Five West Chester Gridders Named Philly-SIDA Academic All-Area

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. –  West Chester University's nationally ranked football team placed five players on the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Football Team released Wednesday afternoon, representing the top football players for their outstanding achievement for on the field and in the classroom. Four seniors were selected in linebackers Ronell Williams (Chester, Pa./Chester) and Mike Labor (Havertown, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep), center Derek Schatz ( Churchville, Pa./Council Rock South), and kicker/punter Rich Bruno (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South), along with junior defensive lineman Andrew Cohen (Holland, Pa./Council Rock South).

Bruno is the only player returning to the list, after taking home Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-area Football Performer of the Year honors in 2013 by finishing with a 3.87 grade-point average. He carried a 3.90 GPA into this fall, while majoring in Exercise Science. During his career at West Chester, Bruno became the trick of all kicking trades. He was responsible for kickoffs, punts and field goals at some point during his four-year career. In his last season as a Golden Ram, he averaged 37.94 yards per punt with a long of 64 with 20 of his punts landing inside the 20 yard line. He made 9 of 16 field goals, including one from 45 yards out in his longest attempt of the year. He also averaged 55.6 yards on kickoffs with 11 touchbacks while winning the school's Male Scholar Athlete of the Year award.

He opened as a shining star last year as his punting yardage increased, averaging 39.9 yards and with his career longest 74 yard punt and 15 of them landing close to the opponent's end zone. Bruno also shared time at the kickoff position with Shawn Leo cumulating in 2,370 yards, 59.2 yards per kickoff with four touch backs. In his sophomore year would turn into the primary punter averaging 36.6 yards per punt and adding a long punt of 59 yards and 10 punts that landed behind the 20-yard line of opponents, earning All-PSAC East honors.

Senior Ronell Williams was a dominant figure defensively throughout his four years as a Golden Ram. However, he was just as decorated in the classroom, finishing with a GPA of 3.02 majoring in pre-occupational therapy. On the field, Williams flourished leading the team in tackles for three straight years and finishing second this past season behind Mike Labor with 68. He dominated opposing offenses with three sacks and one forced one fumble this season. Last year, it was kind of the same as the fierce linebacker registered 110 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, three pass break-ups, and kept constant pressure on opponents quarterbacks forcing them to get rid of the ball four times. He ended up being All-PSAC East and Super Region 1 for the second season in a row. He also was a honorable mention All-America (Don Hansen Football Gazette and D2Football.com) as well as finalist for the Cliff Harris award, handed out to the top defensive player of the year in small college football. In 2012, he had a career-high 119 tackles and three interceptions for the season, and another force fumble finished ranked fourth in the country for interceptions for a linebacker, while receiving first team All-PSAC East, Super Region 1, AP little All-America and AFCA All-America. Even as a freshman, Williams was always around the ball leading the team with 79 tackles and 2.5 sacks. He also recorded his only fumble recovery of his career.
 
Teammate, Mike Labor finished out in the classroom with a 3.11 GPA while studying finance during his college career. On the field this fall, Labor returned as one of the top linebackers in the conference, Super Region 1 and the country. He sure showed that quality of play as he led the defense with 96 tackles, 2 sacks, and three forced fumbles, including 14 tackles for a loss, while playing in all 13 games. In 2013, he posted 105 tackles, including 13 for a loss of 53 yards to lead the team. He also added 4.5 sacks and one interception. In his sophomore season, Labor made 48 tackles, starting six of eight games while missing four games in the process. He also added one force fumble.

Derek Schatz finished with a 3.27 GPA while majoring in Computer Science. This season, he was a preseason All-America by Lindys Sports and USA Football. He was the starting center for his last three seasons. In 2013, the center started in all 15 games grabbing a hold of a first-team All-PSAC East plaudit. He was also named second-team All-Super Region 1. In 2012, he was a part of a talented line for 11 games that helped star running back Rondell White break the school's single-season rushing record of 1,548 and helped WCU to the fourth ranked rushing offense in the conference as well as fifth in total offense. The three-year letterwinner that has, with his strength and talent off the ball, been a tremendous force in protecting his quarterback in order to make the throws and put up points, and block down field, allowing a balanced running attack to flourish.

Cohen majors in Physical Education and ended last spring with a 3.08 GPA. The defensive lineman will return next season with an experienced line, only losing one key starter to graduation. On the field, the three-year letterman has followed in Williams' and Labor's footsteps in posing pressure on offenses around the league. The junior compiled 65 tackles and led his defense with 20 tackles for a loss, and sacked opponent's quarterbacks 11 times for 65 yards lost, while registering eight quarterback hurries. As a sophomore, the defensive end played in all 15 games, registering 41 tackles, four pass break-ups, four quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble. In his rookie season, the defensive end played in all 11 games, registering 33 tackles, leading the team with 7.5 for a loss. He also contributed with a fumble recovery, taking it four yards for his first and only touchdown of his career.

The 2014 Academic All-Area football team includes players from seven different schools with four of the seven having at least four players selected to the team.  There are also nine repeat selections from a year ago. Rowan led all schools with six team members on the all-area squad, including Chris Alavarez, Joe Borden, Darren Dungee, Kurt Kingett, Withler Marcelin and Vinny Simone. Five players each from West Chester and Villanova also made the all-area team while Villanova was represented by Don Cherry, Kevin Gulyas, Ross Hall, Cameron McCurry and Jake Prus. Making the team from Widener were Michael Bennett, Ryan O'Hara, Blaine Price and Stacey Sunnerville. The selections from Delaware Valley were Aric Boyes, Dave Driscoll and Joe Meehan. Temple had two members on the all-area squad, including John Christopher and Kyle Friend. Penn was represented by Jimmy Gammill. The nine repeat selections from the 2013 all-area team are Alvarez, Borden, Bruno, Cherry, Christopher, Friend, Gulyas, McCurry and Sunnerville.