PHILADELPHIA – Widener places five on PhillySIDA Academic All-Area Team
For the fall 2024 seasons, Widener earned spots on the PhilySIDA Academic All-Area Team for football, men's and women's cross country, and men's soccer. Joining the other PhillySIDA members are offensive linemen Cody Resuing (Football),
Jacob Kopelman (Football),
Gabby Nye (Women's Cross Country),
Tom Flear (Men's Cross Country), and forward
Sean Fatiga (Men's Soccer).
Football
Resuing and Widener football wrapped their season up in the Centennial-MAC bowl game against Muhlenberg after going 5-5 (5-4 MAC) in the regular season. Resuing helped the offense come away with key wins over Lebanon Valley and FDU-Florham to earn them the second spot in the postseason rankings. Resuing, a Hanover, Pa. native, currently is in his graduate season studying accounting.
Kopelman helped hold the Pride defense down, allowing 14 points across three tough losses in the middle of the season. In the 11 games of play, Kopelman would show 64 total tackles (42 solo), seven tackles for a loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble. The defensive back from Lancaster, Pa. is currently studying criminal justice.
Women's Cross Country
The Shippensburg, Pa. native earned her spot on the Academic All-Area team following her third straight year at NCAA Championships. Nye's season boasted MAC Runner of the Year and a title at MAC Championships this fall and an NCAA Championship that showed a 42
nd place finish. Nye also earned PhilySIDA Cross Country Runner of the Year while studying biology and pre-physical therapy.
Men's Cross Country
In five meets this fall, Flear earned his was onto the team after a fourth-place finish at MAC Championships and a 35
th place finish at NCAA Metro Regionals. The junior electrical engineering major currently resides from Mullica Hill, N.J.
Men's Soccer
Graduate student Fatiga returned to the Pride following his senior year last year to help the Pride to a 9-7-4 (4-2-1 MAC Commonwealth) record and a trip to the conference tournament semifinal. Fatiga led the Pride in all 20 games with 12 goals and five assists. Two goals would be credited as game winning goals. The Swedesboro, N.J. native currently is pursuing his Doctorate of Physical Therapy.
