Offense
By Josh Greenspan
Sports Editor
Quarterback
Jake
Fay ’00-
The
defending NESCAC offensive player of the year,
Fay is one of the keys to the team. Fay, who can
scramble when necessary, throws extremely well.
He set school record for pass yards in a season
with 1,906 last year. In addition Fay led the
NESCAC in passing efficiency with a 147.5 rating
in 1997. That rating was also good enough for
17th overall in Division III.
Backs
Tom
Themistocles ’99-
Themistocles,
a quad captain, has started in the backfield
since he was a frosh. He ran for a team high 565
yards and five TDs last year. His biggest game
came against Williams where he rushed for 152
yards and a TD. He also caught an eight yard pass
for a TD that game. That performance earned him
ECAC player of the week honors.
John
Pascucci ’99-
Pascucci,
also a quad captain and four year starter, was
all-NESCAC last year at fullback. He ran for 504
yards and four TDs, while tacking on nearly 200
yards receiving and another two TDs. Besides the
backfield Pascucci should also see some time on
the defensive side in goal-line situations.
Bench
Rahsaan
Wareham ’01, Larry Woolard ’02-
Wareham,
who played running back as well as special teams
last year, will offer experience and talent when
called upon. Woolard has been called a key to the
future by Coach Hauser and should get a share of
the carries on Saturday.
Wide
Receivers
Nate
Moore ’99-
Hampered
by an abdominal strain all season in 1997, Moore
played hurt and still averaged 19.9 yards per
catch. He finished second on the team in
receiving yards with 517. After off-season
surgery Moore should be completely healthy and
return to stake claim to the team’s top
receiving slot.
Matt
Perceval ’00-
One
of the most explosive receivers in the league,
Perceval led the team in receptions with 37 last
year. Named to the first team all-NESCAC and
second team all-ECAC, he racked up 772 yards and
eight TDs. Perceval was also the team’s
return specialist in 1997 with over 550 return
yards and one TD. Finally, Perceval ranked 25th
in Division III in receiving yards per game,
averaging 96.5.
Bench
George
Thompson ’02, Mike Hakim ’99-
Both
will make up the receiving core when necessary.
Hakim is a proven receiver, while Thompson has
impressed in the pre-season.
Tight
End
Hank
Wasserman ’99-
Wasserman
is one of the fastest players in the league. A
sprinter and high jumper in the off-season, he
creates serious problems for opposing defenses
with his speed. Wasserman provides the team with
a deep threat, as well as being able to block
when necessary.
Offensive
Line
Al
Cabello ’01, Pete Karayiannis ’01, Nick
Ledato ’01, T.J. Dicocco ’01, Jon
Brandt ’01-
With
its offensive line made up entirely of
sophomores, the Cardinals have one of the
youngest lines in the league. Despite their
youth, Karayiannis, Cabello and Ledato are all
returning starters. Karayiannis and Cabello
anchor the line with their size. Brandt will get
a chance to start after moving over from the
defense in the pre-season.
Kickers
Curtis
Younkin ’01, Brian Walker ’00-
Younkin
will kick extra points as well as short range
field goals. He will also back up punter Mark
Olshefskie. Walker, a baseball player, came out
for the team a week into the season. He will take
kickoffs and be called on for long range field
goals.
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Defense
By Brian
LaCarrubba
Consulting Sports
Defensive
Line
Mike
Rogers ’99-
The
senior quad-captain returns for his fourth year
as a starter. At 6’ and 215 lbs., Rogers has
an incredible combination of strength and
quickness. He ranked third on the team last
season with 50 tackles and was second with 4.5
sacks. Coach Frank Hauser calls him "one of
the best defensive ends we have ever had at
Wesleyan."
Rome
Riddick ’00-
Riddick
is another lineman who has been a starter every
year. He has been one of the Cardinals’ most
consistent performers on the defensive line. He
tied for third on the team in 1997 with two
sacks.
Ray
Dolphin ’01-
Dolphin
is coming off a rookie year in which he tied for
third on the team in sacks despite playing only
six of the eight games. At 5’10" 205,
he is not as big as many linemen, but he is as
quick as almost any lineman in the conference.
Noel
Pena ’01-
Pena
enters his first year as a starter this season.
Like Dolphin, he is not a big lineman, but he
does possess great strength and quickness which
enables him to compete against the larger
offensive lineman in the conference.
Bench
Nick
LaFontaine ’01, Greg DiPreta ’02, Sean
O’Brien ’02-
The
Cardinals enter the season with three capable
reserves on the defensive line. They are a group
of very quick, young players who will see playing
time throughout the season.
Linebackers
Ross
Stafford ’99-
Stafford,
a quad-captain, will start for the fourth year in
a row. One of the top inside linebackers in the
league, he possesses a rare combination of speed
and size, as he weighs 245 but runs the 40 yard
dash in 4.8 seconds. He paced the squad last year
with 61 tackles.
Matt
Francis ’99-
Durability
and toughness describe this third year starter,
who has not missed a game since he joined the
starting lineup. He has been one of the most
consistent Cardinal defenders in that time, and
is coming off of a 30 tackle (19 solo) season.
Terry
Sears ’00-
This
outside linebacker was a terror to opposing ball
carriers last year, as he racked up 55 tackles, a
team-leading 5.5 sacks, and broke up six passes.
Hauser calls him one of the two best outside
linebackers in the conference, although Sears was
kept off of the NESCAC all-star team last year.
Bench
Larry
Mason ’01-
Mason
made 25 tackles last year and will see
significant playing time this season.
Secondary
Bryant
Lee ’00-
Lee’s
6’1" frame makes him an intimidating
presence in the cornerback position. He averaged
more than five tackles per game last season and
returned an interception 49 yards, the
team’s longest runback of the year.
Mark
Olschefskie ’00-
Olschefskie
enters his first year as a starter on defense. A
track star in the off season, Olschefskie’s
speed will be a major asset at cornerback, as few
receivers in the league will be able to lose him.
Olschefskie was also the backup punter last year
and will step into the starting role this season.
He has big shoes to fill, as he replaces
All-NESCAC punter Rob Stager, who averaged 38.4
yards per kick.
Louis
Bronk ’01-
Bronk,
who played linebacker last year, will be counted
on to provide some big hits out of his strong
safety position. After playing in four of the
eight games as a rookie, he will be expected to
contribute even more in his second season.
Scott
Perceval ’02 -
Starting
at free safety will be Matt Perceval’s
younger brother. Scott Perceval stands
6’2", runs very well, and is a good
tackler. These skills were enough for coach
Hauser to insert him as the only frosh in the
starting 11 on defense.
Bench
Derrick
Brantley ’02, Kevin Labbe ’99, Pat
Madden ’99-
The
Cardinals are fortunate to have experienced
reserves at both safety positions, with Labbe at
free safety and Madden able to play either spot.
Brantley, a corner, has impressed in the
pre-season drills and scrimmages.
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