Cantalupo |
D'Amico |
Fitzgerald |
Haite |
Jerkovich |
Lewis |
O'Brien |
Pungitore |
Smith |
|
Skyhawks lead NE10 and rank second among Division II programs with its record total members among 1,471 student-athletes from 370 institutions honored in 14th year of National Football Foundation's program
EASTON, Mass. (July 20, 2020) – A program-record nine recent graduates from the Stonehill College football program have been named members of the National Football Foundation's (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society for having maintained a 3.20 cumulative grade point average or higher throughout their college career.
Stonehill's nine Hampshire Honor Society members from the Class of 2020 surpass the previous program-best of seven (and account for over half of the Northeast-10 Conference's 17 members, which rank third among all NCAA Division II conferences) and the Skyhawks' total is tied for second nationally in Division II.
Class of 2020 graduates Kyle Cantalupo, Andrew D'Amico, Robert Fitzgerald, Matt Haite, Frank Jerkovich, Michael Lewis, Tim O'Brien, Zac Pungitore and Kyle Smith are among 1,471 student-athletes from 370 programs across all divisions of college football who have qualified for membership in the society's 14th year. Qualification for membership in the NFF Hampshire Honor Society include being a starter or significant contributor in one's last season of eligibility, achieving a 3.20 cumulative grade point average and meeting all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements.
Cantalupo, Stonehill's punter for the last two seasons, graduated with a 3.55 cumulative grade point average and degree in marketing. He has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll all eight semesters, earning Academic Distinction status for having a GPA between 3.50 and 3.99 the last four semesters. Cantalupo has earned the Division II Athletic Director's Association (ADA) Academic Achievement Award after his junior year and has been named the Athletic Director's Honor Roll six semesters. He has been inducted into Lambda Epsilon Sigma honor society at the College this spring. Cantalupo appeared in 21 games over his four-year career, averaging 35.6 yards on his 94 career punt attempts, with a career-long of 67 yards, pinning 25 punts inside the opponents 25-yard line with four fair catches and three touchbacks.
D'Amico, a three-year letterwinner at linebacker for Stonehill, graduated with a 3.62 cumulative grade point average and a degree in accounting. He has earned the Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award the last two years and been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll six semesters, receiving Academic Distinction status for having a GPA between 3.50 and 3.99 the last three semesters. He has been named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll four semesters and been inducted to Beta Alpha Psi honor society. D'Amico appeared in three games during his senior season and finished with four tackles.
Fitzgerald, a four-year letterwinner at defensive back for Stonehill, graduated with a 3.71 cumulative grade point average and degree in criminology. He has received the Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award two years and been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll all eight semesters, with Academic Distinction status three semesters for having a GPA between 3.50 and 3.99 and Academic Excellence status this spring for having a 4.0 semester GPA. He has been named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll six semesters and earned a team "game ball" for his role as a defensive scout player following the Skyhawks win at Bentley University on November 12, 2016 and then for special teams after Stonehill's win over Franklin Pierce University last fall. Fitzgerald appeared in 30 games over his career and finished with 12 tackles, including seven solo, ranking second on the team last fall with five special teams tackles, including a team-high five on kick return coverage.
Haite, who wrapped up a record-breaking four-year career as Stonehill's placekicker, is an economics major with a 3.40 cumulative grade point average. Haite, an NFF William V. Campbell Trophy® semifinalist, is a two-time NE10 Academic All-Conference selection who has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll all eight semesters, with Academic Distinction status one semester for having a semester GPA between 3.50 and 3.99. He has been named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll six semesters for having a semester GPA of 3.20 and above.
Haite capped his career as Stonehill's all-time leading scorer with 244 points, finishing with school-records for career PATs (118) and made field goals (42), while ranking second in program history for career field goal percentage (71.2%) and PAT% (92.9%). The two-time All-NE10 performer, with first team honors as a senior, was also selected to the Don Hansen All-Super Region 1 third team following his senior season as well. He has been selected to The Fred Mitchell Award "Watch List" all four years of his career and was named to the NE10 All-Rookie Team as a freshman. Haite converted a school-record 13 field goals last fall to lead the NE10 and rank 13th nationally in Division II, leading the Conference (32nd nationally) for field goal percentage (76-percent), while his 36 PATs are the second-highest single-season total in program history, one shy of the record.
Haite headlines Stonehill's program-record nine Hampshire Honor Society members after being named a Campbell Trophy semifinalist (PHOTO BY Andrew Katsampes) |
Jerkovich, a three-year starter on the offensive line for Stonehill, graduated with a degree in criminology and a 3.22 cumulative grade point average. Jerkovich has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll six semesters, with Academic Distinction status three semesters for having a semester GPA between 3.50 and 3.99, while being named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll four semesters. He started the last 30 games of his collegiate career, including the last two seasons at center, and spearheaded a Skyhawks offensive line that blocked for the top-ranked offense in the NE10, leading the Conference in total offense (415.8 yards per game) and third down offense (47.1-percent) – which ranked 21st nationally in Division II, ranking second for rushing offense (193.7 yds/gm), team pass efficiency (141.04) and fewest sacks allowed (1.60/gm) and fourth for passing offense (222.1 yds/gm).
Lewis, a four-year letterwinner and two-year starter at linebacker for Stonehill, graduated with a 3.34 cumulative grade point average and a degree in economics. Lewis has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll, with Academic Distinction status the last four semesters for having a semester GPA between 3.50 and 3.99. He has been named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll four semesters and earned NE10 Defensive Player of the Week accolades after the Skyhawks 34-22 win over Pace in week nine last fall. Lewis played 26 games over his four-year career, starting 13, and finished with 89 tackles, including 45 solo, with 5.5 tackles for a loss of 17 yards, with 0.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
O'Brien, a four-year member of the Stonehill offense as a quarterback, graduated with a 3.75 cumulative grade point average and a degree in finance. O'Brien has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll all eight semesters, including Academic Excellence status this spring for having a 4.0 semester GPA, and Athletic Director's Honor Roll five semesters. He received the Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award for having a 3.50 cumulative GPA or higher and is a member of the football team's Team IMPACT Leadership Committee.
Pungitore, a three-year letterwinner and starting wide receiver for Stonehill, graduated with a 3.60 cumulative grade point average and degree in business management. Pungitore, an NE10 Academic All-Conference selection as a junior, has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll six semesters, with Academic Distinction status the last four semesters for having a semester GPA between 3.50 and 3.99. He has been named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll five semesters for having a semester GPA of 3.20 or above and has received the Division II ADA Academic Achievement Award. Pungitore played 30 games over three seasons, starting 12, recording 552 yards on 55 receptions with five touchdowns.
Smith, a four-year letterwinner and starting quarterback for Stonehill as a junior, graduated with a 3.34 cumulative grade point average and a degree in finance. Smith has been named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll all eight semesters and Athletic Director's Honor Roll the last four semesters for having a semester GPA over 3.20. He appeared in ten games over his career, starting five at quarterback his junior season. Smith passed for 621 yards in seven games in 2018, with four touchdowns. He was named the Skyhawks scout offense player of the week after Stonehill's 34-22 win over Pace University in the fall.
Stonehill finished its 2019 season with a 6-4 record overall, including 5-3 in the NE10 to finish in third place in the Conference, a game out of first place. Stonehill and the NE10 announced last week that it has suspended intercollegiate competition for its 22 varsity athletics programs through December 31. The College and NE10 will begin the process of developing a meaningful regular season and conference championship experience for its fall and winter sport student-athletes during the Spring 2021 semester, as long as a return to competition can be safely executed.
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