2015 Liberty League Football Awards
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Jeff Avery, Sr., QB, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute senior quarterback Jeff Avery earned Liberty League Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors following a season in which he threw for 2,086 yards with 20 touchdowns and just one interception. A two-time selection as Liberty League offensive performer of the week, Avery recorded a pair of 300-yard passing games while also rushing for 192 yards. He directed an RPI offensive unit that ranked second in the league in total offense. Avery helped the Engineers to a Liberty League co-championship and an ECAC bowl berth.
Mike Lefflbine, Sr., QB, St. Lawrence University
For the second straight season, St. Lawrence University senior quarterback Mike Lefflbine earned Liberty League Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors. In addition to leading the Saints to the Liberty League co-championship and an NCAA playoff berth, Lefflbine led the league in pass efficiency, yards, touchdowns, completions and yards per game. He set St. Lawrence single-season and career records for touchdowns, completions and passing yards.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Max Nacewicz, Sr., LB, Springfield College
Springfield College senior linebacker Max Nacewicz was selected as the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. A unanimous two-time All-Liberty League first-team selection at linebacker, Nacewicz led the Liberty League in solo tackles while ranking second in total tackles and tackles for loss and third in sacks. He recorded four games with double-digit tackles, finishing his senior season with 104 (10.4 per game).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
James Holley-Grisham, Jr., PR, St. Lawrence University
An impact player for St. Lawrence University on special teams, senior James Holley-Grisham was a unanimous selection as Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year. Also an All-Liberty League first-team selection as a defensive back, Holley-Grisham ranked among the national leaders in punt returns with an average of 16.7 yards per return. He recorded 350 total yards on 21 returns with a long return of 75 yards for a touchdown.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Wiley Martin, Fr., FB, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
United States Merchant Marine Academy freshman fullback Wiley Martin earned Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors. Martin took over as the starting fullback early in the season following an injury to the starter. Martin ranked 10th in the league and tops among freshmen in rushing yards with 410. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry and lost just one yard in 97 rushing attempts. Martin finished the year with five rushing touchdowns.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR
St. Lawrence University – Mark Raymond, Head Coach
St. Lawrence head coach Mark Raymond and his staff earned Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year honors after leading the Saints to the Liberty League co-championship and the league's 2015 NCAA Division III championship bid. It was the second league title for St. Lawrence in the last six years. The Saints went 8-2 overall and 6-1 in Liberty League play while leading the Liberty League in scoring offense, pass efficiency offense, pass efficiency defense, sacks and interceptions. Raymond is assisted by Dan Puckhaber, Alex Smith, Brandon Lemon, Ramon Mignotte, Rob Look, Zach Brown, John Morton, John Muldowney and Tim Hayes.
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB - Jeff Avery, Sr., RPI
QB - Mike Lefflbine, Sr., St. Lawrence
RB - Zach Grasis, Sr., WPI *
RB - Maurice Irby, Sr., St. Lawrence
FB - Keith Rodman, Sr., Springfield
WR - Logan Gaddar, Sr., RPI
WR - Kyle Reynolds, Sr., Union
TE - Mitch Gallagher, Jr., St. Lawrence
OL - Kevin Dean, Jr., St. Lawrence
OL - Chad DellaPorta, Jr., WPI
OL - Parker Johnson, Jr., Merchant Marine
OL - Bruce McKenty, Sr., Rochester
OL - Steve Mills, Jr., RPI *
OL - Nick Testani, Jr., Hobart
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL - Chyron Brown-Wallace, Jr., St. Lawrence *
DL - Tucker Gumkowski, Sr., Hobart
DL - Matthew Mender, Sr., Rochester
DL - Anthony Pilla, Sr., RPI
LB - Alec Dietsch, Jr., St. Lawrence *
LB - Marcus Jemison, Jr., Hobart
LB - Jake LaRovera, Sr., Union
LB - Brian Murtagh, Jr., WPI
LB - Max Nacewicz, Sr., Springfield *
LB - Trayvon Toney, Sr., Hobart
DB - Tommy D'Antonio, So., Hobart
DB - James Holley-Grisham, Jr., St. Lawrence
DB - Phillip Lanieri III, Sr., RPI
DB - Leondre Simmon, Sr., St. Lawrence *
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
ATH - Matthew McDaniels, Sr., QB, Merchant Marine
PK – Blaine Bursey, Jr., WPI
P - Tyler Barnes, So., Union
RS - James Holley-Grisham, Jr., St. Lawrence
* Unanimous First-Team Selection
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
RB - Conner Hartigan, Sr., Hobart
RB - Shane Saucier, Jr., Rochester
FB - Nick Schlatz, Sr., RPI
WR - Brandon Shed, So., Hobart
WR - Brandon Eccher, Jr., WPI
TE - Zach Withers, So., Hobart
OL - Sean Carey, Jr., Union
OL - Christopher Martin, Sr., Rochester
OL - Patrick O'Connell, Jr., Hobart
OL - Seth Stauble, Sr., RPI
OL - Cory Stirling, Sr., WPI
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL - Malik Joseph, Jr., RPI
DL - Kashden Naraine, Sr., Springfield
DL - Peter Salem, Sr., WPI
DL - Patrick Whalen, Sr., Merchant Marine
LB - Alexander Greenidge, Jr., RPI
LB - Thomas Marone, So., Rochester
LB - Josh Woodburn, Jr., Merchant Marine
DB - R.J. Borgolini, Sr., Rochester
DB - Todd Collier, Jr., Hobart
DB - Patrick Keyes, Jr., Merchant Marine
DB - Eric Lacroix, Sr., WPI
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
ATH - Jake Eglintine, So., QB, Springfield
PK - Andrew Haber, Sr., Rochester
P - Rio Schmidt, So., Hobart
RS - Joe Festo, Jr., Springfield
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE OFFENSE: A.J. Baker (WR), Union; Robert Baker (TE), Merchant Marine; Tynard Barfield (RB) Hobart; Jeremiah Bill (OL), Rochester; Brendan Casey (OL), Hobart; Christopher Holoman (FB), Hobart; Wiley Martin (FB), Merchant Marine; Nick Perpignan (RB), Rochester.
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE DEFENSE: Ryan Buss (DB), RPI; Mark Grimes (LB), RPI; Jacob Hill (DL), Merchant Marine; Jason Lamb (LB), WPI; Michael LaRusso (DL), St. Lawrence; Jason Leigh (LB), St. Lawrence; Kevin Lynch (DB), WPI; Chris Merenich (LB), Rochester; Jason Nelson (DB), Union; Dereck Pacheco (DL), WPI; Joey Racioppi (DB), Springfield; Isreal Squires (DB), St. Lawrence; Zach Thornton (DL), Hobart.
HONORABLE MENTION ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SPECIALISTS: Kyle Allegrini (RS), Rochester; Connor Kinzelmann (RB/RS), Union; Sean Kirshe (PK), Hobart.