BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Twenty-One members of the 2012 Bridgewater State University football team earned New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Academic honors. The all-academic team was released today by NEFC Director of Media Relations, Roger Crosley.
To qualify for the team, a player must have completed three semesters at the same institution and maintain a 3.0 or higher cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
Defensive tackle Paul Melicharek (Glen Rock, N.J.), offensive tackle Mike D'Attilio (North Attleboro, Mass.), quarterback Caleb Gelsomino (North Scituate, R.I.), linebacker Alex Monteiro (Portsmouth, R.I.), running back Ben Desmarais (South Hadley, Mass.), tight end Mike Glassman (Norton, Mass.) and receiver Nick Pistacchio (Johnston, R.I.) are the seven seniors from the 2012 squad who achieved all-academic status.
Members of the junior class on the all-academic team are running backs Cody Brewer (Edgartown, Mass.) and Mike Gentili (Leominster, Mass.), offensive guards Kyle Cocozza (Barnstable, Mass.) and Michael Nordberg (Mansfield, Mass.), quarterback Mike McCarthy (Edgartown, Mass.), defensive end Ryan Fleming (Norton, Mass.) and receivers Jake Scott (Somerset, Mass.) and Cory Sweeney (Waynesville, N.C.).
Sophomores include defensive backs Mathieu Araujo (East Freetown, Mass.), Matt Getchell (Norfolk, Mass.) and Dillon Huber-Parker (Longmont, Colo.), linebacker Clint Apaza (Haledon, N.J.), quarterback Dave Bubar (Johnston, R.I.) and running back Matt Lockwood (Seekonk, Mass.).
The Bridgewater State football team posted a record of 9-2 during the 2012 season including a 6-1 mark in Bogan Division play. The Bears, by virtue of an at large selection, made their first appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament since the 2000 season.