LYCOMING HONORS FOOTBALL TEAM;
ANNOUNCES 2002 CAPTAINS

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – Thirteen members of the 2001 Lycoming College football team received special awards Saturday evening at the team’s annual banquet held at the Genetti Hotel.

Seniors Tim Deasey (Norwood, PA; Interboro) and Ryan Rupprecht (Southampton, PA; Archbishop Wood) shared the Warriors’ highest honor as the team’s most valuable players. Deasey had a stellar senior season running the ball. He broke 13 school rushing records and led the conference in rushing with an average of 138.6 yards per game. Deasey was recognized as an MAC 1^st-team all-star for the second consecutive season and as the MAC Offensive Player of the Year by the coaches. He was also named to the Football Gazette All-South Region team. Rupprecht led a defense that returned just three starters from the previous season to become the MAC’s top defensive unit. As a team, Lycoming led the conference in both total defense and points allowed. Rupprecht himself recorded 78 tackles to lead the team, including 23 tackles behind the line-of-scrimmage. He was named an MAC 1^st-team all-star and the MAC Defensive Player of the Year by the coaches in the conference, and was dubbed an All-American by Hewlett-Packard.

Fellow seniors Joe Feerrar (Jersey Shore, PA; Jersey Shore) and Tom Zulkowski (Frackville, PA; Cardinal Brennan) were named the team’s offensive players of the year. Feerrar quarterbacked the Warriors to a record of 8-1 in 2001. In nine games, he completed 139-of-260 passes for 2,006 yards. He tossed 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions on the year. Zulkowski led Lycoming with 40 receptions. He was also third on the team with 500 yards receiving and four touchdowns. The 6’5” tight end was honored as an MAC 1^st-team all-star and a Football Gazette All-South Region 1^st-team member.

Josh Albeck (Sr./Allentown, PA; Central Catholic) earned Lycoming’s offensive lineman of the year award. Albeck anchored a front five that featured three sophomores, a junior, and a senior this past season. He was honored as an MAC 1^st-team all-star and as a member of the Football Gazette All-South Region team. Matt Mendola (So./Dunmore, PA; Dunmore), who lined up at center beside Albeck was named the Warriors’ most improved offensive player. Mendola stepped in to replaced an all-conference center in Mike Spagnuolo and became an MAC 2^nd-team all-star himself.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior Ryan Steele (Williamsport, PA; Williamsport) and junior Jake Davis (Nazareth, PA; Northampton) shared player of the year honors. Steele was third on the squad with 34 tackles, including eight for losses of yardage. He also recorded a pair of sacks, broke up a pass, and forced a fumble. Davis typically drew the assignment of covering the opposition’s top receiver. He proved up to the task time and time again, breaking up 14 pass attempts including a pair of interceptions. He also tallied 27 tackles on the year. Davis was honored by the coaches around the conference by being named a 1^st-team all-star at defensive back.

Chris Roantree (Jr./Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge) garnered defensive lineman of the year honors. Roantree helped anchor the defensive line against the run while also putting pressure on the quarterback in passing situations. He totaled 32 tackles in 2001, including three sacks and nine tackles-for-a-loss. Matt Henrich (Jr./Huntingdon, PA; Huntingdon) was awarded the most improved defensive player award. Henrich led Lycoming with six interceptions and had a total of 13 passes defended. He was also named a 2^nd-team All-Conference defensive back.

Sophomore Ricky Lannetti (Philadelphia, PA; Father Judge) earned Lycoming’s special teams player of the year award. Lannetti returned both kickoffs and punts for the Warriors. He averaged more than 20 yards per kickoff return, more than 10 yards per punt return, and returned two punts for touchdowns – both against FDU-Madison. Lannetti’s speed and quickness were recognized around the conference earning him 2^nd-team all-star honors.

Lycoming also presented two special awards; the David G. Busey award for excellence in athletics and academics, and the Leland “Lee” Calistri award for a senior player who places the team’s success ahead of his own. Kyle Bingaman (Sr./Lykens, PA; Upper Dauphin) was presented with the David G. Busey Award. Bingaman led the squad in receiving yardage with 578 yards on 39 catches. He also scored a pair of touchdowns. In addition, Bingaman was also named to the MAC’s All-Academic team for the fall season. Bob Workman (Sr./Minersville, PA; Minersville) was presented with the Leland “Lee” Calistri Award. Workman, a fullback, carried the ball just 10 times for 31 yards, but his blocking led the way for the featured backs, and his leadership inspired the entire team.

Head Coach Frank Girardi also announced that Chris Roantree and Jay Seagreaves (So./Allentown, PA; Central Catholic) will serve as captains for the upcoming 2002 season. Roantree will return to lead the MAC’s top defensive unit. Seagreaves, who has started all 18 games of his college career, will lead an offensive unit experienced up front but young at the skill positions.

The 2001 Warrior football team went 8-1 overall and recorded the 27^th consecutive winning season in the 30-year tenure of head coach Frank Girardi.