Lehigh University Athletics
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Leach Leads Six All-Patriot League Selections From Lehigh Football
4/13/2021 3:00:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh football program landed six student-athletes on the All-Patriot League teams, announced Tuesday. Sophomore defensive back TyGee Leach led the way earning first team honors, while five others were named to the second team: senior linebacker Pete Haffner, freshman defensive back LaTreil Wimberly, junior tight end Alex Snyder, senior offensive lineman Chris Fournier and junior offensive lineman Justin Gurth.
The all-league teams and football major awards are voted on by the league's head coaches.
Leach followed up a strong freshman campaign in 2019 with an impressive three-game stretch this spring, tying for second on the Mountain Hawks with 18 tackles and adding three tackles for loss, an interception, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
The Norristown, Pa., product opened the spring campaign with a stellar showing against Holy Cross, leading Lehigh with nine tackles and adding two tackles for loss and his first career interception, which set up a Mountain Hawks' field goal. Leach has now made 10 consecutive starts at safety dating back to the 2019 season.
Haffner is the lone repeat all-league selection among Lehigh's six honorees as he earns second-team accolades for the second straight year. Lehigh's top tackler with 28 stops, Haffner added three tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery to go along with two pass breakups. He had a game-high 11 tackles against Bucknell and had no fewer than eight in any game this season.
Wimberly is the only first-year Patriot League player to make an all-league team. He started all three games at cornerback and finished fourth on the Mountain Hawks with 13 tackles. Wimberly had two tackles for loss and picked up a sack against Bucknell, while adding a pair of pass breakups. The Glenarden, Md., native opened eyes against the Bison when he limited reigning Patriot League offensive Player of the Week Brandon Sanders to three catches for 24 yards, one week after a 12-catch, 179-yard showing.
The Mountain Hawks led the Patriot League in total defense during the spring season, allowing just 252.7 yards of offense per game.
Snyder earns second team honors at tight end after being the preseason all-league pick at the position. He had six receptions for 58 yards in three games, highlighted by a three-catch, 36-yard effort against Bucknell.
Fournier and Gurth were recognized as veteran presences on an otherwise young offensive line. The senior member of the line, Fournier started all 25 of Lehigh's games at left tackle over the last three seasons after playing in seven games and making three starts at center. Gurth has started all 25 games since he has been at Lehigh, the last 14 at center after starting all 11 games at right tackle as a true freshman in 2018.
Fordham captured two of the four major awards with quarterback Tim DeMorat named Offensive Player of the Year and linebacker Ryan Greenhagen named Defensive Player of the Year. Holy Cross quarterback Matthew Sluka was named Rookie of the Year, while Bucknell's Dave Cecchini was named Dick Biddle Coach of the Year.
2020-21 Patriot League Spring Football Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, Jr., QB
Defensive Player of the Year: Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, Jr., LB
Rookie of the Year: Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, Fr., QB
Dick Biddle Coach of the Year: Dave Cecchini, Bucknell
2020-21 Patriot League Spring Football All-Patriot League Teams
First-Team Offense (16)*
QB: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, Jr.
RB: Trey Sneed, Fordham, Sr.
RB: Selwyn Simpson, Lafayette, Sr.
FB/H-Back: Jake Taggart, Lafayette, Sr.
WR: Brandon Sanders, Bucknell, Jr.
WR: Dequece Carter, Fordham, So.
WR: Fotis Kokosioulis, Fordham, Jr.
TE: Steven Stilianos, Lafayette, Jr.
OL: PJ Barr, Bucknell, Sr.
OL: Jack Badovinac, Colgate, Sr.
OL: Nick Zakelj, Fordham, Sr.
OL: Phil Saleh, Fordham, Jr.
OL: Brian Foley, Holy Cross, Sr.
PK: Derek Ng, Holy Cross, Jr.
RS: Jared Cooper, Bucknell, Jr.
RS: Will Gruber, Colgate, So.
First-Team Defense (14)
DL: Nnamdi Unachukwu, Bucknell, Sr.
DL: John Coste, Fordham, Sr.
DL: Benton Whitley, Holy Cross, Sr.
DL: Malik Hamm, Lafayette, Jr.
LB: Simeon Page, Bucknell, Sr.
LB: Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, Jr.
