WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) has announced its all-conference honors for the 2024 season and UMass Dartmouth saw 14 student-athletes recognized for their outstanding efforts this year. A combined 11 players were named to the First Team Offense and Defense, while three were tabbed to the Second Team Defense squad.
In addition, graduate student quarterback
Dante Aviles-Santos was tabbed as the Offensive Player of the Year for the third consecutive season, becoming the first player in conference history to do such, while senior offensive lineman
Tyler Gmyr was named the MASCAC Offensive Lineman of the Year. Additionally, second-year head coach Josh Sylvester was named the BSN Sports MASCAC Coach of the Year.
Read more about Aviles-Santos (
HERE), Gmyr (
HERE) and Sylvester's (
HERE) individual honors by clicking the link next to their name above.
MASCAC FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
QB -
Dante Aviles-Santos, Gr. (1st Team in 2023, 2022; 2nd Team in 2021)
WR -
Angel Sanchez, Sr. (1st Team in 2023 and 2022)
RB –
Jalyn Aponte, Sr.
TE –
Jalen Kopecky, Sr. (1st Team in 2023)
OL –
Tyler Gmyr, Sr. (1st Team in 2023 and 2021)
OL –
Kolby Stockwell, Sr. (1st Team in 2023; 2nd Team in 2021)
Sanchez -a captain - has played in all 10 games with 14 touchdowns to his credit. Making 72 catches thus far, he has compiled 944 yards, averaging 13.1 yards per catch and 94.4 yards per contest. Sanchez ranks ninth amongst Division III receivers in receiving TD's, while also ranking 15th in receptions per game (7.2). He is the MASCAC leader in receiving TD's, receiving yards, receiving yards per game and receptions per game.
Aponte earns his first career honor after amassing 692 yards on 104 carries through 10 games. He has posted six touchdowns, averaging 6.7 yards per carry and 69.2 rushing yards per game, while Kopecky has been outstanding in all 10 games as well. In addition to his blocking abilities, he has posted 180 receiving yards on 20 catches with two touchdowns.
The experienced duo of Gmyr and Stockwell have helped anchor the UMass Dartmouth offensive line to the top of several impressive categories this season. The Corsairs are ranked third in Division III in scoring offense (54.2 points per game), while ranking sixth in total offense (515.3 yards per contest) and eighth in rushing offense (251.8 yards per game) – which also leads the MASCAC. The duo have helped allow just four sacks on the year, giving Aviles-Santos the time to execute the Corsairs' high-powered offense.
MASCAC FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
LB –
Mike Henricksen, Sr. (2nd Team in 2023)
LB –
Jackson Wellman, 5th (2nd Team in 2023)
DE –
Sam Alicea, Sr. (2nd Team in 2023 & 2022)
DB –
Shane Meerbott, Gr. (1st Team in 2023)
DB –
Logan Chappell, 5th (2nd Team in 2023, 2022, 2021)
Henricksen – a captain - has posted a squad-high 75.0 total tackles, including 29 solo. He has recorded 6.5 tackles for a loss of 15 yards with 0.5 sacks for a loss of one yard, while also notching two interceptions on the season. Wellman has netted 45.0 total tackles, including 18 solo with two fumble recoveries, while Alicea – also a captain – has 33.0 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss of 15 yards with a sack – which made him the program's all-time career leader in the category. In addition, he has two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. Both Wellman and Alicea rank 34th overall in Division III in fumble recoveries this season.
Meerbott – also a captain - has 44.0 tackles, including a team-high 29 solo with a squad best five interceptions on the season. His five interceptions also leads the MASCAC best as he has converted two into touchdowns. Chappell – a captain – has notched 33.0 tackles on the season, including 11 solo. He has 3.0 tackles for a loss of 11 yards, while notching five pass break-ups and an interception in 10 games.
MASCAC SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
DE –
Josh Lacerte, 5th (2nd Team in 2021)
DB –
Xavier Lopes, Jr.
DB –
Jonathan Brightman, Sr.
Lacerte has posted 34.0 tackles on the season, 20 of which were solo stops. He has a team-high 9.5 tackles for a loss of 37 yards, adding a sack for a loss of nine yards, a pass break-up, a quarterback hurry and a fumble recovery. Lopes earns his first all-conference nod after recording 15.0 tackles on the season, including 12 solo. He has 2.0 tackles for a loss of four yards, adding three interceptions and a team-best seven quarterback hurries.
Brightman rounds out this year's honorees, nabbing his first all-conference honor after notching 29.0 tackles, including 15 solo. He has 1.5 tackles for a loss of 25 yards on the season, adding four interceptions and two quarterback hurries. One of his interceptions came in a critical drive for WestConn as the Wolves threatened to score late in the game, Brightman intercepted the ball in the endzone as the Corsairs went on to win.
UMass Dartmouth, under the direction of second-year head coach and 2024 BSB Sports MASCAC Coach of the Year Josh Sylvester, returns to action on Saturday, November 30 at 12pm in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. The Corsairs travel to Springfield College, facing the 10-0 Pride in their first-ever appearance in the Second Round and third overall appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
