November 20, 2001

GENEVA, N.Y.--Sixteen Hobart College football players were named to the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association All-Conference teams this afternoon, including UCAA Rookie of the Year Ty Godinho (Lancaster/Lancaster, N.Y.). The first-year running back led Hobart and finished second in the UCAA in rushing, averaging 93.8 yards per game, on 187 carries for 844 yards (4.5 yds/att).

Four Statesmen earned first-team honors after leading Hobart to a 6-3 record, the school's fifth consecutive winning season. Junior tackle Adam Tumilowicz (Unadilla Valley/Norwich, N.Y.) was the lone Statesmen on the offensive first-team, while junior linebacker Tim Booth (Waterloo/Waterloo, N.Y.) and first-year cornerback Skip Grantling (Clyde-Savannah/Clyde, N.Y.) represented Hobart on defense. First-year place kicker Eric Ampuja (Brockton/Brockton, Mass.) earned first-team honors for his special teams work.

Eleven Statesmen earned second-team accolades: Godinho, sophomore wide receiver Joe Pirozzolo (Elmira Free Academy/Elmira, N.Y.), junior tight end Ryan Adams (Rome Free Academy/Rome, N.Y.), first-year offensive lineman Alex Bell (Wallkill/Modena, N.Y.), junior defensive end Matt Daley (Bridgeton Academy/Rutland, Vt.), junior defensive tackle Brad Griffith (Massena/Massena, N.Y.), senior linebacker Jesse Aquilino (Fox Lane/Bedford, N.Y.), junior linebacker Everton McLean (Bishop Maginn/Albany, N.Y.), senior cornerback Peter Beatrice (Northfield-Mt. Hermon/Swampscott, Mass.), sophomore free safety Patrick Lester (Williamsville South/Williamsville, N.Y.), and first-year return specialist Dan Suozzi (New Hampton/New Canaan, Conn.).

Sophomore linebacker David Szentesy (Lackawanna/Lackawanna, N.Y.) earned honorable mention.

Godinho was a three-time UCAA Rookie of the Week during a season that saw him rush for 100-plus yards in five consecutive games. He led the team in all-purpose yards with 1,076 (119.6 yds/gm), and touchdowns with six.

Tumilowicz, at 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, helped clear the way for Hobart's ground game, which averaged 173.4 yards per game, including a season-high 442 yards rushing at St. Lawrence. He also earned first-team All-UCAA honors last season.

Booth, a preseason All-American (D3Football.com and Don Hansen's Football Gazette), led the team in solo tackles (41), tackles for a loss (18), and sacks (5.0). Earning his second straight first-team award, he also intercepted a pass and broke up five others, blocked a punt, forced a fumble, and registered a safety.

Grantling played in all nine games this season, leading Hobart rookies with 29 tackles. He also made three interceptions, broke up a team-high nine passes, forced and recovered a fumble, and picked up a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown.

Ampuja led Hobart in scoring with 46 points. He converted 7-of-9 field goal attempts and 25-of-29 extra points. He kicked a 44-yard field goal in his Hobart debut, believed to be the longest since Rusty Hawley '78 kicked a school record 53-yarder in 1977. Ampuja also took over the team's punting duties for the final two games of the season, averaging 37.3 yds/att on 17 punts.

Pirozzolo led the team in receiving this season, catching 27 passes for 487 yards (18.0 yds/rec). He scored five touchdowns, including a 78-yarder in the season finale at Rensselaer. He was named the UCAA Co-Rookie of the Week following the Rensselaer game.

Adams caught 12 passes for 135 yards, including a touchdown. His 12 receptions are the most by a Hobart tight end since Rich Ganci '00 caught 12 passes in 1999. Adams' 135 receiving yards are the most by a Hobart tight end since Nico Karagosian '97 caught 61 passes for 740 yards in 1996.

Bell made an instant impact on the offensive line this season. The Statesmen allowed 17 sacks in the team's first two games, but when Bell broke into the starting line up in the third game, Hobart allowed just 2.0 sacks per game over the final seven games. A nimble 6-foot-3, 320-pounder, Bell also scored two touchdowns on three carries, totaling 3 yards. He was named the UCAA Rookie of the Week following a 24-21 win over Alfred. He led an offensive line that allowed only one sack and paved the way for the Statesmen's 194 rushing yards and 154 yards passing. He also scored a touchdown on his first career carry from 1-yard out. Bell is the first Hobart offensive lineman to earn one of the UCAA's weekly awards.

Daley was second on the team in solo tackles (37), tackles for a loss (9) and sacks (4.0). He was third on the team in total tackles (55). He also broke up four passes, and forced and recovered a fumble. Daley earned second-team All-UCAA honors for the second straight season.

Griffith was sixth on the team in tackles with 37, including a season-high seven at St. Lawrence. He had four tackles for a loss, including a sack, and broke up six passes.

Aquilino was fourth on the team with 46 tackles, including eight for a loss and 2.5 sacks. He broke up four passes, forced two fumbles, and recovered one. He was also named second-team All-UCAA in 1999. He finished his career with 117 tackles, including 26 for a loss, and 10 sacks.

McLean, a team co-captain, finished fifth on the team in tackles with 45. He was third on the team with eight tackles for a loss, including 2.5 sacks. He also recovered two fumbles.

Beatrice made 18 tackles this season, including 17 solo. He broke up seven passes and intercepted two others. He finished his career with 49 tackles and four interceptions.

Lester was seventh on the team in tackles with 36. He also recorded a pair of interceptions and broke up six other passes.

Suozzi was a jack-of-all-trades for the Statesmen this season. Recognized for his return abilities, he led the UCAA in punt return average (16.4 yds/PR), including a 72-yard return for a touchdown at Rensselaer. He returned 11 kickoffs for 197 yards (17.9). In addition to his return skills, Suozzi doubled as a wide receiver and a punter. He caught 17 passes for 240 yards (14.1 yds/rec) and averaged 32.5 yards/punt.

Szentesy led the team in tackles with 57, including eight for a loss and two sacks. He also led the team with four interceptions. He was named the UCAA Weekly Honor three times this season.

ALL-CONFERENCE NOTES:

Five first-years earned All-UCAA recognition, all of them Statesmen, six if you include Pirozzolo, who missed all of last season due to injury.
Hobart's All-Conference by class: 5 first-years, 3 sophomores, 6 juniors, 2 seniors.
Hobart's entire starting secondary was named to the first and second teams after opposing quarterbacks completed just 91-of-262 passes (34.7 percent), while throwing 12 interceptions.
Hobart had more All-Conference selections (16) this season with a 2-2 league record, than last season (13) when Hobart won the UCAA Championship and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time.