Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh announces 2002 recruiting class
9/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Bethlehem, PA – After completing its second consecutive undefeated regular season, the six time Patriot League Champion and current Lambert Cup Champion Lehigh football program has announced its 2002 recruiting class. Lehigh has signed 34 recruits that will enter the University in the fall of 2002. Of the 34 recruits, 18 are from Pennsylvania including eight Lehigh Valley natives, and six are from New Jersey. The recent success of the team and the University’s strong reputation for academics has aided in a national recruiting effort that includes student-athletes from Texas, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia in addition to the consistent recruiting areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware.
"This incoming class features an outstanding group of Lehigh Valley players in terms of both quality and quantity," said head coach and 2001 Eddie Robinson Award winner Pete Lembo. "This local group will enhance the strong nucleus we have already established in our program. We were again able to recruit successfully in the critical states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. However, it is encouraging to see our academic and athletic reputation penetrate national areas with strong football traditions like Texas and Tennessee."
The same football and academic success has also helped Lehigh recruit more competitively against the Atlantic 10 Conference.
"Several of our signees received strong interest from Atlantic-10 schools, including offensive lineman Mike Bucella, wide receiver Kevin Zebluim, and defensive backs David Snell and Andrew Nelson. Defeating Atlantic-10 champion Hofstra in the opening round of the I-AA playoffs certainly did not hurt our recruiting efforts."
Where Lehigh has been most successful however has been in it’s own backyard, the Lehigh Valley. Dating back to the seventies and eighties with Kim McQuilken, Mike Reiker and Steve Kreider all the way up through the nineties with Nick Martucci, Phil Stambaugh, Brian Baker, Brett and Josh Snyder, Mike Gregorek, Dave Wilson, and Matt Salvaterra Lehigh has cleaned up in the Lehigh Valley. Highlighting this year’s list are Bethlehem Catholic’s Mark Borda and Pius X’s Eric Rath in addition to six other quality Lehigh Valley players.
"When you can bring in student-athletes from strong programs who have been coached by guys like Steve Shiffert, Bob Stem, Rob Melosky and Joe Bottiglieri, among others, they understand the commitment it takes to compete at this level," noted Lembo. "We appreciate the strong ties we have forged with the high school coaches in the area."
Ranked one of the top 30 high school quarterbacks in the country, Borda threw for 5,740 yards and 48 touchdowns in two and a half years as a starter. He chose Lehigh over Richmond, Villanova, Hofstra, and Maryland.
"Mark has had to overcome a great deal of adversity as a high school senior," added Lembo. "In this process, he has matured a great deal and learned to appreciate his wonderful family. The entire Lehigh community is excited to have him on board as part of our football family. Mark fully understands that the nature of our program is based on discipline, leadership and teamwork. I anticipate that he will be a terrific asset and representative for Lehigh football."
Rath is a two-time All-State running back that recorded over 5,450 yards rushing in his career including 2,150 yards and 32 touchdowns in 2001. He was the 2001 Express Times football player of the year. Lehigh was the only school in the picture for Rath who said "as soon as Lehigh expressed an interest and said they were high on me, I was sold."
"Eric has excellent acceleration and change of direction, but perhaps more importantly, he is a hard worker and a team-oriented guy. He will continue the legacy of fine Pius X players here at Lehigh."
Lehigh returns nine starters to both its offense and defense for the 2002 season. The Mountain Hawks will play their annual Brown and White spring game on April 20th at 11:00 in Goodman Stadium. The 2002 Lehigh season opens against a Division I-A opponent on August 29th when the Mountain Hawks travel to the University of Buffalo.
2002 Lehigh Recruiting Class
Name | Pos. | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown/High School |
DL | 6’4" | 250 | Pittsburgh, PA/Shady Side Academy | |
WR | 6’1" | 180 | Greensburg, PA/Greater Latrobe | |
DL | 6’1" | 225 | Orefield, PA/Parkland | |
QB | 6’2" | 197 | Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic | |
LB | 6’2" | 205 | Richlandtown, PA/Palisades | |
Michael Bucella | OL | 6’3" | 305 | Marcus Hook, PA/Cardinal O’Hara |
DB | 5’11" | 170 | Philadelphia, PA/Central | |
Joshua Cooney | DL | 6’1" | 255 | Whitehall, PA/Allentown Central Catholic |
Gregory Fay | FB | 6’0" | 211 | Jackson, TN/University School |
Matt Ferguson | OL | 6’5" | 255 | Dover, DE/Dover |
Kevin Hannan | QB | 6’5" | 195 | West Chester, PA/Archmere Academy |
John Hatchell | DL | 6’2" | 255 | Monroeville, NJ/Clearview Regional |
Richard Lapinski | FB | 6’0" | 225 | Manasquan, NJ/Manasquan |
P | 5’11" | 190 | Richboro, PA/Council Rock | |
William Martin | DE | 6’2" | 225 | Staten Island, NY/Staten Island Tech |
DL | 6’1" | 290 | Dallas, TX/Greenhill School | |
DL | 6’1" | 220 | Avenel, NJ/Colonia | |
William Myers | OL | 6’6" | 270 | Richwood, NJ/Clearview Regional |
DB | 6’0" | 190 | Lakewood, NJ/Lakewood | |
Michael Niccols | K | 6’3" | 185 | Jeannette, PA/Jeannette |
Travis Olesh | DL | 6’5" | 245 | Whitehall, PA/Whitehall |
Gregory Petrosky | WR | 5’8" | 150 | Moosic, PA/Scranton Prep |
WR | 6’0" | 170 | Hollywood, FL/Stranahan | |
Brandon Pratt | OL | 6’6" | 270 | Rochester, NY/Spencerport |
LB | 6’2" | 195 | Sunbury, PA/Shikellamy | |
Eric Rath | RB | 5’8" | 180 | Mt. Pocono, PA/Pius X |
Michael Seldon | P | 5’11" | 190 | Richardson, TX/Jesuit College Prep |
OL | 6’2" | 255 | Easton, PA/Easton | |
DB | 5’11" | 185 | Madison, NJ/Madison | |
OL | 6’2" | 265 | Dover, DE/The Hill School | |
Thomas Toth | DL | 6’2" | 240 | Fogelsville, PA/Northwestern |
WR | 5’10" | 180 | Atlanta, GA/Alonzo A. Crim | |
DL | 5’11" | 240 | Whitestone, NY/St. Francis Prep | |
WR | 6’1" | 175 | North Wales, PA/North Penn |
