May 15, 2003

GENEVA, N.Y.—Hobart College Head Football Coach Mike Cragg has announced that junior quarterback Craig Swanson (Jamestown/Jamestown, N.Y.), junior linebacker David Szentesy (Lackawanna/Lackawanna, N.Y.), and sophomore defensive end Chris Purtell (Pioneer/Sardinia, N.Y.) will serve as captains for the 2003 season.

Swanson, who also served as captain last fall, enjoyed the most prolific season by a Hobart quarterback in the program’s history. He became the first Statesmen to pass for 2,000 yards in a season, completing 170 of 290 passes for 2,209 yards and 21 touchdowns, earning UCAA Offensive Player of the Year honors. A finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy, presented to Division III’s most outstanding player, Swanson broke 14 game, season, and career records, including all three marks for touchdowns (4, 21, 32).

Szentesy led Hobart and finished third in the UCAA in tackles with 76, the most by a Statesman since 1976. A 2002 first-team All-UCAA selection, he also led Hobart in sacks with 4.5 and fumble recoveries with six. He was also named third-team All-Region by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette in 2002.

Purtell played in seven games at defensive end for the Statesmen in 2002, recording 29 tackles and 4.5 for a loss. Earning two sacks and two forced fumbles, he is the recent recipient of the Shirley A. Zornow WS ’47 Award, presented to the member of the team who has demonstrated significant improvement, untiring perseverance, and the will to win during the football season.

The Statesmen open their season on Sept. 13, 2003 at Dickinson. Hobart will host Union College for its home-opener on Sept. 27. The Statesmen also will host Rochester (Oct. 11), Franklin & Marshall (Oct. 18), and St. John Fisher (Nov. 8). For the complete schedule visit: http://www.hws.edu/statesmen.

Hobart finished the 2002 season with an 8-2 record, including a seven-game win streak to open the year. That 7-0 start was the best since 1954. Garnering the UCAA title with a perfect 4-0 mark, the Statesmen earned their second berth into the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three seasons. Hobart ended the year with a loss to 11th-ranked and eventual semifinalist John Carroll University.