from Annapolis, Md. The Business Administration major has a GPA of 3.50 and is set to graduate in the spring. A SAAC member, Stillwell gained valuable intern experience in finance at Hatzel and Buehler. 

The three-time all-conference honoree surpassed 200 tackles for his career and nabbed seven interceptions. This past season, he logged a career-high 67 tackles, making 3.5 stops in the backfield, adding a pick, and forcing a fumble, For his career he tallied 21 passes defended. 

Finally, Tabor, a junior receiver from Jacksonville, Fla. picks up the honor for the first time. Majoring in Business Administration with a 3.85 GPA, Tabor has earned Dean's List with Distinction and is a member of the Lambda Epsilon Omicron Honor Society. 

In his second season with the Cardinals, Tabor caught 31 passes for 392 yards and five touchdowns in 2024. The slot receiver also returned 10 kicks/punts and made six tackles on special teams. Tabor caught touchdowns versus Capital, Alfred, Moravian, Keystone, and Juniata, adding a season-high 79 yards against Keystone in November.