Football announces 2003 team awards

December 9, 2003
Coach Don Roney announced that 11 St. Thomas football players were honored with individual awards at the Dec. 7 postseason dinner. A young and injury-plagued Tommie team lost three games by three or less points and finished 3-7 overall.

LB Andrew Ubbelohde (SO-Red Wing) was honored as team Most Valuable Player and Defensive Most Valuable.

RB Justin Kostner (SR-Arcadia, Wis.) was recognized as Offensive Most Valuable Player.

RB-KR Walter Dosh (SO-Green Bay, Wis./Notre Dame) was named Special Teams MVP.

DT Ben Kessler (SO-Janesville, Wis./Craig) was the recipient of the Father James Lavin Award for his Christian ideals displayed on and off the field.

The Jerry Pugsley Award went to OT Blake Norman (SR-Brookly Park/Totino-Grace).

The Oil Can Man Award for exceptional sacrifice was shared by three seniors -- RB Tom Labonowski (SR-Peoria, Ill.), QB Dan Fritze (SR-Eagan) and QB Jesse Baker (SR-Duluth/East).

Captains for 2004 will be Ubbelohde; DB Paul Sommerstad (JR-Apple Valley/Eastview); LB John Kaiser (SR-Mora); and OL Brock Norman (JR-Brooklyn Park/Totino-Grace).

Ubbelohde finished 15th in Division III in total tackles per game at 12.4 and also had a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an interception. His 112 tackles in nine games were one off the Tommie season record. He had four tackles for loss among his 15 total tackles in the 15-12 loss to No.-ranked St. John's. He and his defensive teammates helped hold St. John's All-American WR Blake Elliott to just 88 all-purpose yards. He made first-team All-MIAC and third team Football Gazette All-West Region.

Kostner, who has a 3,30 gpa in Finance, 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.

Sommerstad, a three-year starter with five career interceptions, has a 3.563 gpa in Finance and made third team Academic All-District. He made first-team All-MIAC and third team Football Gazette All-West Region.

Dosh missed the last two games with an injury. He had seven touchdowns in three home games. In eight games he had 973 all-purpose yards, including 358 rushing yards, 45 receiving yards 202 punt return yards (13.5 ypr) and 368 kick return yards (20.4 ypr). He had seven plays of 38 or more yards in six conference games. He made first-team All-MIAC as utility player.

Kessler, who has a 4.00 gpa as a Theology major, was on the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration. Kessler started all 10 games this season and recorded six sacks among his nine tackles for loss and had three fumble recoveries and one QB hurry. He had two sacks and fumble recovery in last Saturday's 34-20 loss to 7-2 Concordia-Moorhead. He also had one sack and four tackles vs. unbeaten St. John's. Last season, he had 21 tackles and two sacks as a part-time starter.

Blake Norman 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. A Finance major with a 3.537 gpa, Blake has overcome injuries and played through pain and has a set a standard of excellence for the Tommies' younger linemen.

Kaiser, who has a 3.72 gpa in Business Management and Accounting, sat out 2003 with a hamstring injury but will return in 2003 for his fifth season. Kaiser also made the AFCA Good Works Team with an extensive resume of campus and community service. On the field he had 206 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries in his first three seasons. A 2003 co-captain, Kaiser, who
also throws the javelin in track and field, was a first-team Academic All-District honoree in 2002. Older brothers Greg and Andy Kaiser each made Verizon Academic All-American in their careers.

Brock Norman has started all three seasons on the offensive line. Like his brother, Blake, he helped Jake Barkley break a 25-year-old MIAC rushing record in 2002.

Fritze, Baker and Labonowski were veteran players who played on the junior-varsity and made great contributions in leadership and on the scout teams.