RELEASE DATE: 6/10/09

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mansfield football announces first group of 32 recruits for 2009 season

Mansfield, Pennsylvania (5/12/09) – Mansfield University head coach Dan Davis recently announced an initial recruiting class of thirty-two incoming students to play football for the Mountaineers this season. All thirty-two students have made their deposit to the university and will enroll for classes beginning in August. 

“It’s been a positive recruiting season for us,” said Davis. “I think it’s fair to say the word has gotten out about the opportunity to play sprint football at Mansfield. We had more than 400 players and coaches contact us from across the country and I think we’ve addressed a lot of needs and we are definitely heading in the right direction.”

The 32 incoming recruits come from six different states including Alaska.

Mansfield, which has fielded a football program since 1891, dropped its NCAA Division II program for financial reasons following the conclusion of the 2006 season. Mansfield reestablished football as a probationary member of the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) in 2008.

The CSFL is varsity collegiate football played by the same rules and with the same intensity as all NCAA and NAIA programs with the exception of a 172-pound weight limit for players. The CSFL is comprised of Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton University, the United States Military Academy at West Point (Army) and the United State Naval Academy at Annapolis (Navy).

Mansfield, which played an abbreviated four-game schedule as a probationary member last season,  was elected to full-time status by the CSFL for the upcoming 2009 season.

Mansfield will play a full schedule in 2009 and be eligible for the league championship and post-season players honors. Mansfield will start the season by hosting Princeton University at Karl Van Norman Field on Sept. 19. The Mountaineers will also play Cornell and Navy at home this season and play Army in the Allegiance Bowl in Saratoga Springs, NY on Oct. 17.  

Brandon Ammon (Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania) played at Wilson Senior High School under Coach Doug Dahms.  He started at wide receiver during the 2008 season and was named to the Berks County All-Academic Team.  He is pursuing a degree in education at Mansfield.

Kyle Bell (Trumansburg, New York) played offensive and defensive line for Coach John Dunlap at Trumansburg High School.  He won all-Section 4 honors on the defensive line and also participated in track and wrestling at Trumansburg.  Kyle is studying biology at Mansfield.

Jay Benson (Tioga, Pennsylvania) is a graduate of Williamson High School, but played his high school football at Cowenesque Valley High School and Coach Jeremy Loveland.  He is studying communications at Mansfield.

Aaron Blinn (Fairfield, Pennsylvania) played both offensive line and linebacker at Fairfield High School, winning all conference honors in 2008 at linebacker.  Aaron is studying elementary education at Mansfield.  He played for Coach Michael Quealy at Fairfield.

Damon Chalk (Elmira, New York) started at linebacker for Elmira Free Academy.  His coach at EFA was Mike Kessler, a former Mansfield assistant football coach.  Damon served as a captain at EFA and was also recognized as a scholar-athlete.  He is studying pre-engineering at Mansfield.

Jordan Clark (Towanda, Pennsylvania) is a 2008 graduate of Towanda High School, where he started at center for their great 12-1 team in 2007.  Jordan is transferring from Lock Haven University.  He played at Towanda for Coach Craig Dawsey.

Brandon Couse (Elmira, New York) started at defensive back at Elmira Free Academy.  He played for Coach Mike Kessler at EFA and started at quarterback earlier in his career there.  Brandon is studying criminal justice at Mansfield.

Steven Earl (Dundee, New York) started at both wide receiver and defensive back for perennial Section 5 power Dundee.  He was named all-Section 5 and his high school coach was Ed Allen.  Steven is majoring in Criminal Justice at Mansfield.

Paul Houseknecht (East Greenville, Pennsylvania) will be joining Mansfield from the United States Marine Corps.  Paul played his tight end and strong safety at Boyertown Area High School under Coach Ron Zieber and will be studying criminal justice at Mansfield. 

Adam Hower (Elysburg, Pennsylvania) played under Coach Jim Roth at Southern Columbia Area High School.  He started at outside linebacker at Southern Columbia and will be a defensive end at Mansfield.  Adam is a scholar-athlete and will be studying communications at Mansfield.

Josh Kosiorowski (Laurel, Delaware) played wide receiver and defensive back for the 2008 Delaware state runner-ups.  He is also an honor-student at Laurel and will be studying criminal justice at Mansfield.  His high school coach was Ed Manlove.

Spencer LaMountain (Cobleskill, New York) was an all-league defensive back and quarterback at Cobleskill-Richmond High School and Coach Ed Hantho.  He was also an outstanding wrestler at Cobleskill and is undecided about his major at this time.

James “Pat” Lane (Sayre, Pennsylvania) played both football and track at Sayre High School.  He plans on continuing playing both sports at Mansfield and is in the liberal studies Program.  His high school coach was Larry Hanifan.

Matt Maciejewski (Depew, New York) played at Lancaster High School under Coach Len Jankiewicz.  He contributed greatly to a perennially successful Lancaster program at defensive line and on special teams.  He is a scholar athlete and will be studying criminal justice at Mansfield.

Anthony Mazzone (Narbeth, Pennsylvania) started at both wingback and linebacker at Lower Merion High School.  He was a three-year starter at Lower Merion under Coach Ed Cubbage and was also named a scholar-athlete for 2008.  Anthony will be studying nutrition at Mansfield.

