Inquirer Academic All-Stars

Here are the winter-season players who excelled as students and athletes as selected by the Philadelphia Sports Information Directors Association:

Senior Jon Ward of Ursinus, a forward, had a 3.86 grade point average and majored in physics. He finished his career fourth in scoring at Ursinus with more than 1,500 career points. Ward averaged 12.9 points as a senior and shot 57 percent from the floor. He was a first-team Academic All-District performer each of the last two seasons. The Allentown native, who attended Parkland High School, has volunteered with the Special Olympics Basketball Tournament; the Mercy Hospice Women's Shelter; and SHARE, a local food bank. Last summer, Ward interned in France and studied gravitational waves.

Men's basketball team

Jim Connolly, Philadelphia U., senior, accounting

T.J. DiLeo, Temple, graduate, marketing

Jay Kober, Swarthmore, junior, history and education

Brendan Stanton, Gwynedd-Mercy, senior, psychology

Jon Ward, Ursinus, senior, physics

Widener senior Kate Dellinger is a two-time Capital One Academic All-District first-team selection. She was recently named to the Capital One Academic All-America Team as a second-team selection for the second consecutive year. Dellinger was on Widener's president's list four times and notched a 4.0 grade-point average in four of her seven semesters. She was a dual major, pursuing degrees in psychology and physical therapy. A WBCA honorable-mention all-American for the second consecutive year and a three-time all-Commonwealth Conference first-team selection, Dellinger led the Pride to a 24-6 record and helped them reach the NCAA Division III Elite Eight. The guard led Widener in scoring and rebounding with averages of 11.8 and 9.2, respectively. Dellinger finished her career with 1,255 points (sixth most in Widener history) and 759 rebounds (fourth most in Widener history). She was a finalist for the Jostens Trophy, which cites basketball ability, academic prowess, and community service.

Women's basketball team

Alyssa Baron, Penn, junior, communications

Kristen Blye, Philadelphia U., senior, finance

Kelly Brady, Holy Family, senior, elementary/special education

Kate Dellinger, Widener, senior, psychology/physical therapy

Katie Lytle, Swarthmore, junior, mathematics

Erin Shields, St. Joseph's, junior, finance

Laura Sweeney, Villanova, senior, human services

Jessica Sylvester, U. of the Sciences, soph., pharmacy

Drexel sophomore Alex Chialastri led the Dragons in the 100-yard freestyle and moved into second place in school history by racing 45.29 seconds in the Colonial Athletic Association championships. He also led the squad in the 200 freestyle, stopping the clock in 1 minute, 38.63 seconds in the CAA championships for the second-best time in Drexel annals. He also had the third-fastest time for the team this year in the 50-yard freestyle, racing 21.03 seconds at the CAAs, and posted the fourth-best time for the squad in the 100-yard butterfly by going 52.68 seconds against Howard. Chialastri has a 3.97 grade point average in chemical engineering. He has been named to the dean's list four times and has received the CAA commissioner's award.

Men's swim team

Alex Chialastri, Drexel, soph., chemical engineering

Daniel Duncan, Swarthmore, senior, linguistics/Eastern European studies

Charlie Hepper, Swarthmore, senior, history

Pat Malone, Rowan, junior, geography

John Quagliariello, Drexel, soph., sports management

Josh Satre, Swarthmore, senior, political science

Chad Schmidt, Drexel, soph., business administration

Blase Szyszko, La Salle, senior, integrated science, business and technology

Rhoads Worster, Penn, junior, economics

Daniel Zalkind, Drexel, senior, electrical engineering

Villanova senior Erin Malone recorded a 16th-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke at the NCAA championships and became the first Villanova swimmer in nine years to earn a team point at the national meet. During the season, Malone broke school records in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke. Malone received all-Big East honors in both the 100 and 200 breaststroke while also swimming on two relays (400 medley relay, 800 freestyle relay) that broke school records. Malone won 15 races in dual meets during the year, nine individually and six in relays. The communications major carried a cumulative grade point average of 3.785. She also was a key contributor to the Villanova women's water polo team.

Women's swim team

Supriya Davis, Swarthmore, soph., undeclared

Hayley Edwards, Villanova, senior, sociology

Lauren Faykes, Drexel, senior, design and merchandising

Courtney Good, Cabrini, junior, social work

Kelsey Lake, Widener, senior, psychology

Erin Malone, Villanova, senior, communication

Breaghann Smith, Cabrini, junior, psychology

Roxy Tammadge, Villanova, senior, psychology

Rebecca Teng, Swarthmore, junior, biology

Kelly Trussell, Drexel, soph., health sciences

Penn senior sprint football player Whit Shaw earned seven Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) all-league honors over his career for the Quakers, including five first-team selections at both wide receiver and special teams. He graduated in May as the program's all-time leading receiver with 2,245 career receiving yards, a record Shaw has owned since his sophomore season. In addition, his 30 touchdown catches rank at the top of the Penn record books. This past season, Shaw led the CSFL with 10 touchdown catches, part of a 33-catch, 488-yard season. His best day of the season featured six catches for 146 yards at Franklin Pierce, including a game-winning, 73-yard catch with nine seconds remaining.

Men's at-large team

Derek Chilvers, Penn, junior, science, squash

C.J. Cobb, Penn, soph., environmental studies, wrestling

Brad Driscoll, U. of Sciences, senior, pharmacy, mixed rifle

Scott Farrell, Neumann, senior, business administration, ice hockey

Daniel Judd, Penn, junior; operations and information management, applied science/computer science (engineering); squash

Mark Rappo, Penn, senior, finance, wrestling

Whit Shaw, Penn, senior, english, sprint football

Justin Singh, Drexel, junior, business administration, squash

Alexander Tighe, Temple, senior, applied mathematics, gymnastics

Steven Yang, Penn, soph., undecided, fencing

Captain of the Penn foil squad, junior Wendy Zhao finished the 2012-13 season with 42 wins, second-best on the Quakers squad. Zhao started the season by going 11-0 at the Vassar Invitational and proceeded to win eight of 10 bouts against local rivals from Haverford and Temple. She also won nine of 14 bouts at the Philadelphia Invitational in late January. She is a finance/business economics and public policy major and holds a 3.74 cumulative grade point average.

Women's at-large team

Jean Alban, Temple, senior, fencing, advertising

Amrit Bhinder, Penn, junior, fencing, economics

Edie Brenning, Neumann, junior, ice hockey, criminal justice

Shannon Donnelly, Neumann, senior, ice hockey, business

Megan Milavec, Penn, senior, gymnastics biology

Chantal Montrose, Temple, junior, fencing, advertising

Anna Schmiedicke, Drexel, senior, squash, environmental engineering

Pia Trikha, Penn, senior, squash, psychology

Luona Wang, Penn, soph., fencing, undecided

Wendy Zhao, Penn, junior, fencing, finance