LB: Glenn Cunningham, Fordham, Sr.
LB: Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, So.
DB: Gavin Pringle, Bucknell, So.
DB: Brandon Benson, Bucknell, Sr.
DB: John Smith, Holy Cross, Jr.
DB: TyGee Leach, Lehigh, Sr.
P: Jeffrey Kordenbrock, Lafayette, Sr.
Special Teams Non-Specialist (STNS): Macklin Kortebein, Holy Cross, Sr.
Second-Team Offense (16)*
QB: Logan Bitikofer, Bucknell, Sr.
RB: Peter Oliver, Holy Cross, Jr.
RB: Jaden Sutton, Lafayette, So.
WR: Dominic Lyles, Bucknell, Jr.
WR: MJ Wright, Fordham, So.
WR: Ayir Asante, Holy Cross, So.
WR: Quinn Revere, Lafayette, Sr.
TE: Alex Snyder, Lehigh, Jr.
OL: Nick Olsofka, Holy Cross, Jr.
OL: Gavin Barclay, Lafayette, Sr.
OL: John Burk, Lafayette, Sr.
OL: Chris Fournier, Lehigh, Sr.
OL: Justin Gurth, Lehigh, Jr.
PK: Jeffrey Kordenbrock, Lafayette, Sr.
RS: Tyler Purdy, Holy Cross, So.
RS: John Gay, Lafayette, So.
Second-Team Defense (16)
DL: Jeremy Imperati, Fordham, Sr.
DL: Jordan Jackson, Holy Cross, Sr.
DL: Dan Kuznetsov, Holy Cross, Jr.
DL: Damon Washington, Lafayette, So.
LB: Gerrit Van Itallie, Bucknell, Sr.
LB: Major Jordan, Lafayette, Sr.
LB: Marco Olivas, Lafayette, So.
LB: Pete Haffner, Lehigh, Sr.
DB: Will Gruber, Colgate, Jr.
DB: Cam Blair, Fordham, Jr.
DB: Stephen Williams II, Fordham, So.
DB: Grant Holloman, Holy Cross, Sr.
DB: DaRon Gilbert, Lafayette, So.
DB: LaTreil Wimberly, Lehigh, Fr.
P: Patrick Haughney, Holy Cross, So.
STNS: Eric Holsinger, Bucknell, So.
*Additional players were selected to the first- and second-team offense and second-team defense due to ties in voting.
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The all-league teams and football major awards are voted on by the league's head coaches.
Leach followed up a strong freshman campaign in 2019 with an impressive three-game stretch this spring, tying for second on the Mountain Hawks with 18 tackles and adding three tackles for loss, an interception, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
The Norristown, Pa., product opened the spring campaign with a stellar showing against Holy Cross, leading Lehigh with nine tackles and adding two tackles for loss and his first career interception, which set up a Mountain Hawks' field goal. Leach has now made 10 consecutive starts at safety dating back to the 2019 season.
Haffner is the lone repeat all-league selection among Lehigh's six honorees as he earns second-team accolades for the second straight year. Lehigh's top tackler with 28 stops, Haffner added three tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery to go along with two pass breakups. He had a game-high 11 tackles against Bucknell and had no fewer than eight in any game this season.
Wimberly is the only first-year Patriot League player to make an all-league team. He started all three games at cornerback and finished fourth on the Mountain Hawks with 13 tackles. Wimberly had two tackles for loss and picked up a sack against Bucknell, while adding a pair of pass breakups. The Glenarden, Md., native opened eyes against the Bison when he limited reigning Patriot League offensive Player of the Week Brandon Sanders to three catches for 24 yards, one week after a 12-catch, 179-yard showing.
The Mountain Hawks led the Patriot League in total defense during the spring season, allowing just 252.7 yards of offense per game.
Snyder earns second team honors at tight end after being the preseason all-league pick at the position. He had six receptions for 58 yards in three games, highlighted by a three-catch, 36-yard effort against Bucknell.
Fournier and Gurth were recognized as veteran presences on an otherwise young offensive line. The senior member of the line, Fournier started all 25 of Lehigh's games at left tackle over the last three seasons after playing in seven games and making three starts at center. Gurth has started all 25 games since he has been at Lehigh, the last 14 at center after starting all 11 games at right tackle as a true freshman in 2018.
