Oct. 30, 2008

Romeoville, Ill. – Lewis senior goalkeeper Anthony Szymel (Naperville, Ill./Naperville North) not only gets it done on the field, but in the classroom as well.

   For the second time in his career, Szymel has been named to the CoSIDA ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-District Five Men’s Soccer Team for the College Division. The Naperville, Illinois native earned that same distinction in 2006 as a sophomore.

   “Those are the qualities you look for in a senior captain,” Lewis head men’s soccer coach Evan Fiffles said. “He’s been strong academically throughout his career. His experience and maturity certainly plays a factor. It’s a great honor for him.”

   Szymel, a business administration major, owns a cumulative grade-point-average of 3.66. He is a three-time Academic All-Great Lakes Valley Conference selection, three-time Delahanty Award winner – given to outstanding Lewis student-athletes who display academic excellence and has made the Dean’s list all six semesters.  

   On the pitch, Szymel has been nearly flawless as he has a record of 14-1-1 and a goals-against-average of 0.58 on the season, which is good for fifth in the country. His save percentage of 85.9% is also sixth best in the NCAA.

   Szymel and the Flyers are back in action on Sunday, November 2^nd, as No. 2 seeded Lewis welcomes No. 7 Bellarmine to Lewis University Soccer Field for a 12 p.m. kickoff.       

       A Catholic University sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis offers nearly 80 undergraduate majors and programs of study, accelerated degree completion options for working adults, various aviation programs and 22 graduate programs in nine fields. The mid-sized university is being honored for the fifth consecutive year by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. For more information please visit www.lewisu.edu.

##LEWIS##