CHONKO AND WHARTON NAMED ALL-REGION

Honors Continue to Pile Up for 2009 Tigers

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (December 17, 2009)—Hampden-Sydney senior defenseman Brett Chonko (Farmville, VA/Prince Edward) and sophomore forward Bryan Wharton (Glen Allen, VA/Deep Run)  have both been selected to the 2009 NSCAA Division III All-South Atlantic Region Team.  Wharton was named to the second team while Chonko was named to the third team.  Making the feat all the more impressive is the fact that the South Atlantic Region was re-zoned to include the prestigious New Jersey Athletic Conference, increasing the number of quality players eligible for the All-Region team.

This is Chonko's first selection to the All-Region Team, and is yet another impressive honor in recognition if his stellar senior season.  He has already been named first team Academic All-District, first team Academic All-American, and second team All-ODAC this year.  The Farmville native was one of the bookends of the Hampden-Sydney's outstanding defense that allowed a league-low 12 goals on the season.  Though often matched up against larger forwards, Chonko was spectacular on the back line, frustrating opposing offenses all season long.  This season, Chonko added goal scoring to his repertoire, finding the back of the net four times, including the game-winner against Wesley. 

This is also Wharton's first selection to the All-Region Team.  In a season in which he led the Tigers in scoring for the second straight year with 31 points on the strength of 14 goals and 3 assists, the accolades are also piling up for the sophomore forward.  For his outstanding season, Wharton was named first team All-ODAC and was also the ODAC player of the week for November 2nd.  Wharton finished second in the ODAC in goals, goals per game, points, points per game, and game winning goals this season.  His 4-goal explosion against ODAC power Roanoke set a new career high for goals in a game, and tied for the most goals scored in a single game in the ODAC this year.  Wharton's 28 career goals and 61 career points both place him just outside the top 5 in program history after just two seasons in a Tiger uniform, and if he continues his torrid pace, he could end up as Hampden-Sydney's all time leading goal and point scorer.

The selection of Chonko and Wharton to the All-Region Team is a testament to their hard work year round and dedication to Hampden-Sydney soccer.  Their play this year helped lead the Tigers to the most successful season in school history, in which Hampden-Sydney set new marks in wins, ODAC wins, and shutouts.

    -www.hsc.edu/athletics-