Fordham captured two of the four major awards with quarterback Tim DeMorat named Offensive Player of the Year and linebacker Ryan Greenhagen named Defensive Player of the Year. Holy Cross quarterback Matthew Sluka was named Rookie of the Year, while Bucknell's Dave Cecchini was named Dick Biddle Coach of the Year.
2020-21 Patriot League Spring Football Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, Jr., QB
Defensive Player of the Year: Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, Jr., LB
Rookie of the Year: Matthew Sluka, Holy Cross, Fr., QB
Dick Biddle Coach of the Year: Dave Cecchini, Bucknell
2020-21 Patriot League Spring Football All-Patriot League Teams
First-Team Offense (16)*
QB: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, Jr.
RB: Trey Sneed, Fordham, Sr.
RB: Selwyn Simpson, Lafayette, Sr.
FB/H-Back: Jake Taggart, Lafayette, Sr.
WR: Brandon Sanders, Bucknell, Jr.
WR: Dequece Carter, Fordham, So.
WR: Fotis Kokosioulis, Fordham, Jr.
TE: Steven Stilianos, Lafayette, Jr.
OL: PJ Barr, Bucknell, Sr.
OL: Jack Badovinac, Colgate, Sr.
OL: Nick Zakelj, Fordham, Sr.
OL: Phil Saleh, Fordham, Jr.
OL: Brian Foley, Holy Cross, Sr.
PK: Derek Ng, Holy Cross, Jr.
RS: Jared Cooper, Bucknell, Jr.
RS: Will Gruber, Colgate, So.
First-Team Defense (14)
DL: Nnamdi Unachukwu, Bucknell, Sr.
DL: John Coste, Fordham, Sr.
DL: Benton Whitley, Holy Cross, Sr.
DL: Malik Hamm, Lafayette, Jr.
LB: Simeon Page, Bucknell, Sr.
LB: Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, Jr.
LB: Glenn Cunningham, Fordham, Sr.
LB: Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, So.
DB: Gavin Pringle, Bucknell, So.
DB: Brandon Benson, Bucknell, Sr.
DB: John Smith, Holy Cross, Jr.
DB: TyGee Leach, Lehigh, Sr.
P: Jeffrey Kordenbrock, Lafayette, Sr.
Special Teams Non-Specialist (STNS): Macklin Kortebein, Holy Cross, Sr.
Second-Team Offense (16)*
QB: Logan Bitikofer, Bucknell, Sr.
RB: Peter Oliver, Holy Cross, Jr.
RB: Jaden Sutton, Lafayette, So.
WR: Dominic Lyles, Bucknell, Jr.
WR: MJ Wright, Fordham, So.
WR: Ayir Asante, Holy Cross, So.
WR: Quinn Revere, Lafayette, Sr.
TE: Alex Snyder, Lehigh, Jr.
OL: Nick Olsofka, Holy Cross, Jr.
OL: Gavin Barclay, Lafayette, Sr.
OL: John Burk, Lafayette, Sr.
OL: Chris Fournier, Lehigh, Sr.
OL: Justin Gurth, Lehigh, Jr.
PK: Jeffrey Kordenbrock, Lafayette, Sr.
RS: Tyler Purdy, Holy Cross, So.
RS: John Gay, Lafayette, So.
Second-Team Defense (16)
DL: Jeremy Imperati, Fordham, Sr.
DL: Jordan Jackson, Holy Cross, Sr.
DL: Dan Kuznetsov, Holy Cross, Jr.
DL: Damon Washington, Lafayette, So.
LB: Gerrit Van Itallie, Bucknell, Sr.
LB: Major Jordan, Lafayette, Sr.
LB: Marco Olivas, Lafayette, So.
LB: Pete Haffner, Lehigh, Sr.
DB: Will Gruber, Colgate, Jr.
DB: Cam Blair, Fordham, Jr.
DB: Stephen Williams II, Fordham, So.
DB: Grant Holloman, Holy Cross, Sr.
DB: DaRon Gilbert, Lafayette, So.
DB: LaTreil Wimberly, Lehigh, Fr.
P: Patrick Haughney, Holy Cross, So.
STNS: Eric Holsinger, Bucknell, So.
*Additional players were selected to the first- and second-team offense and second-team defense due to ties in voting.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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