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Dartmouth Football Awards Announced
11/22/2009 3:00:00 PM | Football
HANOVER, N.H. — The 2009 Dartmouth football team awards were given out today at the Big Green's season-ending banquet. A total of 15 players earned recognition from the coaching staff for what they brought to the team on and off the field.
Senior free safety Pete Pidermann (Hialeah, Fla.) was selected for the Bob Blackman Trophy as the Big Green's most valuable player, given annually to the player who contributed the most to the success of the team. Pidermann recorded 55 tackles (fourth most on the team), intercepted a pass at the goal line and broke up three others, plus blocked two kicks, one of which was a game-saver on the last play of regulation in a game Dartmouth won in double overtime against Cornell.
Earning the Kenneth T. Young Award was sophomore Shawn Abuhoff (Hialeah, Fla.) as the underclassman who made the most significant contribution to the team. Abuhoff led the Ivy League in passes defended with 14, three of which were interceptions to lead the Dartmouth squad, and of his 41 tackles, four went for a loss with one sack and two forced fumbles. On special teams, Abuhoff was second in the league in kick return average at over 25 yards per return, would have been second in the league in punt return average at 8.6 yards if he had one more return, plus blocked a kick.
Sophomore Nick Schwieger (Norton, Mass.) was given the Jake Crouthamel Award as the underclassman who contributed the most to the success of the team on offense. He led the Ivy League in rushing average per game at 78.3 yards with two games over 100 yards. The second of the two games was a 242-yard effort to set a new school record in the 28-6 victory over Columbia (broken two weeks later) as he earned player of the week honors from the Ivy League and nationally from The Sports Network, plus was the recipient of the Gold Helmet Award as the region's top player that week. He finished the season with 626 yards rushing on 139 carries with two touchdowns.
The Doten Award, given to the sophomore who made a significant contribution to the success of the football team, was given to John Gallagher (Salem, Ore.). The tight end was third on the team with 30 receptions and 288 receiving yards and caught one touchdown. He was also considered one of the top blockers on the line, regardless of position.
Senior quarterback Max Heiges (Tiburon, Calif.) took home the Manners Makyth Man Award. This distinction goes each year to the player who best conducted himself to the advantage of Dartmouth and displayed good manners in the sense of William Wykeham's phrase, “Manners Makyth Man.” Heiges was a back-up quarterback during his career who filled in on the junior varsity squad this year when no other quarterbacks were available, and worked hard to return from a severely sprained ankle early in the year to do so.
The Earl Hamilton Freshman Award, given to the top rookie contributor, was bestowed upon linebacker Garrett Wymore (Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.). The linebacker appeared in all 10 games, starting the last eight, and was just one tackle shy of leading the team with 63 stops, 37 of which were solo. He broke up two passes and recovered a fumble as well.
The scout team players of the year were freshman offensive lineman Thomas Prewitt (Brighton, Colo.) for offense and freshman defensive lineman Teddy Reed (Boxford, Mass.) on defense.
The Special Teams Award was given to senior running back Matthew Dornak (Austin, Texas) as he participated on every special teams play for the past two seasons. Dornak was also honored with the 12th Man Award, presented to the member of the varsity football team who demonstrated hard work and dedication regardless of playing time.
The John M. Manley '40 Award was shared by Schwieger and junior defensive lineman Charles Bay (Marietta, Ga.) as the players who demonstrated the most improvement through their efforts in the weight room. Both markedly improved their bench press, dead lift and squats, resulting in improvement on the playing field. Bay led all Big Green linemen — despite missing two games with injuries — with 49 tackles with a team-high eight tackles for a loss and three sacks, while Schwieger, as noted before, led the league in rushing yards per game.
The Gordon P. Bennett Award as the team's outstanding lineman who exemplified the high degree of performance, sportsmanship, and character exhibited by Gordon P. Bennett '37 was given to senior Alexander Toth (Bronxville, N.Y.), the lone senior on the starting offensive line who played every offensive snap this year.
The Lester R. Godwin Award was awarded to senior Chris Burns (The Woodlands, Texas) as the senior football squad member who, through extraordinary perseverance, has risen above personal disadvantage to contribute measurably to the team.
Senior Alex Jenny (Wayland, Mass.) was awarded the Alan Hewitt '34 and Robert Hewitt '40 Award. This honor goes to the player who best epitomizes athletic performance with academic achievement. An economics major with a 3.20 GPA, Jenny finished his career 13th all-time at Dartmouth in passing yards with 2,241, and would have finished higher if his final season wasn't curtailed by a dislocated throwing elbow in the fourth game of the year.
The Earl Hamilton Varsity Award was given to senior Jeffrey Smith (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) as the senior football player who has displayed the sincere friendliness and sense of humor plus appreciation of the outdoors that were the late Mr. Hamilton's characteristics.
Finally, the Frank Hershey Award — given to the senior football player who possesses a genuine zest for life, has maintained a strong, positive attitude and has displayed a sincere desire to win — was presented to Rob Mitchelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.). Mitchelson was third on the team with 191 yards rushing on 56 carries, plus caught two passes for 13 yards, finishing his career with 524 yards on the ground.
