TOWSON, Md. – After securing their third consecutive berth in the Chesapeake Bowl Challenge, the Wilkes University football team saw 18 student-athletes named to the 2025 All-Landmark teams, as announced by the conference office Thursday afternoon.

Six student-athletes were selected to the First Team, five more to the Second Team, and seven were named Honorable Mentions.

First Team
Wide receiver Justin Moore (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern Regional) had the best statistical season of his Colonel career, en route to his first All-Conference nomination. Moore led Wilkes with 30 receptions for 482 yards in the regular season with two touchdowns, adding one more passing against WestConn in the season finale. Moore's statline puts him among the top ten receivers in the Landmark Conference.

Anthony Messina (Bellmore, NY/Mepham) anchored a Wilkes offensive line that averaged 134.8 rushing yards per game and allowed the second fewest sacks in the conference. This marks his second All-Landmark honor after being named an honorable mention in 2024.

Defensive lineman Cohen Creswell (Winchester, VA/Millbrook) shined in his sophomore season, earning his first career All-Landmark selection. The Winchester, Va. native led the Landmark in tackles for loss (19.5) and sacks (8) and placed eighth in total tackles (72). He also led the Colonels with five quarterback hurries and four forced fumbles, with four pass breakups as well putting him third on the team. Creswell was also a one-time Landmark Defensive Athlete of the Week this season.

Tallen Murray (Vineland, NJ/Saint Joseph Academy) earned his third-straight selection to the first team in 2025, finishing third in the conference with 90 total tackles. He finished second on the team in tackles for loss with 9.5 and added two sacks, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries.

Tyler Wetzel (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) took a massive leap after being named an honorable mention in 2024, leading the Colonels in tackles with 91, good for the second-most in the conference. He also registered 8.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble, setting new career highs in every statistical category mentioned.

Defensive back Rob Barbieri (Avoca, PA/Pittston Area) earned his second All-Landmark First Team award in 2025 after another strong season that saw him register 57 total tackles, 3.5 for loss, six pass breakups, and two interceptions. A captain in his junior year, Barbieri helped lead the number two scoring defense in the Landmark (16.4 PPG allowed) and number three total defense (199 YPG allowed).

Second Team
A captain in his junior season, Luke Baker (Northampton, PA/Northampton Area) earned his first All-Landmark selection as a part of an offensive line that averaged 134.8 rushing yards per game and allowed the second fewest sacks in the conference.

Ryan Opperman (Lewisburg, PA/Lewisburg) earned the first All-Landmark selection of his career as he set new career highs in tackles (38), pass breakups (5), and interceptions (2) alongside Barbieri in the Colonel secondary.

Michael Golay (Scranton, PA/Scranton Prep) was another key piece of the Colonel defensive line, making 31 total tackles and matching his career best in tackles for loss with six. The Scranton, Pa. native also registered 1.5 sacks and one fumble recovery in his junior year.

Rajan Stevens (Allentown, PA/Central Catholic), like Creswell, made an impact in his sophomore season along the Colonel defensive line. The Allentown, Pa. native set new career highs in almost all statistical categories, including tackles (34), tackles for loss (5.5), sacks (2), and forced fumbles (2).

Nick Volpone (Delco, PA/Ridley) earned his second All-Landmark selection in 2025, going 22/22 on extra point attempts and 11/13 on field goals, including a new career-high 42-yard kick at Susquehanna. The Delco, Pa. native was also named as a two-time Landmark Specialist Player of the Week this season.

Honorable Mentions
Quarterback Cooper King (Northampton, PA/Northampton) led the Colonels under center, throwing for 1,718 yards and nine touchdowns. King also thrived as a dual threat, rushing for 399 yards and seven touchdowns, putting him third overall in the Landmark in total offense averaging 211.7 yards per game.

Ben Contella (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) was the top Colonel running back, earning his first All-Landmark honor in his senior season. Contella rushed for a career-best 465 yards and five touchdowns and caught 14 receptions for 78 yards.

