LANCASTER, Pa. --- Moravian College junior defensive back Nick Zambelli has been named to the 2017 Fall Academic All-Centennial Team and selected as the Conference's Scholar-Athlete of the Year for football.

For the third straight fall, the Centennial Conference is recognizing an Academic All-Centennial Team. To be nominated for the Academic All-Centennial Team, a student-athlete must receive both All-Conference and Academic Honor Roll Honors. This fall, 84 students including 15 football players were recognized for achieving this outstanding accomplishment.

The Centennial Conference also selects a Scholar-Athlete of the Year for each sport. That student-athlete is selected from the junior and senior members of the Academic All-Centennial Team, and Zambelli's 4.00 GPA in Economincs and Computer Science was the top GPA among the 12 junior and senior football players on the Academic All-Centennial Team.

"Being named one of the fifteen players named to the Fall Academic All-Centennial Team and as the Scholar-Athlete of the Year is another well-deserved post season accolade for Nick," stated Head Coach Jeff Pukszyn. "He has a great prospective on what it takes to be a student-athlete. He knows how to prioritize his time into being a high achieving student, as well as being a high-level football player."

This fall, Zambelli recorded 70 tackles to finish third on the Greyhounds' defense, and that total included 44 solo stops, one tackle for loss and one sack as he was named to the Centennial All-Conference Second Team. He also had six passes defended including three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. Zambelli was selected as the Greyhounds' Most Valuable Player in the season finale at rival Muhlenberg College after a career-high 13 tackles and an interception on the goal line. Zambelli, who completed his third season as a starter at Moravian, has contributed 164 tackles with 106 solo stops, seven interceptions, 17 passes defended, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, one tackle for loss and one sack in 31 career games.

"Nick is a perfect example of a true Division III student-athlete," commented Director of Athletics & Recreation Mary Beth Spirk. "He excels on the football field and in the classroom at the highest level. The distinction of representing the Centennial Conference is quite an accomplishment. We are fortunate to have Nick represent Moravian College and the Athletic Department on our football team. Congratulations to Nick and Coach Pukszyn on this tremendous honor."

To view the entire 2017 All-Centennial Team and Scholar-Athletes of the Year, visit http://www.centennial.org/sports/general/2017-18/Fall17Academic.