By ALEX SPONSELLER

The Emo DiNitto/Rhode Island Football Chapter of the National Football Foundation unveiled its Golden Dozen for 2022, and Pilgrim quarterback Connor Widmer made the cut.

The annual recipients of this award are chosen based on performance on the gridiron as well as in the classroom, with a required minimum grade average of B-plus to go along with at least All-Division honors.

Members of the Golden Dozen will be given $1,000 grants toward their respective colleges in a ceremonial dinner on May 2 at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick.

Widmer emerged as one of the state’s best quarterbacks during the 2021 fall season and was a member of the 2019 team that brought Pilgrim its first football state championship since 1975. He was excited to hear the news that he made the Golden Dozen and was thrilled to end his high school football career on a high note.

“It’s a big honor to represent my school in a positive light. I was talking to my coach who told me that I was only the eighth player to get it from our school so that is a big accomplishment for me. It just shows all the hard work and dedication that I put in these past four years and that hard work pays off,” said Widmer. “It’s really exciting. It’s better to go out in a good light and to represent my school in a positive way. The coaches are proud of me, my parents are proud of me. I couldn’t have gone out any better.”

Widmer always took pride in his performance not only on the field but in the classroom as well.

“They go hand in hand. In order to play sports you have to have good grades, you can’t be failing classes. Football helps motivate me to do good in school and to not let anyone on the team down. That was my motto all four years, in order to play football I have to get good grades,” Widmer said.

Widmer’s next step will be toward Delaware, as he will be competing in college lacrosse at the University of Wilmington next spring. Widmer is looking forward to the upcoming high school season and getting one more chance at a championship with the Pats.

 “Our lacrosse team is a special and confident team, that’s my focus, to end my high school career with a state championship under my belt. I won one in football and now it’s time to win one in lacrosse. That is my mindset, to end my senior year strong and to have fun with it,” said Widmer, who will miss the Pilgrim community moving forward.

“Nothing beats playing under the lights. Having the entire community there to come cheer you on. I think that’s what I am going to miss the most,” Widmer said. “It’s a special community we’ve got here. Everyone has a lot of pride in our school.”