Wingate's Ralph Curiel earns ESPN Academic All-AmericaR first team laurels

Towson, Md.----Wingate University senior offensive lineman Ralph Curiel  (Tehachapi, Calif.) has been named to the ESPN Academic All-America® football first team (college division), selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Curiel earns Academic All-America® honors for the first time in his career. He is the second Wingate football student-athlete to receive Academic All-America® laurels. Defensive end Frank Marino was a first team pick in 2006.

Earlier this month, Curiel earned ESPN Academic All-District III football first team honors. District III (college division) includes all non-NCAA Division I schools (Division II, III and NAIA) in Florida, Georgia, Virginia and North and South Carolina. Curiel sports a 3.91 GPA as a History major.

“Ralph is disciplined, diligent and hard working…in every aspect of his life,” Wingate head coach Joe Reich says. “His structure and focus are paramount to his success. Ralph does not allow outside distractions to deter him from what he wants to accomplish. He is one of the best student-athletes I have ever coached.”

            Curiel is a two-year starter at right guard on the Wingate offensive line. The 2010 Bulldogs (9-2 overall) won the South Atlantic Conference regular season title for the first time in school history. Also, Wingate earned a berth into the NCAA Division II play-offs for the first time. The Bulldogs visit number five Albany State University (10-0 overall) Saturday for a 1 p.m. second round contest.

            This year, the Bulldogs are second in the South Atlantic Conference and seventh in the nation in passing offense (335.4 yards per game). Wingate is second in the SAC and 14th in the nation in total offense (452.6 yards per game). During Curiel’s first year as a starter, Wingate averaged 395.3 total offense yards per game in 2009. Last year, Wingate was second in SAC in scoring offense (33.6) and passing offense (241.1).

            In his two years, Curiel has blocked for nine 100-plus yard performances by Bulldog running backs. The Bulldog O-Line helped redshirt senior running back Nelson Woods (Shelby, N.C.) rush for 1000 yards for the third time in his career this season. Entering the Albany State contest, Woods has 1144 yards on 238 carries.

Curiel and the Bulldog O-Line helped Wingate redshirt junior quarterback Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) become a regional finalist for the 2010 Harlon Hill Trophy.
Haffly is 254-of-407 for 3649 yards and 39 touchdowns this year. A South Atlantic Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll student, Curiel joins his teammates every August as a Special Olympics Field Day volunteer.

            Wingate University is ranked number three among NCAA Division II Academic All-America® producing schools in the 2000’s with 37 honorees during this millennium. Only Pittsburg State (Kan.) University and Truman State (Mo.) University have produced more Academic All-America® honorees during this time period. Wingate’s 46 Academic All-America® honorees (lifetime) is tops among all SAC schools.