SELINSGROVE, Pa. – For the second straight year, Susquehanna University senior cornerback Antonio Nash has been named the football team’s Most Valuable Player at the annual awards banquet held at the Degenstein Campus Center on Saturday afternoon.

Junior split end Mark Bartosic was named the team's Best Offensive Player for the third straight year while Nash earned the Best Defensive Player award at the luncheon.

Also earning honors were junior fullback Bart Hartman and junior linebacker Bob Mieczkowski, who were chosen as winners of the Offensive and Defensive Scout Team Award, respectively; senior offensive guard Jared Villella, the Bob Pittello Offensive Lineman of the Year; senior kicker Andy Nadler, the Dr. Neil Potter Special Teams Award; and senior split end Tim Ronchi, the Chris Vialonga Coaches Award.

Together, these players helped the Crusaders to a 5-5 overall record (5-4 Middle Atlantic Conference) under the direction of 13th-year head coach Steve Briggs (84-48, .636).

Nash (Washington, DC/Springbrook, MD H.S.) was the first recipient of the renamed Randy Zook Most Valuable Player Award, presented by his family in the memory of Susquehanna’s All-American offensive tackle who passed away on March 20 from cancer at the age of 23.

The sixth player in MAC history to be named first-team All-Conference in four straight years, Nash is also a three-time Football Gazette All-South Region team member, with this season’s squad yet to be announced.

He led the Crusaders with 62 tackles (58 solo) and picked off two passes to increase his career total to 21, the second-highest total in program history.

Bartosic (Northumberland, PA/Shikellamy H.S.) was named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year after breaking single-season Susquehanna records with 74 receptions for 1,202 yards. He also pulled in 14 touchdowns to become the first player since 1998 to lead the conference in all three categories.

After three seasons, Bartosic is Susquehanna’s career leader in receptions (197), yards (3,420) and touchdowns (42) and he has caught a touchdown pass in 25 of 30 career games.

Hartman (Northumberland, PA/Shikellamy H.S.) earned the Offensive Scout Team Award after appearing in all 10 games as a backup fullback. He carried the ball five times for seven yards during the 2002 season and added five tackles in a special-teams role.

Mieczkowski (West Chester, PA/Unionville H.S.), who captured the Defensive Scout Team Award, saw action at the junior varsity level as a starting linebacker during the 2002 season.

Villella (Sinclairville, NY/Cassadaga Valley H.S.) started all 10 games at right guard for the second straight season and was the lone senior on a line that helped the Crusaders finish fourth in the MAC in total offense (368.5 yards per game) and in passing offense (226.3 yards per game).

Nadler (Westport, CT/Staples H.S.) was the recipient of the newly-renamed Special Teams Award, presented in the memory of the late Dr. Neil Potter, a longtime chemistry professor and former men’s soccer coach who coached the Crusader kickers for five seasons before passing away in an auto accident on August 11.

Ronchi (Factoryville, PA/Lackawanna Trail H.S.) was the winner of the Coaches Award, presented in memory of the late Chris Vialonga ‘93¸ a two-year starter at left guard and former MAC All-Star who was killed in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001.

A four-year starter at split end, Ronchi made a career-high 39 receptions for 425 yards during the 2002 season and finished his career ranked second in catches with 130 and third in yards with 1,550.