Barket, Spadola garner Academic All-District honors
11/10/2011 10:00:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – As the Lehigh football team prepares to play for a Patriot League championship on Saturday, two Mountain Hawks were recognized for their success in the classroom on Thursday as juniors Zach Barket and Ryan Spadola were named to the Capital One Academic All-District II Football team. The honor is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) whose schools are in the region.
Barket and Spadola have both played significant roles offensively for Lehigh, which boasts the nation's top-ranked offense.
Barket has started eight of Lehigh's nine games at tailback and is enjoying a career-best season in rushing and receiving. The Schuylkill Haven, Pa. native has rushed for 646 yards and scored four touchdowns, while averaging over five yards per carry; and has also caught 30 passes for 309 yards and five touchdowns. Barket has eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark in each of the Mountain Hawks' last three games, including a career high 188 yard effort at Colgate where Barket totaled four touchdowns.
An accounting major, Barket owns the top cumulative grade point average on the Lehigh football team at 3.61. Already a two-year letter-winner, Barket has made multiple appearances on the Dean's List and Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, and has received Lehigh's faculty athletics council's academic award.
Spadola is in the midst of another spectacular offensive campaign as the Mountain Hawks' big-play wide receiver. A third team All-American last season for his athletic prowess, Spadola has once again posted big numbers in 2011 with 71 receptions for 1215 yards and 10 touchdowns. The New Jersey native is currently ranked third in the Football Championship Subdivision in receiving yards per game. This season, Spadola has a 214-yard, three-touchdown game at Princeton and a 13-catch, 216-yard effort at Fordham as he makes a bid for the Lehigh single-season records in all three categories. A member of both the Dean's List and the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll, Spadola carries a 3.33 grade point average majoring in finance.
Barket and Spadola are the first Lehigh football players to earn Academic All-District honors since Brendan Van Ackeren was recognized in 2008.
Lehigh brings an 8-1 overall record and a seven game winning streak into Saturday's game against Georgetown, where the winner will capture the Patriot League's automatic berth to the FCS Playoffs. Kickoff is set for just after 12:30 p.m. at Goodman Stadium. Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by logging on to Lehighsports.com
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