UW-Whitewater's Rusch Finalist For Gagliardi Trophy
WHITEWATER, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Whitewater senior wide receiver Aaron Rusch is a finalist for the 2010 Gagliardi Trophy. The Gagliardi committee announced 10 finalists Wednesday (Nov. 24). The award, which recognizes the outstanding player in Division III football who also represents the ideals of Division III, is named for John Gagliardi, the head coach at Saint John's University (Minn.), the winningest coach in college football history and is a project of the J-Club of Saint John's University and is sponsored by Josten's.
Fans: You can support Rusch's candidacy by voting. A fan vote is being conducted by the committee. Go to the special page at D3football.com to vote.
Rusch, the leading receiver in both yards (3,561) and receptions (268), was named All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) First Team for the second straight year and earned the league's Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2010 season. He is also moving up the WIAC's record lists, currently sitting third in career receptions and career yards, and fourth in receiving touchdowns.
Rusch has helped the Warhawks win WIAC championships each of his four years, and advance through the NCAA Division III playoffs to the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl, the Division III championship, all four years, claiming titles in 2007 and 2009.
UW-Whitewater tailback Justin Beaver was a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy in 2006 and won the award in 2007.
The list of finalists will be reduced to four in a November 30 announcement. Those four finalists will be guests of the Saint John's J-Club and Josten's at a banquet preceding the Stagg Bowl Thursday, December 16 in Salem, Virginia. The Gagliardi Trophy recipient for 2010 will be announced at that banquet.
About Jostens
Minneapolis-based Jostens is a provider of products, programs and services that help people tell their stories, celebrate important traditions and recognize achievements. The company’s products include school yearbooks and other memory book products, scholastic products such as class rings and graduation products, and products for athletic champions and their fans. Jostens is a subsidiary of Visant Corporation, a marketing and publishing services enterprise servicing the school affinity, direct marketing, fragrance and cosmetics sampling and educational and trade publishing segments.
About Saint John’s University J-Club
Founded in 1959, the Saint John’s University J-Club is a dues-based booster organization of former Johnnie student-athletes, parents and fans, and plays a key role in support of the SJU varsity programs, intramurals and club sports. Saint John’s is a private liberal arts college for men located in Collegeville, Minnesota.
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