PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Providence Gridiron Club has announced the 2022 winners for the Pride of Rhode Island Award and
Stephen Gacioch was named a co-recipient of the award along with Duquense University's Leandro DeBrito.
The Pride of Rhode Island Award is given to a graduate of a Rhode Island high school football program, who goes on to shine at an out of state college.
Gacioch suffered an injury in this fall's first game, but his body of work for three years at the Corsairs' helm could not be ignored. He set a host of school records and received the Boston Globe's Gold Helmet Award twice. As a Freshman, he appeared in seven games and threw for 865 yards and seven TD's. In 2019, he was the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Offensive Player of the Year. He threw for 2,221 yards and 20 TD's. The next year he threw for 2,257 yards and 26 TDs. He ranked in the top 10 in the country in eight categories at NCAA Division III level and tied the UMD single-game record with six TD passes and entered his senior year with 5,384 pass yards and 46 pass touchdowns. No slouch in the classroom either, Gacioch was a CoSida Academic All American with a 3.65 GPA in Civil Engineering.
The award will be given in April at the Providence Gridiron's Annual Awards Night. On that occasion the top players, coaches and officials from Rhode Island High School and College football will be honored along with the presentation of the Gilbane Trophy, which is awarded to the top high school football player in the state. More information will be forthcoming.
Press release provided by The Brooker Sports Initiative.
