Tommie Football Senior Salute

November 12, 2003
Here's a rundown of the 2003 Tommie football teams' 17 seniors with comments by head coach Don Roney:

.#1 -- Dan Fritze, QB, Eagan: Dan has been in the program four seasons and had a chance to play alongside brothers Joe and Tom Fritze. He directed the offense on a late-game scoring drive in the Bethel game this season. Dan is an Education major with a 3.00 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "Dan is a great kid and he'll make
a very good coach. He understands the game probably as well as anybody in our program. He's been willing to do whatever to help out."

.#3 -- Tore Evensen, TE, Red Wing: Tore is a versatile player who has contributed on special teams, defense and offense in his career. He's also a conference
runner-up javelin thrower in track and field. Tore is an English major.

Coach Roney says: "If only Tore could stay healthy, because the injuries have held him back. He's such a good athlete and has displayed a lot of perseverence
and patience throughout his career."

.#5 -- Mitch Nelson, WR, DeLaSalle: Mitch has worked hard and improved throughout his career and had 46 catches for 538 yards on his career including
three TD receptions. Mitch is a Business major.

Coach Roney says: "Mitch is like Luke Miller -- both work at football all year long and both have improved a ton since they started. Mitch has played a lot of different spots for us and always know how to run a certain pass route."

.#7 -- Justin Kostner, RB, Arcadia, Wis.: A co-captain, Justin has been a central figure in the Tommie offense the last two seasons. He had more than 1,000 rushing yards in the last two seasons and nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns on his career. Justin is a Finance major with a 3.30 GPA.

Coach Roney says:
"Justin blew out his knee last year and worked hard to come back and be 100 percent ready. That's almost unheard of with his injury. He's done everything we've asked as a captain and has played a lot of different spots wherever we've needed him."

.#8 -- Kyle Davenport, P-WR, Marquette, Mich.: Kyle has been the Tommie punter for 40 consecutive games and has been a steady player in an often difficult role.
Kyle is a Biochemistry major with a 3.445 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "Kyle has quietly gone about his job and continued to improve. His punting has really
been good in the last half of this season. He's a good wide receiver, too, and we probably should have given him more opportunities there, but his value as our punter left some coaches worried about him getting hurt."

.#11 -- Jesse Baker, QB, Duluth East: Jesse has been in the program for four seasons and has contributed on both the junior varsity and varsity. Jesse is a Entrepreneurship major with a 3.30 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "Jesse is a very gregarious kid who always has a smile on his face. He likes to keep things loose and keep things fun. He's also a talented quarterback who has performed under fire."

.#17 -- Paul Delaney, FB, Waconia: Paul suffered a season-ending injury Nov. 1 vs. St. John's. An excellent blocker, Paul scored one touchdown this season. Paul is a Marketing major with a 3.05 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "It's a shame Paul got hurt last week and may need surgery. He's worked hard and has really worked at his game. Paul has had such a physical presence and is a hitter in the purest sense. The only good thing about him graduating is that our budget might get better -- he's broken about eight facemasks on his helmet he hits so hard.''

.#19 -- Luke Miller, WR, Park Center: Luke is another senior who showed patience and improvement and earned his chance to contribute to the varsity
successes in 2002 and 2003. He had 29 catches for 312 yards and one TD on his career. Luke is a Accounting major.

Coach Roney says: "I'm really happy with the progress Luke has made in his four years. He's a much improved blocker, and he's made some big catches."

.#20 -- Nick Whitehead, RB, St. Francis: Nick is one of the fifth-year seniors who overcame and played through injuries and has been a solid player whenever called on to play. He had 431 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on his career, with a 124-yard rushing day vs. Carleton in 2002 and a 101-yard game in his finale vs. Concordia-Moorhead. He also has 13 career receptions for 127 yards. Nick is a Engineering major with a 3.778 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "Nick worked hard and made himself stronger, faster and a more complete player. He's done a lot for us -- he can block, catch and run hard. He's been an important player for us."

