Springfield, Mass. - November 20, 2023 - After going undefeated in conference play for the third-straight season and winning its fourth New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) title, 15 members of the Springfield College football team were named to the NEWMAC Football All-Conference teams.
The Pride collected three major NEWMAC awards this season as fullback Arsen Shtefan (West Hartford, Conn.) was named the Offensive Player of the Year, defensive lineman Quinn Sweeney (Hanson, Mass.) was tabbed the NEWMAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and head coach Mike Cerasuolo and his staff were chosen as the NEWMAC Coaching Staff of the Year.
Springfield landed 11 student-athletes on the all-conference first team, including offensive linemen Thomas Evans (Hooksett, N.H.) and TJ Dipasquale (Wallingford, Conn.) halfback Blane Hart (East Lyme, Conn.), quarterback Jacob Silvester (Lancaster, Mass.), defensive back Joe Maurer (Wilbraham, Mass.), linebackers DJ Brown (Wading River, N.Y.), Aiden Lewin (Orlando, Fla.), and Billy Carr (Southington, Conn.), placekicker Christian Hutra (Holmes, N.Y.), Sweeney, and Shtefan.
Earning second recognition for the Pride included defensive back Colby Richardson (East Hartford, Conn.), linebacker Will McKay (Tewksbury, Mass.), defensive lineman Joe Burke (Sussex, N.J.), and returner Bradley Barcello (Weston, Conn.).
In his eighth season at the helm of the Pride, Cerasuolo earned coach of the year honors for the fourth time after leading Springfield to another undefeated season in conference play, en route to the Pride's fourth NEWMAC Championship. In leading the Pride back to an appearance in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, Cerasuolo's squad had the top rushing offense in Division III this season, with over 380 yards per game.
In his senior season, Shtefan put together a tremendous year at the fullback spot and produced a team-best 1,272 yards as he found the end zone nine times on the season. In becoming just the second Springfield student-athlete to win NEWMAC Football Offensive Athlete of the Year, and first since 2017, Shtefan recorded over 100 rushing yards in seven of the Pride's regular season games.
Sweeney had a breakout final season with the Pride on the defensive line to be tabbed the NEWMAC Co-Defensive Athlete of the Year alongside Salve Regina's Zachary Ludemann. The graduate student totaled 49 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks, while also forcing a pair of fumbles in becoming the second Springfield College student-athlete to be recognized as the top defensive player in the conference, and first since 2018.
Evans and Dipasquale were outstanding on the offensive line this season in helping the Pride have the top rushing offensive in the country, while also ranking sixth nationally in tackles for loss allowed with 36. Hart was spectacular in the backfield in his senior campaign, rushing for 12 touchdowns and 798 yards as he averaged 11.7 yards per carry. In leading the Springfield offense for the first time at quarterback, Silvester earned all-conference honors in the athlete category after totaling 11 rushing touchdowns and 589 yards on the ground to go along with five passing touchdowns.
Hutra wrapped up his collegiate career with his third first-team all-conference honor as he connected on six field goals, including a long of 51 yards, and hit 49 extra points. Maurer anchored the Pride's secondary with a career-high 52 tackles to go along with a forced fumble and interception, while the trio of Carr, Lewin, and Brown were dynamic playmakers at the linebacker spot, combining for 178 tackles, including 13.5 tackles-for-loss.
In his final season at Springfield, Burke made 29 stops on the defensive line, Richardson added 35 tackles his own as an impact player all over the field, while McKay stuffed his stat sheet with 51 tackles, two interceptions and forced fumbles, and four sacks. Barcello was dangerous in the return game all year, averaging nearly 25 yards per return.
