By Trygve Jensen, Paul F. Morrison Drake Athletic Communications Fellow
The 2011 Drake Bulldogs consummated their Pioneer Football League championship season with the 114th annual Channing Smith awards banquet on Sunday.
Fifth-year senior Michael Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) headlined the night by becoming the latest in a long history of Bulldogs to receive the Torch Bearer award for excellence in leadership.
"He's out in front going where we haven't gone before, but the light from the torch casts shadows on the side walls, amongst the people who are following and behind," head coach Chris Creighton explained. "Torch bearer leader is not only out in front but he has relationships with his peers and his teammates as well as the guy doing the things that people don't recognize. The torch bearer is the ultimate leader. Michael Lahart doesn't need to be loud, he doesn't have to be out in front, although when that calls for him to be he has no problem with it. He's always thinking about the team and individuals on the team. He created a leadership team, not just one captain. We all know he's going to be incredibly successful--he already is--and his leadership of this special team is only a microcosm of what we know he's ready to accomplish."
Lahart also was awarded the Gene Schultz Award, which annually honors an upperclassman who displays the highest standards of leadership, citizenship and personal conduct on the field, and in his academic and campus activities. The award was presented by Mr. Drake, Paul Morrison.
"Some of the previous captains have included state supreme court justices, members of the famous St. Louis Cardinals Gas House Gang, and Director of Athletics at Iowa, so our current captain follows in some large footsteps and is very deserving of that," Morrison said.
Lahart, whose parents were in attendance and received a special achievement award for their service to the program, had the opportunity to give a speech addressing the crowd.
"Every one of the graduating seniors played a very important role in the success this season," Lahart said. "These last five years went fast, they were full of changes. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing. The obstacles overcome only made summiting the PFL mountain that much sweeter. The feeling of winning that championship after working towards it for five years is really tough to put into words. For myself it was a mixed feeling of finally reaching the top of the mountain, along with the expected excitement and euphoria of holding up that trophy at the end of the game. Great leaders are not only great in their time with the team, but they leave the team prepared for greater success after they are gone. This brings me to my challenge for next year's graduating class. I challenge you guys to stay hungry, and to not have the slightest sense of complacency. I hope that after experiencing what it is like to have won a championship this year it makes you want it even more next year. It is your time to take over, to lead this team, and its starts now. Good luck guys."
Lahart also presented the team MVP award to Mike Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.). The star quarterback had 2,934 passing yards and 25 touchdowns on the season and threw 231 completions. He set school and FCS records against Campbell when he threw for 342 yards on 30-of-33 passing for a completion percentage of 90%.
The Team Player Award went to Stoy Hall (Omaha, Neb.). Hall ruptured his Achilles tendon in July, weeks before beginning the campaign in his final year of eligibility. He was able to play one play in the PFL-clinching win against Dayton, and was given the game ball. Through adversity he became a leader off of the field and due to his commitment to service was named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team®. Only eleven players from Division I FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA combined are chosen for this honor. Hall will be recognized at the All-State Sugar Bowl on January 3rd for his accomplishments.
"I can't think of a better award for a better person." Creighton said.
Creighton shared a story of how Dan Clinton (Gurnee, Ill.) spoke up as a freshman to improve the commitment of the football program. That commitment drove him and the rest of the team. He was given the Commitment to Excellence award.
Patrick Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.) won this year's theme award. The theme of Tupande Kilelene, "Let's climb the summit," was embodied by Cashmore. He was given a summit rock from Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Creighton shared a story about Cashmore.
"One step at a time he kept his focus, his competitive spirit, and overcame adversity," Creighton said. "He's a guy that has helped lead us to the very top."
To show the importance of academics in the Drake football team's experience the top 10 grade point averages were celebrated. Tyler Castro (Aurora, Ill.), Kolby Knuth (Appleton, Wis.), and Nick Underwood (Cary, Ill.) were the team's leaders with 4.0 GPAs. The other members of the list were Zach Bosch (Tuscola, Ill.), Cashmore, Cam Good (Barrington, Ill.), Billy Janssen (Round Lake Beach, Ill.), Lahart, Michael Ratelle (Edina, Minn.) and Tim Wold (Utica, Ill.).
Ratelle also won the Hammer Award for the special teams, which goes to the hardest hitters on each side of the ball. John Sawhill (Jefferson, Iowa) won the award for the defense and Kevin Marshall (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) represented the offense.
One of the program's goals is to be impact men. One of the ways that this is done is through community service outreach. Team members were recognized for their leadership within different service organizations. Bosch, Matt Bowie (Oskaloosa, Iowa), Cashmore, Avery Fuhs (Chariton, Iowa), Good, Hall, Andrew Keller (Clarion, Iowa), Jim Nelson (Wheaton, Ill.) and Anthony Gianaras (Mundelein, Ill.) all were recognized for their captaincy in charity work with Blank Children's Hospital, the Boys and Girls Club, the Special Olympics, Willkie House, Inc., and the VA Hospital.
Each coordinator presented awards for scout team players of the year. Defensive Coordinator Brian Ward pointed out that John McMahon (Algonquin, Ill.), the offensive recipient, in fact does not look like him, contrary to popular belief. John Hugunin (Oswego, Ill.) was presented with the award for his versatility on the scout team defense and J.T. Teague (Carroliton, Texas) was given the special teams honors for his determination on the punt return teams.
Graduating seniors Drew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo.), Cashmore, Chenier, Clinton, Stephen Flynn (Davenport, Iowa), Jeff Grovak (Mt. Prospect, Ill.), Hall, Janssen, Lahart, Evan Lawrence (Moline, Ill.), Nelson, Robby Unger (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and David Witkiewicz (Hales Corners, Wisc.) were all recognized for their contributions as Bulldogs.