Senior free safety Pete Pidermann (Hialeah, Fla.) was selected for the Bob Blackman Trophy as the Big Green's most valuable player, given annually to the player who contributed the most to the success of the team. Pidermann recorded 55 tackles (fourth most on the team), intercepted a pass at the goal line and broke up three others, plus blocked two kicks, one of which was a game-saver on the last play of regulation in a game Dartmouth won in double overtime against Cornell.
Earning the Kenneth T. Young Award was sophomore Shawn Abuhoff (Hialeah, Fla.) as the underclassman who made the most significant contribution to the team. Abuhoff led the Ivy League in passes defended with 14, three of which were interceptions to lead the Dartmouth squad, and of his 41 tackles, four went for a loss with one sack and two forced fumbles. On special teams, Abuhoff was second in the league in kick return average at over 25 yards per return, would have been second in the league in punt return average at 8.6 yards if he had one more return, plus blocked a kick.
Sophomore Nick Schwieger (Norton, Mass.) was given the Jake Crouthamel Award as the underclassman who contributed the most to the success of the team on offense. He led the Ivy League in rushing average per game at 78.3 yards with two games over 100 yards. The second of the two games was a 242-yard effort to set a new school record in the 28-6 victory over Columbia (broken two weeks later) as he earned player of the week honors from the Ivy League and nationally from The Sports Network, plus was the recipient of the Gold Helmet Award as the region's top player that week. He finished the season with 626 yards rushing on 139 carries with two touchdowns.
The Doten Award, given to the sophomore who made a significant contribution to the success of the football team, was given to John Gallagher (Salem, Ore.). The tight end was third on the team with 30 receptions and 288 receiving yards and caught one touchdown. He was also considered one of the top blockers on the line, regardless of position.
Senior quarterback Max Heiges (Tiburon, Calif.) took home the Manners Makyth Man Award. This distinction goes each year to the player who best conducted himself to the advantage of Dartmouth and displayed good manners in the sense of William Wykeham's phrase, “Manners Makyth Man.” Heiges was a back-up quarterback during his career who filled in on the junior varsity squad this year when no other quarterbacks were available, and worked hard to return from a severely sprained ankle early in the year to do so.
The Earl Hamilton Freshman Award, given to the top rookie contributor, was bestowed upon linebacker Garrett Wymore (Palos Verdes Peninsula, Calif.). The linebacker appeared in all 10 games, starting the last eight, and was just one tackle shy of leading the team with 63 stops, 37 of which were solo. He broke up two passes and recovered a fumble as well.
The scout team players of the year were freshman offensive lineman Thomas Prewitt (Brighton, Colo.) for offense and freshman defensive lineman Teddy Reed (Boxford, Mass.) on defense.
The Special Teams Award was given to senior running back Matthew Dornak (Austin, Texas) as he participated on every special teams play for the past two seasons. Dornak was also honored with the 12th Man Award, presented to the member of the varsity football team who demonstrated hard work and dedication regardless of playing time.
The John M. Manley '40 Award was shared by Schwieger and junior defensive lineman Charles Bay (Marietta, Ga.) as the players who demonstrated the most improvement through their efforts in the weight room. Both markedly improved their bench press, dead lift and squats, resulting in improvement on the playing field. Bay led all Big Green linemen — despite missing two games with injuries — with 49 tackles with a team-high eight tackles for a loss and three sacks, while Schwieger, as noted before, led the league in rushing yards per game.
The Gordon P. Bennett Award as the team's outstanding lineman who exemplified the high degree of performance, sportsmanship, and character exhibited by Gordon P. Bennett '37 was given to senior Alexander Toth (Bronxville, N.Y.), the lone senior on the starting offensive line who played every offensive snap this year.
The Lester R. Godwin Award was awarded to senior Chris Burns (The Woodlands, Texas) as the senior football squad member who, through extraordinary perseverance, has risen above personal disadvantage to contribute measurably to the team.
Senior Alex Jenny (Wayland, Mass.) was awarded the Alan Hewitt '34 and Robert Hewitt '40 Award. This honor goes to the player who best epitomizes athletic performance with academic achievement. An economics major with a 3.20 GPA, Jenny finished his career 13th all-time at Dartmouth in passing yards with 2,241, and would have finished higher if his final season wasn't curtailed by a dislocated throwing elbow in the fourth game of the year.
The Earl Hamilton Varsity Award was given to senior Jeffrey Smith (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) as the senior football player who has displayed the sincere friendliness and sense of humor plus appreciation of the outdoors that were the late Mr. Hamilton's characteristics.
Finally, the Frank Hershey Award — given to the senior football player who possesses a genuine zest for life, has maintained a strong, positive attitude and has displayed a sincere desire to win — was presented to Rob Mitchelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.). Mitchelson was third on the team with 191 yards rushing on 56 carries, plus caught two passes for 13 yards, finishing his career with 524 yards on the ground.
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
DE
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RB
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DB
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TE
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QB
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QB
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RB
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Hurdles
/ Men's Track & Field
OL
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DE
/ Football
RB
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DE
/ Football
OL
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LB
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