TOM CRESSMAN
2000-2003
Linebacker 6-0 - 215
Major: Accounting
Honors: 2006 ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District second team
Top Performances: 2006 vs. Clarion (6 TT, 6 UT#, TFL) vs. Slippery Rock (10 TT#, 3 UT, 2 TFL#, sack); 2005 vs. S. Conn. St. (10 TT#, 5 UT, 2 TFL#, 2 sacks), vs. Millersville (10 TT#, TFL, sack), vs. Clarion (8 TT, 2 TFL#, 2 sacks#, FF); 2004 vs. Mansfield (4 TT, 3 UT, TFL, sack)
Notes: Started eight games last year...top returning tackler among linebackers...started six games in 2005, sharing team lead in sacks...will start at linebacker this fall.
Kutztown junior linebacker Tom Cressman (Pennridge) has been named to the ESPN the magazine Academic All-District II Second Team for football by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
This is Cressman's first Academic All-District honor. The junior tallied 38 tackles, including three for loss and a sack, for the Golden Bears this season in eight games. He missed the final two with an injury.
A business administration-accounting major, has a 3.85 grade-point average. Cressman is
a two-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference scholar-athlete and a four-time dean’s list honoree..
DAVID CRESSMAN
2003-2005
Linebacker 5-9 - 210
Major: Secondary Education-Mathematics
Top Performances: 2006 vs. Lock Haven (5 TT#, 3 UT#, TFL#), vs. Slippery Rock (3 TT, 2 UT, TFL#), vs. East Stroudsburg (4 TT, 3 UT#)
Notes: Started final two games in ’06...younger brother of KU linebacker Tom Cressman...slated to backup Tom at LB this season.
Cressman looks forward to playing at Kutztown
By: Kerith Gabriel,
Sportswriter
05/31/2006
As Pennridge High
athlete Dave Cressman gets set to bid farewell to the Rams' football
coaching staff, the new staff at KutztownUniversity is set to welcome their new freshman to the fray.
Last month, Cressman committed to Kutztown to play under the guidance of former head coach Dave Keeney. It was Keeney who recruited Cressman to play for the Golden Bears, but in a switch, Raymond Monica, the former defensive coach for Temple University became the Golden Bears newly appointed leader.
For Cressman, while the change in command was unexpected, it is a situation the senior feels he is ready for.
"I was really excited to play under coach Keeney," said Cressman. "So I was shocked when they named coach Monica as the new head coach; but I have spoken with him a few times and he seems like a very good guy to play for."
As for Monica, he is confident in the class that Keeney built, claiming that the list of the 2007 recruiting class is a strong one.
"I am very pleased with the recruiting class this year," said Monica. "The coaching staff obviously worked very hard this offseason and I feel these young men give us a solid foundation to build on for the future."
Another solid reason the former Rams' fullback decided to attend Kutztown is the chance to play and learn the ropes from brother Tom, who is currently a linebacker on the Golden Bears' squad. Tom, a junior, was picked as one of Kutztown's top returnees on a revamped squad looking to set the standard in 2007.
For Dave however, playing alongside his brother is an experience that can't come too soon.
"I can't wait to play with him next year," said Cressman. "I have already learned so much just by watching him play, and to have the opportunity to continue that will be a great experience."
A co-captain for the Rams as well as a first team all Suburban One National Conference selection as a linebacker, Cressman led by example in all aspects of being a model athlete. No slouch in the classroom either, this scholar athlete takes mostly advanced placement courses at Pennridge High and looks to major in secondary education in mathematics next fall.
"The kid has such a good work ethic, not only was he just a good all-around player, he also was real smart and had great instinct," said Rams' coach Randy Cuthbert. "It's hard to find many players as all-around tough both mentally and physically as Dave."
Steve Pattison, Pennridge's strength and conditioning coach echoed Cuthbert's response, but also mentioned his willingness to always look out for his team first is what truly made him a classy person to be around.
"He was a perfect kid, a real ream player," said Pattison. "He really tried to do anything you asked of him to the best of his ability and he always looked out for his team first. He really is a kid you hate to see leave."
Cressman was also a key player for the Pennridge baseball team this past season, and while their 2006 record doesn't convey it, Cressman was a key member of a team loaded with talent, once again making him another well known face in the Pennridge community.
But leaving familiarity for the unknown can always be hard. Nevertheless, it is a task the senior feels he is ready for.
"I really think I can go in an make an impact right away," said Cressman. "I am confident that I will be able to go in and make some noise up there."
But Cressman claims that no matter where he ends up, it will be hard to forget the green and white of Pennridge.
"I will really miss all of my coaches here and everyone that helped the team out," said Cressman. "I will definitely miss all of the support we received from the fans and the rest of the community."
DOMINIC CUSUMANO
1989 - 1992
Defensive End
As a senior defensive end Dominick had nine and a half sacks to raise his career total to 26, second highest in school history. He also was named to the first team All-MAC Commonwealth League player, and had 38 tackles. He was also an All MAC Academic AllStar
