Widener saw six of its student-athletes named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Fall Academic All-Area Teams.
Juniors Joe Favinger (Mohnton, PA) and Josh Fredricks (Hammonton, NJ) were named a second time from the football team with senior Brian Pastor (Chambersburg, PA) and junior Shane Szumski (Moorestown, NJ) getting their first honor. Senior Ellen Etzweiler (Landisville, PA) and junior Amanda Nagy (Lititz, PA) were tabbed from the field hockey squad.
Favinger, who has a 3.498 GPA in Nursing, posted another standout year at inside linebacker in which he was picked first team All-Middle Atlantic Conference a second straight season. The 2007 MAC Rookie of the Year and second team all-league pick ended this year tied for fourth in the conference with 14.5 tackles for a loss, 11th with 6.5 tackles per contest, tied for 11th with five sacks and tied for third with two forced fumbles.
Fredricks, owner of a 3.732 GPA in Economics, gives the Pride great play at defensive end. He was credited with 12 tackles, including seven solos, but that does not tell the story of how much pressure he takes off others in one of the league’s top defenses. Widener was third in the MAC by yielding just 114.8 rushing yards per contest.
Pastor was picked first team CoSIDA Academic All-District with a 3.868 GPA in Management. He was tied for 17th in the MAC with 6.1 tackles per game and third on the team with 61 tackles. Among his single-game highlights included 12 tackles with 10 solos against King’s on October 10.
Szumski was tabbed second team all-league and sports a 3.404 GPA in Business. He was seventh in the conference with 7.5 tackles per game, tied for 11th with five sacks and 18th with 9.5 tackles for a loss. Szumski also led the team with 75 tackles.
Etzweiler, who in 2008 was picked to the MAC Fall Sportsmanship Teams, has a 3.855 GPA in Physical Therapy and Psychology. The three-time member of the MAC Academic Honor Roll was fifth on the team with 15 points, second with five assists and fifth with five goals.
Nagy gives Widener strong play on defense and owns a 3.889 GPA in Nursing. She is tied for fourth in the Commonwealth Conference with four defensive saves, was one of three to start all 17 games this season and helped the team allow one goal or fewer in nine games this season.
This marks the third time in the last seven seasons Widener has placed at least six student-athletes on a team. The Pride had seven in the fall of 2007 and six in the spring of 2008.
The sports information offices from the areas colleges and universities, which comprise Philly-SIDA, vote on the teams.