.#25 -- Jason Larson, DB, Tartan: Jason is a versatile athlete who has contributed extensively in the secondary the last two seasons. He has an interception and a fumble recovery along with seven tackles this season. Jason is a Mechanical Engineering major with a 3.21 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "He's an Engineering
major and one the true student-athletes, often missing parts of practice with labs and classes. He always works extremely hard and has done a lot on special teams."

.#34 -- Quinn Brennan, FB, Peoria, Ill.: Quinn is another fifth-year Tommie who has overcome injuries to contribute as a blocker and receiver. Quinn is
a Finance major with a 3.40 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "Quinn sat out last season with a knee injury, he really has stepped up and built himself into a football player at the college level and he'll start for us today. He's one of those "Team" guys."

.#38 -- Tom Labonowski, RB, Peoria, Ill.: Tom returned to the team in 2003 after a break from school. Tom is a Psychology major.

Coach Roney says: "Tom is a breath of fresh air. He came back to school this year and just wanted to play. He'll play on scout teams and do whatever to help the team. It worked out that his parents came up from Illinois to watch him at a recent junior-varsity game, and we plugged Tom into a new position and he ran for more than 100 yards and scored two touchdowns. That was a thrill for everyone."

.#41 -- Marshall Clamons, LB, Cretin-Derham Hall: Marshall, who has been in the program five seasons and overcome injuries, has been a contributor on
special teams and at linebacker. He has 15 tackles this season and had 17 last season. Marshall is a Marketing major with a 2.90 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "Marshall has had some odd injuries he's had to deal with. But he's battled and he's gotten better each season. He's always been a big hitter, just like in high school for Cretin. He's helped us a lot on special teams and has made the transition to inside linebacker."

.#45 -- Dane Sievwright, DT, Rosemount: Dane has helped fill a huge gap on the defensive line over the last two seasons. He had a big sack Nov. 1 against
St. John's and had 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks this season and more than 60 tackles and 5.5 sacks on his career. He also had two blocked kicks this season. Dane is a Business major with a 3.37 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "Dane is a battler. He's undersized for teh position we ask him to play but he uses quickness and strength to make plays. He really gives us a burst of energy of front. He's a guy we look
to when we need as big play."

.#54 -- Matt McLaughlin, OT, Minnetonka: Matt is another fifth-year player who started his career at the University of Minnesota. He's also a key contributor
as a thrower to the Tommies' track and field team. He's one of the rare players to start on both the offensive and defensive side in his career. He's a tough individual who has played through injuries. Matt is a Marketing major with a 3.00 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "Matt has really matured in the classroom and has been a good example for our young players. He's very talented and just an imposing figure. He has very good feet and protects the quarterback's backside."

.#61 -- John Kolnik, OG, Park Cottage Grove: John has made the most of his opportunity and had played well this season in his first starting opportunity. He's been one of the leaders in the weight room and in the classroom in his tenure at St. Thomas. John is a Health major with a 3.525 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "I'm really pleased the way John has stepped up and played this season. He's so much stronger and bigger than when he first came here. He's another guy who has been a model for the younger players of the way to approach your work."

.#74 -- Blake Norman, OT, Totino-Grace: Blake has been a fixture on the Tommie offensive line the last four seasons and helped running back Jake Barkley break
a 25-year-old MIAC rushing record in 2002. Blake has overcome injuries and played through pain and has a set a standard of excellence for the Tommies'
younger linemen. Blake is a Finance major with a 3.537 GPA.

Coach Roney says: "Blake is a warrior. I don't think he's ever had a game when he wasn't playing through some pain or injury. Everyone thought he was done when he hurt his knee in September, but he's here playing so well. He's been a pleasure to coach."

.Manager, Andrea Haala, Senior, New Ulm Cathedral High
Andrea has been a vital worker behind the scences to help make the football operations flow so smoothly. She worked four seasons with video for men's basketball and three seasons with football. She has a 3.51 GPA in Marketing and Spanish.