Rowan Athletics

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Eight Rowan University student-athletes were named to the Philadelphia Inquirer Academic All-Area Teams. Women’s soccer player Jess Babice was selected the Academic Women’s Soccer Performer of the Year.

A forward, Babice (jr. Groveville, NJ/Steinert) was joined on the Philadelphia Inquirer Women’s Soccer Academic All-Area Team by midfielder Krista Verzi (sr. Delran, NJ/Delran). Goalkeeper Charlie Cunliffe (jr. Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood) was chosen to the Men’s Soccer Academic All-Area Team. Safety Mike Barone (sr. Hammonton, NJ/Hammonton), defensive end Matt Hoffman (jr. Burlington, NJ/Burlington Twp.), punter Andrew Smith (sr. Howell, NJ/Freehold Twp.), guard Josh Weiss (sr. Glassboro, NJ/Glassboro) and quarterback Frank Wilczynski (sr. Pine Hill, NJ/Overbrook) earned Football Academic All-Area Team honors.

Babice has a 3.913 grade point average (GPA) in health and exercise science. She was the team’s leading scorer with 50 points. Babice scored 22 goals and had six assists in 19 games. She was named the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Metro Offensive Player of the Year. She was selected to the NJAC All-Conference and ECAC Metro All-Star first teams. Babice was chosen to the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America second team and Academic All-District II first team.
Verzi is majoring in English and secondary education with a 3.754 GPA. This season, she collected four points with one goal and two assists. Verzi received NJAC All-Conference first team and ECAC Metro All-Star second team honors.

This year, Cunliffe compiled a 13-6-2 record with seven shutouts. He produced a 0.91 goals against average, only allowing 19 goals in 21 appearances. Cunliffe totaled 123 saves for a 5.86 saves per game average. He was named the NJAC Goalkeeper of the Year and to the All-Conference first team. Cunliffe was also selected the ECAC Metro Defensive Player of the Year and earned ECAC Metro All-Star first team honors. He is majoring in civil engineering with a 3.732 GPA.

Barone is a biological sciences major and has a 3.3 GPA. He registered 33 tackles (16 solo, 17 assisted), six pass breakups, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one tackle for a loss (-4 yards). Barone was chosen to the NJAC All-Conference first team defense and received College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA)/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II second team.

Hoffman tallied 42 tackles (20 solo, 22 assisted), 12.0 tackles for a loss (-49 yards), 6.5 sacks (-37 yards) and blocked one punt. He earned NJAC All-Conference second team defense honors. Hoffman has a 3.21 GPA in health and exercise science. Smith is majoring in radio/television/film with a 3.466 GPA. This season, he posted 2,216 yards on 56 punts for a 39.6 average. Smith had 24 punts inside the 20 yard line.

Weiss anchored an offense line that only allowed eight sacks this season. Rowan averaged 38.9 points, 239.5 rushing yards and 408.7 yards of total offense per game. Weiss was named to the CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District II first team and NJAC All-Conference second team offense. He is an accounting major with a 3.544 GPA.

Wilczynski is majoring in health and exercise science and has a 3.631 GPA. He led Rowan with 1,456 yards passing and 11 touchdowns with 117 completions in 207 attempts. Wilczynski was also the Profs’ top rusher with 793 yards and 15 touchdowns on 91 carries. He was a NJAC All-Conference first team offense selection.