DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley College junior linebacker Kyle Gesswein (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) has been named the 2009 D3football.com East Region Defensive Player of the Year. Teammates Mike Long (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic), Ryan McCullough (Cherry Hill, NJ/Northeast Catholic) and Charles Squitiere (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) earned spots on the second team.

Gesswein, who in November was named the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Defensive Player of the Year, earned all-region honors for the second straight year as he was a second-team selection in 2008. The preseason All-American ed the Aggies in tackles (98), tackles for loss (18), sacks (11) and forced fumbles (three) while also notching four pass breakups, one interception and one blocked kick. In the process, he became Delaware Valley's all-time leader in sacks with 30.

Long, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound left tackle, picked up the first all-region accolade of the junior's career. The first-team all-MAC pick helped the Aggie offense average 30.7 points and 382.5 yards (184.8 avg rushing, 197.7 avg passing) per game, including four, 40-plus point performances. 

McCullough, a sophomore safety, had a standout first season as a starter as he notched all-MAC and all-region honors for the first time. He finished tied for the team lead in interceptions with five and also added second in pass breakups with 10 and fifth in tackles with 61. McCullough also tallied a sack and a forced fumble. 

Squitiere was named to the all-East Region second team for the second consecutive year. The senior cornerback and two-time all-MAC honoree finished the 2009 campaign with 60 tackles, a team-best 10 pass breakups and two interceptions that he returned for 116 yards and two touchdowns (a 90-yard score at Kean and a 26-yard score at Widener). Squitiere also scored on a 100-yard return of a missed field goal against Wesley and return an onsides kick attempt by Albright 36 yards for a score. 

Delaware Valley finished the 2009 campaign with a 10-2 overall record and captured its second straight MAC crown (it shared the title with two teams in 2008) thanks to a perfect 7-0 league record. The Aggies advanced to the NCAA Division III playoffs where they notched a 66-7 victory over Susquehanna University in the opening round before falling to Albright College in the second round. 

The teams, selected in balloting by East Region sports information directors and D3football.com staff, were chosen from 181 nominations by Division III member schools. A total of 76 players were chosen. The D3football.com All-American Teams will be announced later this month.