W&L PLACES SEVEN ON VASID ALL-STATE FOOTBALL TEAM
Sullivan Named First Team Running Back and Return Specialist

LEXINGTON, Va. -- Washington and Lee placed seven football players on the College Division All-State Football Team in voting conducted by the Virginia Sports Information Director's Association (VaSID).

Junior running back Chris Sullivan (San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights), junior tight end Jay Thomas (Houston, Texas/Kincaid), junior offensive lineman Mat Rapoza (Kill Devil Hills, N.C./Manteo), sophomore offensive lineman Scott Kucinski (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep), senior linebacker Jeff Bahl (Cincinnati, Ohio/Cincinnati Country Day) and senior placekicker Brad Wiginton (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior) were all first team selections. Sophomore defensive lineman Brian Becker (Vienna, Va./Gonzaga) was named to the honorable mention team.

Sullivan earned a first team nod at running back and return specialist. He had a career season, leading Division III with 2,024 all-purpose yards (202.4 ypg). Sullivan rushed for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns on a school-record 253 carries, caught 27 passes for 268 yards and another touchdown, returned 19 punts for 204 yards and returned 13 kicks for 347 yards and one touchdown. He had already been named First Team All-ODAC and First Team All-State by the Roanoke Times, and was a Third Team All-Region selection.

Thomas also had a career-year, leading the team in receptions (38), receiving yards (575) and receiving touchdowns (6). He was named Honorable Mention All-ODAC, Second Team All-Region and First Team Academic All-American.

Rapoza and Kucinski helped the Generals amass 331.0 yards per game, including 182.5 yards per game on the ground. The Generals' offensive line surrendered just 10 sacks in 276 passing situations. Both Rapoza and Kucinski were First Team All-ODAC selections this season. Rapoza was recently named First Team All-American by D3Football.com.

Bahl's selection to the first team was his second straight. Bahl was a First Team All-Old Dominion Athletic Conference and All-State (Roanoke Times) selection earlier this season after tying for second in the conference with 93 total tackles. He also posted six sacks, four fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and blocked two kicks.

Wiginton, a First Team All-ODAC, First Team All-State (Roanoke Times) and Third Team Hewlett-Packard All-America honoree, had a career-best season for the Generals in 2001. He booted a school-record 12 field goals in 18 attempts and hit 26-of-26 PAT attempts.

Becker was named to the honorable mention all-state team after posting 32 tackles and two sacks on the season. He was a Second Team All-ODAC pick this season.

Washington and Lee finished the 2001 season with a 5-5 overall record, 3-3 in the ODAC. The Generals finished in a four-way tie for second place in the ODAC.

-- GENERALS --