SELINSGROVE, Pa. – Susquehanna University record-setting split end Mark Bartosic has been named as one of ten finalists for the 2003 Gagliardi Trophy, which is presented to the outstanding football player in NCAA Division III and honors excellence in athletics, academics and community service.

The award, named for legendary Saint John’s University head coach John Gagliardi, is sponsored by Jostens, Inc. and conducted by the J-Club of Saint John’s in Collegeville, Minnesota. The 2003 winner will be announced at an awards dinner on Monday, December 22 at the Radisson South Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Bartosic (Northumberland, PA/Shikellamy H.S.) is a four-time first-team All-Middle Atlantic Conference selection who caught 78 passes for 1,313 yards and 13 touchdowns to lead the MAC in all three categories for the second straight season.

He became the first player in NCAA history at any level with four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons on November 1 against Albright and is tied for second in Division III history with a catch in all 40 games of his career.

Bartosic ended his Crusader career with 275 catches for 4,733 yards and 55 touchdowns to rank second in Division III history in yards, tied for second in touchdowns and sixth in receptions. He also ranks fourth in all divisions in yards and tied for third in touchdown catches and is the MAC career leader in all three categories.

An information systems major at Susquehanna who is scheduled to graduate in December, Bartosic is involved with the Noell Maerz World Trade Center Foundation and has participated in fundraising for the United Way. He has also spoken on behalf of Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) and has coached youth football.

On December 13 in Cancun, Bartosic will be one of 42 NCAA Division III seniors to participate in the Aztec Bowl, which is sponsored by the American Football Coaches Association and pits a Division III all-star team against the Mexican National Team.

Other finalists for the award are Mike Donnenworth (QB/P, Simpson), Blake Elliott (WR, Saint John’s), Cody Fredenburg (QB, Mary Hardin-Baylor), Brad Keem (DE, St. John Fisher), Scott Krause (QB, Wisconsin-Stevens Point), Sam Lacy (SS, Bethel), Tyler Matthews (QB, Linfield), Rocky Myers (SS, Wesley) and Conrad Singh (WR, Hampden-Sydney).

A 30-member national selection committee consisting of coaches, former athletes, college administrators, business leaders and members of the media determines the award winner. The 64-pound trophy is hand-cast in bronze and mounted on a polished wooden base and features a sculpture of Gagliardi, who became the winningest coach in NCAA history with his 409th win on November 8, and a player in sideline consultation.