ROCHESTER, NY - The Empire 8 Conference announced its 2009 football teams on Thursday with five Hartwick players earning recognition. 'Wick running back Tosh DeMulder (Unadilla, NY/Unatego), wide receiver Noah Koreman (Albany, NY/Albany), and defensive tackle Ben Tomaino (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) each were selected to the Empire 8 First Team. DeMulder was also a second team pick at the all-purpose position. Senior tight end Keith Geraldsen (Ravena, NY/Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk) and junior linebacker Jordan Spirou (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) garnered honorable mention. Senior linebacker Mark Theophel (Green Island, NY/Catholic Central) was Hartwick's representative on the E8 Sportsman of the Year Team.
DeMulder is averaging 102.1 yards per game, 5.8 yards per carry, and has scored 10 rushing touchdowns and two more receiving. He recorded a career-best 190 yards rushing in a 55-3 blowout of Becker and notched a career-high five rushing touchdowns in a season opening win over Morrisville earlier this season. DeMulder ranks 3rd all-time at Hartwick in rushing yards (1,732) and rushing touchdowns (19). He has registered 1,371 all-purpose yards this season and is 5th at Hartwick in the category with 3,383 yards accumulated.
Koreman ranks ninth in Division III with 120 yards receiving per game and has caught 16 touchdown passes this season. He cracked the 100-reception mark for his career last Saturday and ranks 10th all-time at 'Wick with 102 catches. This season, he has been selected to the d3football.com National Team of the Week after collecting 232 yards and five scores against Morrisville, and was named Empire 8 and ECAC Offensive Player of the Week after recording 139 yards and three TDs. Koreman ranks 9th in career reception yards at 'Wick with 2,130.
Tomaino was a second-team Empire 8 choice in 2008. He enters ECAC play averaging 7.9 tackles per game and has registered conference-highs of 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss this season. Tomaino earned E8 and ECAC weekly honors following his four-sack, 13-tackle performance in a six-point win over Utica. For his career, Tomaino ranks 3rd all-time at Hartwick in TFLs (37), 4th in sacks (17.5), and 6th in tackles (229).
Geraldsen has recorded 11 catches this season racking up 126 reception yards. He had one of the best games of his career on Oct. 3 against Ithaca making five catches for 88 yards and a career-long 40-yard touchdown reception.
Spirou has led Hartwick in tackles in six of the Hawks' nine games this season. He has notched double digits hits in seven contests this season and accumulated a career-best 16 tackles last Saturday against Fisher. Spirou ranks 12th in the country this season averaging 12 tackles per game with 108 in 9 games.
Theophel was selected to the Sportsman of the Year Team for his consistent fair play and sportsmanship throughout the year.
Hartwick (5-4) will look for its second ECAC Bowl title all-time this Saturday as it meets Union (7-3) in the North Atlantic Bowl. Kickoff will take place at 1 p.m.
