Dec. 10, 2007

Staten Island, NY - Wagner College senior kicker/punter Piotr Czech (Keyport High School/ Keyport, NJ), the school record-holder in field goals made and a five-time Northeast Conference (NEC) Special Teams Player of the Week, capped his brilliant career by being named to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Subdivision All-America Team.

Czech ended his outstanding Wagner career by nailing a 50-yard field goal and contributing 11 points in the Seahawks' 41-27 win at Jacksonville on Nov. 17. Czech, the first Wagner All-American since the Seahawks moved to the FCS (formerly 1-AA), went a perfect 5-for-5 in field goals to lead the North to a 35-7 win over the South in the East Coast Bowl, an All-Star game that features the top 75 Division I-FCS, II, III and NAIA athletes.

"To be named an All-American is a tremendous honor and I am very proud to be a part of the AFCA All-America team," said Czech, whose abilities have drawn interest from a host of NFL scouts. "I have to thank my coaching staff at Wagner. Without their assistance in helping me grow mentally and physically, this would not have been possible. Of course, I have to thank my family and all of my friends for their support as well."

Czech, who was born in Poland and moved to the U.S. along with his family when he was two years old, is a student-athlete in every sense of the term, carrying a 3.1 GPA while majoring in chemistry at Wagner.

"I would not trade my experiences at Wagner for anything," Czech added. "I've really enjoyed my time here and am looking forward to pursuing my dream of playing professionally. I've had a great four years here and feel the school has really helped prepare me for the real world."

A first-team All-NEC selection as a kicker and punter, Czech's strong, accurate leg and booming punts were instrumental in the Seahawks' success as Wagner finished 7-4 on the season, 3-3 in NEC play.

Czech's name will appear throughout the Seahawk and NEC record books for years to come as he leaves Wagner as the school's all-time leader and the NEC leader in career field goals made with 44. His 16 made field goals this season (on 19 attempts) is also a school record and ties an NEC record. His percentage of field goals made (84.2%) is a school record based on a minimum of 13 attempts and his 66.7% career field goal percentage (44-of-65) is a school record. His 56-yard field goal vs. Saint Francis (PA) on Nov. 10 was a school and NEC record.

In the punting department, his 70-yarder at Robert Morris (10/13) is a school record and his 37.9 career punting average is also a school mark. Earlier in the season, Czech earned national recognition for his efforts in Wagner's 24-14 win over Marist (9/15). Czech was that week's special teams honoree on the SME Network (SME) Weekly Stars list.

Czech qualified for SME's position-by-position listing of week three's top Division I FCS players by pinning Marist inside its own 20 on six of his nine punts. Marist's average field position drive start was its own 17-yard line. Battling strong winds the entire game, Czech averaged 40.0 yards per punt against the Red Foxes.