2008 NEFC All-Academic Team

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. - Thirteen members of the 2008 Bridgewater State College 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.

Offensive tackles Justin Lima (Mashpee, MA) and Joel Gervais (Oxford, MA), cornerback Aaron Santos (Providence, RI), safety Patrick Gendron (Westfield, MA) and punter Malachi Charbonneau (Oxford, MA) are the five seniors from the 2008 squad who achieved all-academic status.

Lima was also named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District One College Division Football Team for the second consecutive season, and was chosen as the Bridgewater State College Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year for the second straight year as well.

Members of the junior class on the all-academic team are defensive tackle Chris Dijak (Lunenburg, MA), linebacker Casey Florence (Bridgewater, MA), offensive tackle Joel Nunes (Taunton, MA) and offensive guard Jeff Smith (Danvers, MA).

Sophomores include safety Gilbert Cham (Dorchester, MA), offensive lineman Chris Grande (New Bedford, MA), linebacker Mike Laffarello (Wilmington, MA) and running back Jared Ulak (Rehoboth, MA).

The Bridgewater State football team posted a record of 7-3 during the 2008 season.  The Bears won each of their last six games and earned a share of the NEFC Bogan Division title with a 6-1 mark in divisional play.