OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: A.J. Wingfield, Senior, Quarterback, Ithaca College
Ithaca College senior quarterback A.J. Wingfield earned Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year honors following a regular season in which he threw for 1,744 yards and recorded 16 touchdowns. He leads the conference in completion percentage (70.1) and tied for a league-best 16 touchdowns. He was second among league leaders in passing yards. Wingfield, a two-time Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week selection this season, also rushed for 194 yards to go along with three rushing touchdowns.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Matt DeSimpliciis, Senior, Linebacker, Ithaca College
Ithaca College senior linebacker Matt DeSimpliciis was voted the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. A defensive starter in all 10 games, he leads the Bombers in tackles (74) and sacks (5.5-37). He anchors Ithaca’s defense that finished the regular season ranked second in the Liberty League for total defense and scoring defense, holding opponents to 241.5 yards and 9.9 points per game respectively. DeSimpliciis currently leads the league in sacks and is among the top-ten in tackles. He also recorded 8.5 tackles-for-loss, one interception and recovered two fumbles.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nicholas Bahamonde, Kicker, Ithaca College
For the third consecutive season, Ithaca College kicker Nicholas Bahamonde was named the Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year. He was 13-for-19 in field goals this season, including a long of 48 yards. He paces the Liberty League in field goals and is currently ranked second in Division III for field goals per game (1.30). The four-time Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week also leads the league in scoring, totaling 85 points through 10 games. Bahamonde also accounted for 72 kickoffs for the Bombers, averaging 58.4 yards per kickoff.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Nicholas Dunneman, Wide Receiver, Union College
Union College first-year wide receiver Nicholas Dunneman was recognized with Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors. Dunneman had a breakout campaign in his first season with the Dutchmen. He finishes the year as the team and league leader in receiving yards (802), receiving touchdowns (6) and average yards per game (80.2). Nationally, he is ranked third in receiving yards among all Division III rookies.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Ithaca College, Michael Toerper – Head Coach
Ithaca College head coach Michael Toerper and his coaching staff have been selected as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in a vote by the league’s head coaches. Toerper, in his first year as head coach, directed Ithaca to an undefeated regular season of 10-0, the school’s first undefeated campaign since 1986 and the Bombers’ first outright Liberty League Championship title since joining the conference in 2017 (Ithaca claimed a share of the Liberty League title in 2017, 2018 and 2021). Ithaca earned the league’s automatic qualifier to the NCAA Tournament with an unblemished mark of 6-0 against conference foes. The Bombers return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 and will host UMass-Dartmouth in the opening round. Ithaca is currently averaging a league-best 38.3 points per game while holding opponents to 9.9 points per game, ranking them second in the conference. Nationally, they are ranked ninth in scoring defense and 31st in scoring offense. Toerper is assisted by Mike Hatcher (QB/WR), Trevor Warner (DC/DB), Sean Reeder (OC/OL), Kerry Grigsby (DL), Tom Biscardi (LB), Gary Bucci (RB), Josh Kowalczyk (WR), Ryan Shippa (OL), Zach Kinter (TE) and KP McClain (Offensive Assistant).
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB- A.J. Wingfield, Sr., Ithaca
RB- Dylan Burnett, Sr., RPI
RB- Ike Irabor, Sr., Union
RB- Daniel Papantonis, Jr., Rochester
WR- Michael Anderson, Sr., Ithaca
WR- Nicholas Dunneman, FY, Union
TE- Jon Crowley, Sr., Ithaca
OL- Tim Driscoll, Sr., Union
OL- Cade Frucci, Sr., Hobart
OL- Thomas Olausen, Sr., RPI
OL- Jake Villanueva, Sr., Ithaca
OL- Alex Westcott, So., Buffalo State
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
DL- Bradley Beckwith, Sr., Rochester
DL- Josh Cohen, Gr., RPI
DL- Alex Karpawich, So., Hobart
DL- Amaechi Konkwo, Gr., RPI
LB- Caden Cole, Sr., Rochester
LB- Joe Deptula, Gr., RPI
LB- Matt DeSimpliciis, Sr., Ithaca
LB- Anthony Romano, So., Hobart
DB- C.J. Lyons, Gr., RPI
DB- Anthony Robinson, Sr., Ithaca
DB- Michael Roumes, Gr., Ithaca
DB- Derek Slywka, Sr., Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS
PK- Nicholas Bahamonde, Sr., Ithaca
P- Alex Wing, So., Rochester
RS- Anthony D’Addetta, Sr., Ithaca
ATH- Rayshawn Boswell, Jr., Hobart
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
QB- Donovan Pacatte, Sr., Union
RB- Tim Denham Jr., Jr., Hobart
RB- Jake Williams, Jr., Ithaca
WR- T.J. Cornacchia, Sr., St. Lawrence
WR- Tariq Nelson, Jr., Buffalo State
WR- Andre Ross Jr., Sr., Union
TE- Mike Zaccone, Sr., Hobart
OL- Kevin Dewing, Sr., Union
OL- Stan Koss IV, Sr., Union
OL- Kieran Paskewitz, Sr., Hobart
OL- JoJo Puckey, Sr., Ithaca
OL- Luke Wilson, Jr., Rochester
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DL- Michael Blanchard, Jr., Ithaca
DL- Orlando Cabrera, Jr., Buffalo State
DL- Naj Johnson, Sr., Hobart
DL- C.J. Schumaker, So., RPI
LB- Spencer Goldstien, Sr., Union
LB- Miles Haynes, Sr., Ithaca
LB- Peterson Monexant, So., Hobart
LB- Connor Noyes, Sr., RPI
DB- Ethan Biscaro, Jr., Buffalo State
DB- Daniel George, So., St. Lawrence
DB- Jimmy Leblo, Sr., RPI
DB- Simon Weeren, Jr., Rochester
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM SPECIALISTS
PK- Clayton Fogler, FY, St. Lawrence
P- Anderson Burke, FY, RPI
RS- Michael Anderson, Sr., Ithaca
ATH- Sterling Walker-Sutton, Sr., RPI
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION OFFENSE
QB- David Krewson, Sr., Hobart
QB- Daniel Lawther, So., St. Lawrence
WR- Rane Daramola, So., Hobart
TE- Shane Allison, So., RPI
TE- Garrett Cafaro, Jr., Union
TE- Joseph Ott, Jr., St. Lawrence
OL- Nick Annechino, Sr., Rochester
OL- Danny Bekkenhuis, Sr., RPI
OL- Rick Denboske, Sr., RPI
OL- Thomas Dockray, Jr., St. Lawrence
OL- Matt McCorkle, So., Union
OL- Joseph O’Rourke, Sr., St. Lawrence
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION DEFENSE
DL- Jack Flanagan, Sr., Union
DL- Reece Gillette, Sr., St. Lawrence
DL- Bryan Placide, Sr., St. Lawrence
DL- Nate Sicard, So., RPI
DL- Jordan Sosa, Sr., Ithaca
LB- Jaimen Bliss, Jr., Hobart
LB- Michael Drywa, Sr., Buffalo State
LB- Jason Haber, Sr., Ithaca
LB- Ben Munn, Jr., St. Lawrence
DB- Brandon Barksdale, Sr., Buffalo State
DB- Carlos Davis, Sr., RPI
DB- Christian Maiz, Sr., Union
DB- Jay McCoy, Gr., Hobart
DB- Jordy Tawa, FY, Rochester
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE HONORABLE MENTION SPECIALISTS
PK- Tobias Wefering, So., Hobart
P- Vicente Lyon, FY, Hobart