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Fisher, Washington Earn Academic All-District Nods

Photos by Meghan Gay, Keith Cline

Nov. 9, 2012. Appalachian State University offensive lineman Graham Fisher (Waynesville, N.C./Tuscola) and wide receiver Tony Washington (High Point, N.C./T.W. Andrews) have been named first-team Capital One Academic All-District, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced on Thursday.

The Capital One Academic All-District teams recognize student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom. To merit consideration, a nominee must carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or higher. District III includes all Division I institutions (FCS and FBS) in North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

A sophomore offensive lineman that sports a 3.72 grade point average in finance and banking, Fisher has started all 10 games at center for the Mountaineers this season. He is the anchor of a unit that surrendered only five sacks through the first six ballgames of the season and helps lead an offense that ranks among the top 35 nationally in rushing, passing, passing efficiency, scoring and total offense.

A junior wide receiver with a 3.77 grade point average in architectural design, Washington has made 24-consecutive starts and ranks among the Southern Conference top 15 with 32 receptions (13th), 423 receiving yards (ninth), 1,094 all-purpose yards (eighth) and a 28.4-yard kickoff return average and 8.6-yard punt-return average (both second). His kickoff- and punt-return averages both rank among the top 25 nationally and his 99-yard kickoff return versus Wofford on Oct. 20 was the longest by a Mountaineer in 44 years. Washington also made one of the biggest plays of Appalachian State’s season to date when he hauled in a 23-yard catch over a Georgia Southern defender for the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of last week’s 31-28 win at top-ranked GSU.

With the All-District accolades, Fisher and Washington advance to the Capital One Academic All‐America Team ballot. First and second‐team Academic All‐America honorees will be selected later this month.