Trevor McHenry (Elmira, New York) played for Coach Brian Moore at Southside High School in Elmira.  Trevor started at both wide receiver and free safety at Southside and is a scholar-athlete.  He also was a part of the 2007 Southside team that won the Section 4 Sportsmanship Award.  Trevor is studying criminal justice at Mansfield. 

Ryan Mickavicz (Taylor, Pennsylvania) started on both the offensive and defensive lines for perennial power Riverside High School.  His coach was Harry Armstrong.  Ryan was named all Lackawanna Conference in football and was also selected to the Scranton Times/Tribune all region team.  He is studying Communications at Mansfield.

Cody Morgan (York Haven, Pennsylvania) played at Red Land High School under Coach Frank Gay.  He started at offensive guard and served as a team captain.  Cody is a scholar-athlete and will major in history at Mansfield.

Micah Moyer (Telford, Pennsylvania) is the son of Mansfield alum Leon Moyer.  He played under Coach Ed Gallagher at Souderton Area High School as a linebacker and offensive lineman.  Micah was an honor-student at Souderton and is studying history at Mansfield.

Joel Ney (Pine Grove, Pennsylvania) started at both linebacker and running back at Pine Grove Area High School for coach Jeff Sampson.  Joel won honors at both positions and also wrestled and played baseball at Pine Grove.  His former teammate, Daniel Krause, plays for the Mountaineers.  Joel will be studying criminal justice at Mansfield.

David Perillo (Chester, Maryland) started at offensive line for Kent Island High School.  He served as team captain and was voted as one of the top 100 offensive linemen in Maryland by NATS.  David was all-Bayside Conference and participated in the Maryland Eastern Shore all-star game. 

Kode Plank (Bellefonte, Pennsylvania) was the starting quarterback for the Bellefonte Red Raiders in 2008, leading both Centre County and The Seven Mountains League in passing last season.  Kode is also a scholar-athlete and earned all-conference recognition.  He was named Bellefonte’s Offensive Champion (MVP) at the conclusion of the 2008 season and served as Special Captain of the St. Mary’s game as well as player of the game vs. Phillipsburg-Osceola.  His high school coach was Zac Wynkoop.

Connor Rogan (Kodiak, Alaska) started at both offensive center and defensive tackle at Kodiak High School under Coach Todd Cook.  He was named First Team all-state at both center and defensive Tackle as well as being a scholar-athlete.  Connor is studying pre-engineering at Mansfield.

Anthony Rubino (Laurel, Delaware) played offensive and defensive Line for perennial state power Laurel (2008 runners up).  His high school coach was Ed Manlove.  Anthony was also an outstanding wrestler for Laurel and will be studying criminal justice at Mansfield.

Nick Rutherford (Walton, New York) started on the offensive line for 2007 state champion and perennial power Walton High School, coached by Jim Hoover.  Nick was honored as a league scholar-athlete and also participated n track, baseball, and wrestling at Walton.

Zakk Sauers (Montgomery, Pennsylvania) started at both wide receiver and strong safety at Montgomery Area High School.  Zach was first team all-Northern Tier League at strong safety and second team all-league at wide receiver.  He also was voted second team all-District IV at strong safety.  Zach is interested in elementary education at Mansfield and his high school coach was Randy Boone.

Brandon Stephens (Windsor, Virginia) started at both center and middle linebacker at Windsor High School.  He served as Captain for the Windsor team in 2008 and also won the team Most Valuable Player award.  Brandon intends to study criminal justice at Mansfield and his high school coach was Bruce Carroll.

Troy Taylor (Carbondale, Pennsylvania) started at both cornerback and wide receiver at Carbondale Area High School.  He played for Coach John LaSavage and was named first team all-conference at cornerback as well as winning Scranton Times honors.  Troy is studying liberal arts at Mansfield.

Ethan VanCleve (Schwenskville, Pennsylvania) played at Perkiomen Valley High School as an offensive and defensive lineman.  He has played football for five years and is a member of the Key Club and DART (Drug Awareness Resistance Team) at Perkiomen Valley.  His high school coach was Scott Reed.

Mike Wang (Merrick, New York) was the starting cornerback and wide receiver at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, New York.  Mike was honored as a National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete and won the Coach’s Award in 2008.  He served as a team captain at Kennedy and won the Spirit Award as a sophomore.  His high school coach was Frank Sansanelli.

Nick Werner (Granville Summit, Pennsylvania) played at Troy High School under Coach Kevin Schucker.  He was injured for much of his senior season after enjoying a productive junior campaign.  Nick is studying history at Mansfield.

Tommy Zebrowski (Dundee, New York) started at both strong safety and offensive line at Dundee High School, the Section 5 Champion in class D for 2008.  He played for Coach Ed Allen at Dundee.  He was named a Finger Lakes all-star and also participated in Track and Field at Dundee.

“I’m sure we will have more recruits than the 32 listed,” said Davis. “I still get emails and phone calls most everyday and recruits continue to visit campus. We have most of last season’s team returning also so I expect some intense competition for roster spots and starting positions.”