Nine players from the Bainbridge Spartans varsity football team earned All-Metro League honors for the 2002 season, in awards announced last week.
Senior running back Andy Aversano and senior offensive guard Chris Pierce earned 1st Team Offense honors. Aversano finished the season with 680 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on 125 carries, and caught four passes for 49 yards.
Named to the 1st Team Defensive squad were senior cornerback Liam Corey and defensive end Peter Mandell. Corey notched three interceptions, while Mandell recorded 52 tackles, solo or assisted.
Second Team Offense honors went to junior wide receiver Mike Ersser (21 receptions, 271yards, one touchdown) and senior guard Peter Mandell.
Named to the 2nd Team Defense were senior cornerback David Underwood (six interceptions) and Pierce, who lined up on defense as a tackle.
Senior running back and linebacker Spencer Evans earned honorable mention on both sides of the ball.
Other honorable mentions went to senior Scott Burkland (running back), senior Jarred Hinton (offensive lineman), as well as Aversano (linebacker) and Ersser (defensive back).
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***Spikers score three All-Metro slots
Three members of the Spartan volleyball team were named to All-Metro teams, and two more earned honorable mentions to cap the team’s most successful season in recent years.
From the 12 teams in the league, only six players are named to the first team, and six to the second.
“This is a pretty big deal when you see the great quality of players the Metro has,” coach Julie Miller said, “and seeing Metro had two of its three teams that went to State placed in the (state’s) top five.”
The Spartans made the state tournament for the first time since 1995, but were eliminated in the first round of pool play.
Earning All-Metro distinction were: Michelle Miller (sophomore – outside hitter), first team; Kristina Purdom (senior – outside hitter), second team; Laura Bartunek (senior – middle hitter), second team; Ashley Bice (sophomore – setter), honorable mention; Alison Thies (junior – defensive specialist), honorable mention.
