THREE TIGERS NAMED ALL-REGION SCHOLARS

Chonko, Plyler, and Tait Recognized

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA (January 4, 2010)—Hampden-Sydney senior defensemen Brett Chonko (Farmville, VA/Prince Edward) and Christopher Tait (Nokesville, VA/Brentsville)  and junior goalkeeper John Robert Plyler (Charlotte, NC/Myers Park) have been recognized for their hard work both on the pitch and in the classroom as all three have been named to the East All-Region Scholar Team.  Chonko was named to the third team, while Plyer and Tait were both named honorable mention.

Chonko's selection is yet another impressive honor in recognition of his stellar senior season.  The English major from Farmville, VA carries a 3.82 grade point average and will graduate this spring.  He has already been named first team Academic All-District, first team Academic All-American, third team All-Region 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. 

Tait's honorable mention selection is in addition to being named first team Academic All-District this year.  The Applied Math/Math Econ major from Nokesville, VA carries a 3.72 grade point average and will also graduate this spring.  In his four years with the Hampden-Sydney soccer program, Tait has appeared in 71 games, starting 69 of them.  Tait has been a warrior on the field, often battling through numerous injuries at a time to lead the Tigers.  A captain this year, he has helped turn the Tigers' back line into one of the most impenetrable defenses in the country.  In his time on campus, the Tigers have allowed fewer goals each successive season, culminating in this year's ODAC-low 10 goals allowed.

Plyler's selection to the honorable mention team is also one of many awards for the junior this year.  He was named second team All-ODAC and was named to the ODAC All-tournament team.  Plyler enjoyed a tremendous season in which he led the league in shutouts, shutouts per game, goals against average, and save percentage.  He was a wall in between the pipes this year and a vocal leader who was named a team captain as a junior.  Plyler's 9 shutouts were the second most single-season shutouts in Hampden-Sydney history, and he also played the majority of two more Tiger shutouts.  His 19 career shutouts are already second on the all-time list at Hampden-Sydney, and he only needs 6 more shutouts to surpass the record.

The selection of these student-athletes to the All-Region Scholar team embodies the Hampden-Sydney soccer program under head coach Josh Laux, combining excellence in the classroom with winning results on the playing field.

    -www.hsc.edu/athletics-