Miriello, Pitsenberger, Kurkis also Honored

 FOREST, Va. --- Bridgewater College receiver Tyler Beiler and Hampden-Sydney College linebacker Trevor Ikwild headline the 2010 ODAC Football All-Conference Teams as the winners of the J. Stokeley Fulton and Lou Wacker Awards as the offensive and defensive players of the year.  Washington and Lee University mentor Frank Miriello was tabbed the ODAC Coach of the Year, and was joined by fellow General Greg Kurkis as the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete.  Catholic University running back Mike Pitsenberger was named the ODAC Rookie of the Year.

Beiler, a senior from Ronks, Pa., posted a breakout campaign in which he hauled in 61 receptions that led to ODAC receiving-highs of 1,342 yards and 16 touchdowns, which rank sixth and tied for third in the ODAC records book, respectively.  Beiler added one more score on a kick return and notched a pair of two-point conversions on the way to posting a conference-best 104 points scored.  He was also #1 in the league with 2,048 all-purpose yards.  Beiler’s statistical marks rank as some of the best in NCAA Division III football.  He currently leads the country in receiving yards per game (134.20) and all-purpose yards per game (204.8) and is 18^th in points scored per game (10.20).  A true big play threat, Beiler maintained a 22.0 yards per reception average over his 61 grabs.

Ikwild, a senior from Philomont, Va., posted an ODAC-best 133 tackles, 42 more stops than the next highest mark in the conference.  His 12.1 tackles per game average currently ranks 12^th in the nation.  Ikwild also collected 10.0 tackles for a loss (sixth in the ODAC), and proved adept in pass coverage with 10 passes defended (seventh) including three interceptions (10^th).  Ikwild registered double-figures in tackles in eight of 11 games played, including a season-high 19 stops (12 solo) in H-SC’s playoff contest against Montclair State University.  Over the past two years, Ikwild recorded 227 tackles (94 in 2009).

Coach Miriello recently completed his 16^th season guiding the Generals.  A winner of the ODAC’s top coaching honor five times, Miriello became the program’s all-time coaching wins leader following W&L’s victory over Guilford this past season.  His career record stands at 82-77-1 (.516).  After opening the season 1-2, the Generals ran off seven straight victories on the way to their fourth ODAC title (1981, 1985, 2006).  Washington and Lee also participated in the NCAA Division III Tournament for the second time in five seasons as the ODAC’s automatic qualifier.

Kurkis, a senior from Roswell, Ga., is a two-time winner of the ODAC/Farm Bureau Insurance Scholar-Athlete Award in football, having also earned the distinction in 2009.  Kurkis boasts a 3.99 grade point average as a Biochemistry major at Washington and Lee.  He was recently named to the ESPN Academic All-America First Team, as selected and announced by CoSIDA (www.cosida.com).  He earned second team laurels in 2009.  Kurkis is a member of W&L’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a perennial honoree on the W&L Dean’s List, and is a candidate for a 2010 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.  On the field, Kurkis is a former ODAC Rookie of the Year and three-time All-ODAC Second Team offensive lineman.  He was tabbed to the All-ODAC First Team this season after anchoring an offensive line that helped pave the way for an average of 438.8 yards and 35.3 points per game during the 2010 campaign.  He also helped W&L set school and conference records for rushing yards in a season (3,955) in posting a school-record 388 points for the year.  He started every game of his career (40).

Pitsenberger, a freshman from Bethesda, Md., took over the Cardinals’ rushing reins and never handed them back as he churned out 901 yards on the ground and led the ODAC in carries with 210.  He is one of only three backs in the ODAC to average better than 100 yards per game.  He currently sits in the top 50 in the country at 100.1 yards per contest.  He rushed for 100 or more yards three times, including the first two games of his collegiate career.  He posted a season-best 186 yards on 36 carries against Hampden-Sydney in early October.

Listed below are the complete 2010 ODAC Football All-Conference Teams.  For more information, visit the websites of any of the participating schools, or go to the ODAC’s home on the Internet at www.odaconline.com.  Don’t forget to become a fan of the ODAC on facebook and follow the ODAC on Twitter.

2010 ODAC FOOTBALL ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
J. Stokeley Fulton Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Beiler, Bridgewater, Senior, Wide Receiver
Lou Wacker Defensive Player of the Year: Trevor Ikwild, Hampden-Sydney, Senior, Linebacker
Coach of the Year: Frank Miriello, Washington and Lee
Rookie of the Year: Mike Pitsenberger, Catholic, Freshman, Running Back
ODAC/Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete: Greg Kurkis, Washington and Lee, Senior, Offensive Line