THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Feb. 4, 2009) – The Maritime football team gathered at The ESPN Zone in Times Square earlier this week to celebrate the successful 2009 season and to hand out the team awards. The night began with dinner, followed by a highlight video of the Privateers’ memorable season in which the squad compiled a 6-4 record, the first winning record in program history.
Head Coach Clayton Kendick-Holmes served as emcee of the event and started off the post-dinner portion of the night by thanking the members of the staff and family that were in attendance. He then introduced a number of Maritime football alumni that were in attendance. Afterwards, the award ceremony began with a number of team respect awards given out. The night ended with the announcing of the MVPs for each position: special teams, defense, offense and team.
Sophomore Madison Leary-K (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) earned Special Teams MVP after a sensational season as Maritime’s place kicker. Leary averaged 57.6 yards on 32 kickoffs and forced four touchbacks. As the Privateers’ field goal kicker, he converted 22 of 30 PATs and was 3-for-7 on field goal tries. He was named the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Special Teams Player of the Week twice during the season.
Sophomore Keith Barnes-LB (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) was named Maritime’s Defensive MVP after leading the squad with 77.5 total tackles (65 solo and 25 assisted). Barnes’ 8.5 tackles for combined losses of 32 yards led the Privateers, as he recorded three forced fumbles, two sacks and two interceptions. Barnes earned ECFC Defensive Player of the Week honors a conference-record four times during the regular season and was named to the all-ECFC Second Team Defense.
Sophomore Jamie Spanopoulos-FB (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) earned the squad’s Offensive MVP award after his record-setting season with the Privateers. Spanopoulos, a repeat winner from the 2008 campaign, set a new program record for touchdowns in a single-season with 19. 18 of those TDs were on the ground, where he compiled a team-best 976 yards on an average of 5.0 yards per carry. He finished the season ranked fifth in the country in scoring with 11.4 points per game and was named to the All-ECFC First Team Offense after garnering two ECFC Offensive Player of the Week accolades during the year.
The Maritime Team MVP award went to four-year senior and co-captain Mike Oehl-LB (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithown West). Oehl ranked second on the Privateers with 56.5 total tackles (51 solo and 11 assisted), including 11 tackles for combined losses of 17 yards. He started the year out right by returning a blocked field goal 73 yards for a touchdown against Mass. Maritime and then ended the season with a dominating performance against Gallaudet. Oehl had 18 total tackles (17 solo and 2 assisted) against the Bison, with two for combined losses of five yards. He was named to the all-ECFC First Team Defense.
Below is a complete list of award winners from Monday night:
Manager’s Award – Vincent Young
Respect (Work Ethic) – Mike Savaglio-DB (West Islip, N.Y./East Islip) and Jason Burry-DE (Attica, N.Y./Attica)
Respect (Accountability) – Frank Adamo-OL (Katonah, N.Y./Somers) and Mike Walsh-OL (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas)
Respect (Respect) – Ricky McClain-DL (Wantagh, N.Y./Saint Anthony's)
Respect (Family) - Robert Johnson, Jr.-OL (Merritt Island, Fla./Merrit Island)
Respect (Character) – Xavier Torres-DB (Orlando, Fla./Colonial)
Respect (Enthusiasm) – Alexander Todd-LB (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) and Eric Peccia-LB (Farmingdale, N.Y./St. Anthony's)
Academic Award – Matt Cirella-OL (Lindenhurst, N.Y./St. Anthony's)
Comeback Player of the Year – Steve Roman-DB (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea)
Rookie of the Year – Pat Lasher-LB (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford)
Most Improved Offensive Player – Greg McGough-RB (Edgewater, Md./Blessed Trinity)
Most Improved Defensive Player – Sean Wiggers-DB (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan)
Offensive Attack – Travis Scott-RB (Pace, Fla./Pace)
Defensive Attack – John Carberry-LB (New York, N.Y./New Utrecht)
The Ax (most defensive players knocked down) – Frank Adamo-OL (Katonah, N.Y./Somers)
The Hammer (biggest tackles on defense) – Ryan Leary-DB (Tavares, Fla./Tavares)
Special Teams MVP - Madison Leary-K (Tavares, Fla./Tavares)
Defensive MVP - Keith Barnes-LB (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury)
Offensive MVP - Jamie Spanopoulos-FB (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey)
Team MVP - Mike Oehl-LB (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithown West)