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November 17, 2009

Beaver Falls, PA – It has been a memorable football season at Geneva College this fall. The Golden Tornadoes finished their regular season work with an overall record of 7-3 and are set to participate in their record sixth NCCAA Victory Bowl on Saturday in Greenville, IL. A 7-3 record doesn’t come easy and a group of ten players were recognized this week for their part in helping Geneva to its successful season. Ten Geneva players were given PAC Coach’s Honors in a vote by the PAC coaches on Monday. These honors are the equivalent of All-Conference recognition because Geneva’s provisional status prohibits its players from being recognized on the All-Conference team.

Geneva’s offense garnered six recipients starting with junior quarterback David Girardi. It is the second consecutive year that Girardi has been recognized but it was the 2009 campaign that he came into his own. Girardi completed nearly 64% of his passes and threw for 1968 yards and ten touchdowns. He also rushed for a pair of touchdowns while at the same time handling the majority of Geneva’s punting duties. Girardi led the PAC with his 40.3 average including 12 of his 23 punts being downed inside the 20 yard line.

Girardi’s top two receivers were also recognized on Monday. Sophomore AJ Delmonico and freshman Sam Thurston made the post-season list. Delmonico was honored as a return man with his 1044 yards returning punts and kickoffs. He also caught 29 passes for 461 yards and two touchdowns. Thurston was Girardi’s favorite target pulling in 47 balls for 503 yards and three touchdowns in his first collegiate season. In the backfield, Gerard Muschette became only the seventh player in Geneva history to surpass the 1000 yard mark for a single season. Muschette was honored for his 1070 yards and 11 touchdowns. Mr. Touchdown Matt Dean was also honored because of his ability to find the end zone. On only 65 carries, Dean scored a team best 13 touchdowns while rushing for 317 yards. Leading the way for Muschette and Dean while protecting Girardi, Lee Thieroff was also recognized for his stellar play on the offensive line.

Geneva enjoyed an opportunistic defense all season and the four players receiving post-season honors were at the center of the havoc. Defensive end Brian Wilson scored a pair of defensive touchdowns while compiling 41 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Also finding the end zone was defensive back Rich Kolesar. Kolesar finished the regular season with five interceptions including one that was run back for 97 yards in Geneva’s season opener. Kolesar also had 54 tackles and 19 pass break ups from his safety position.

Joining Wilson on the defensive line and enjoying another season was junior Adam Rose. Rose was recognized for the second consecutive season after posting ten tackles for loss, four sacks and an interception. The center piece of the Geneva defense has been middle linebacker Aaron Tommelleo. Tommelleo had 56 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions. More important than numbers was his ability to lead the Geneva defense to one of its finest seasons in recent history.

Geneva College is a comprehensive Christian college of the arts, sciences and professional studies. Founded in the tradition of the Reformed Christian faith, Geneva prepares students to serve Christ in all areas of society: work, family and the church. Geneva College’s philosophy of education is based on the Foundational Concepts of Christian Higher Education. Geneva is a founding member of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU).