DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley College's run to the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) championship did not go unrecognized by the league coaches as 13 Aggies were named to the all-conference team. In addition, junior linebacker Kyle Gesswein was named the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year, freshman offensive guard John Lavelle took home the Rookie of the Year Award and Jim Clements was named the Coach of the Year.
 
The following Aggies were named to the all-conference team: 

First Team Defense
Kyle Gesswein (Williamstown, NJ/Willamstown) – junior linebacker
Ryan McCullough (Cherry Hill, NJ/Northeast Catholic) – sophomore safety
Derek Porter (Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) – senior end
Charles Squitiere (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) – senior cornerback

First Team Offense
Matt Cook (Selinsgrove, PA/Selinsgrove) – junior tailback
Mike Isgro (Galloway, NJ/Absegami) – senior quarterback
Mike Lewis (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) – junior tackle
Mike Long (Philadelphia, PA/Roman Catholic) – junior tackle

Second Team Offense
Chad Peterman (Hatboro, PA/Upper Moreland) – senior wide receiver
Jake Sobchak (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) – freshman placekicker
Butch Whiteside (Glenolden, PA/Interboro) – senior fullback

Second Team Defense
Chris James (Philadelphia, PA/Northeast Catholic) – sophomore linebacker
Garrett Wooters (Oxford, PA/Oxford) – junior end

Gesswein is the first Aggie to receive the defensive player of the year award since linebacker Andrew Erby in 2004. The two-time, all-conference honoree leads the team and is ranked among the MAC leaders in tackles (80), tackles for loss (13) and sacks (8). He has already set the school's all-time record in sacks with 27.

McCullough picked up MAC accolades in his first year as a starter. He is tied for the team lead in both interceptions (4) and pass breakups (7) and is fifth in tackles with 52.

It's the second time Porter has earned all-conference honors as he was on the second team last year. He has racked up 35 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries this season.

Squitere was also a first-team selection last year. He has 48 tackles, seven pass breakups and two interceptions and has also recorded four touchdowns on returns (two interceptions, one kickoff return and one missed field goal return). His three career interception returns for touchdowns is a Delaware Valley record.

Cook was a second-team all-MAC honoree as a rookie and a first-teamer last season. He led the MAC in regular season in rushing with 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns on 248 carries. Cook also added 199 yards and one score on 20 catches. Last week, he became just the second running back in school history to reach the 3,000-yard mark in a career.

The 2008 MAC Offensive Player of the Year, Isgro earned first-team honors for the second straight year. He was a second-team selection in 2006 as well. This season, he has played in nine contests and has completed 125 of 211 passes for 1,544 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions. Isgro is also second on the school's all-time list in nearly every passing category and total offense. 

Lewis and Long were each named to the all-conference time for the first time in their careers. The bookends on the line helped the Aggies average 29.9 points and 370.7 yards per game.

It is the first all-MAC accolades for all of the second-team honorees. Peterman is Delaware Valley's leading receiver with 33 catches for 409 yards and four trips to the end zone. Sobchak's rookie campaign has seen him go 3-for-4 on field goals and 33-for-35 on extra points for 42 points. Whiteside has caught 11 passes out of the backfield for 136 yards and five touchdowns while also rushing for three scores.

James is second on the team in tackles with 74 and also has three pass breakups, one sack, and one interception to his credit. Wooters is second on the Aggies with 6.5 sacks and has also added 21 tackles and a fumble recovery.

Lavelle shares the co-Rookie of the Year Award with Andrew Yacina of Wilkes University. He has started all 10 games at left guard for Delaware Valley and is a key reason why the unit has allowed just 13 sacks on the year.

Clements joins Al Wilson (1980) and G.A. Mangus (2003, 2004) as the only Aggies to receive MAC Coach of the Year honors. He directed the Aggies to a 9-1 overall record in the regular season, including a perfect 7-0 mark in the MAC and a second-straight conference title.

The Aggies will host Susquehanna University for the opening round of the NCAA Division III playoffs on Saturday, November 21.