MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Senior defensive tackle Ben Tomaino (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) of the Hartwick College football team has been named to d3football.com's list of All-Americans, announced this past weekend at the 2009 Stagg Bowl. The Empire 8 Conference First Team selection, earned All-American Honorable Mention honors to close out his career with the Hawks.
Tomaino finished the season with 82 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss of 88 yards, and 11 sacks. His TFL and sack totals were both tops in the Empire 8 Conference this season. In addition, Tomaino ranked tied for 7th in the nation in sacks per game (1.10) and tied for 31st in tackles for loss per game (1.60).
In his last career game against Union in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl Championship, Tomaino vaulted into 2nd all-time at Hartwick in sacks with 19.5, and 3rd in tackles for loss with 39.5. He closed out his four-year career with the Hawks with 236 tackles, good enough for 6th in 'Wick history.
Tomaino is the 13th player at Hartwick to earn All-America honors, but just the third defensive player wearing the Blue and White jersey to earn the distinction after Jim Hoysradt (1996) and Kory Schramm (2000, 2002).
The Hawks have had at least one player earning All-America accolades in each of the last five seasons with Matt Willis (2005), Lindy Crea (2005, 2006), Jack Phelan (2007, 2008), Jason Boltus (2008), and now Tomaino each earning the honor.
The full list of d3football.com All-Americans can be found at the following link: http://www.d3football.com/tow/09/all-americans.htm.
