DUDLEY, Mass. – The New England Football Conference has named 12 Nichols College student-athletes to the 2008-2009 NEFC All-Academic Team. A total of 237 student-athletes from the league's 16 teams were honored on the All-Academic squad, which was announced Wednesday.

Three Bison sophomores were named to the team, including DB Brandon Wallace (Windsor, Conn.), a management major, DB Ryan Pandolfi (No. Smithfield, R.I.), a sport management major, and DL Vincent Caprio (No. Branford, Conn.), who majors in accounting.

A human resources major, junior DL Anthony Freni (Norton, Mass.) and classmate TE John Sielawa (Dudley, Mass.), a sport management major, were also named to the team.

Six student-athletes of Nichols' 10-member senior class also earned all-academic status: LB Tom Mulligan (Elmwood, Park, N.J.), WR John Snediker (Grafton, Mass.), LB Erik Valentine (West Lebanon, N.H.), LB/P Josh Harris (Northbridge, Mass.), RB Jay Pino (Middletown, N.J.) and FB Jim Fritz (Souderton, Pa.).

Rounding out Nichols' All-Academic team honorees is WR Chris Vallee (Fitchburg, Mass.), who is pursuing an MBA in security management.

The Bison open the 2009 season at Vendetti Field on September 4 in a 7 p.m. game against Westfield State.

Full List of Nichols Honorees