Denzel Felder (Philadelphia, PA/St. Joseph's Prep) was the third Colonel offensive lineman to make the All-Landmark team, the first time in his career. Like Messina and Baker, Felder was a key contributor in paving the way for King, Contella, and the Colonel rushing attack.

Senior Michael Kevin Cornick III (West Philadelphia, PA/William Penn) and junior J'Vier Johnson (Easton, PA/Easton Area) were both named honorable mentions at defensive back, the first All-Landmark nominations for both athletes. Johnson led Wilkes with three interceptions and matched Cornick with four pass breakups, who had an interception of his own. The duo combined for 74 total tackles on the season, playing key roles in the Landmark's third-best pass defense that allowed 199 passing yards per game.

Peter Zarafonitis (Staten Island, NY/New Dorp) had a strong showing in his first season as Wilkes' starting punter, finishing second in the conference with an average punt distance of 40.4 yards. The sophomore led the conference with 16 punts inside the 20 yard line and second in punts of over 50 yards.

Daniel Pigga (Dunmore, PA/Dunmore) proved to be a dynamic threat in the return game for the Colonels, earning his first All-Landmark nod as a return specialist. Pigga finished second in the Landmark with an average return of 23.7 yards, including a 50-yard return against King's College. Pigga also contributed heavily to the Colonel offense late in the season, rushing for 111 of his 143 yards against Juniata, including a 90-yard touchdown run.

2025 All-Landmark Conference Football Team
Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Erlich, Susquehanna
Defensive Player of the Year: Galen Limantour, Susquehanna
Rookie of the Year: Daniel Growney, Susquehanna
Coaching Staff of the Year: Susquehanna

First Team
Offense
Quarterback: J. Erlich, Susquehanna
Running Back: Terrence Oliver, Lycoming
Running Back: Rahshan La Mons, Susquehanna
Tight End: Michael Robbins, Susquehanna
Wide Receiver: D. Growney, Susquehanna
Wide Receiver: Markus Faucett, WestConn
Wide Receiver: J. Moore, Wilkes
Offensive Line: Chris Austin, Lycoming
Offensive Line: Braedon Hart, Lycoming
Offensive Line: Connor Main, Susquehanna
Offensive Line: Liam Reiley, Susquehanna
Offensive Line: A. Messina, Wilkes
Place Kicker: Dominic Bourgeois, Susquehanna
Return Specialist: Serge Lagardere, WestConn
 
Defense
Linebacker: Dillon Wakefield, Juniata
Linebacker: Daniel Atsou, Lycoming
Linebacker: Jesse Ruisch, Susquehanna
Linebacker: T. Murray, Wilkes
Linebacker: T. Wetzel, Wilkes
Defensive Back: Xavier Maple, Susquehanna
Defensive Back: Berkeley Wagner, Susquehanna
Defensive Back: Tyon Grimes, WestConn
Defensive Back: R. Barbieri, Wilkes
Defensive Line: Brian Layton, Susquehanna
Defensive Line: G. Limantour, Susquehanna
Defensive Line: Kile Jackson, WestConn
Defensive Line: C. Creswell, Wilkes
Punter: Jack Corrigan, Moravian
 
Second Team
Offense
Quarterback: Joe Lyons, Lycoming
Running Back: Daequan Harvin, Catholic
Running Back: Ivan Foreman, Juniata
Tight End: Brendan Clark, Lycoming
Tight End: Michael VanHorn, Lycoming
Wide Receiver: Dawson Debebe, Lycoming
Wide Receiver: Karson Kline, Lycoming
Wide Receiver: Avery Koser, Moravian
Wide Receiver: Carter McCauley, Susquehanna
Wide Receiver: Tamarion LaFortune, WestConn
Offensive Line: Ben Ciesielski, Catholic
Offensive Line: David Sanchez, Juniata
Offensive Line: Matt Liggio, Susquehanna
Offensive Line: Ethan Watkins, Susquehanna
Offensive Line: L. Baker, Wilkes
Place Kicker: N. Volpone, Wilkes
Return Specialist: Aaron Angelo, Susquehanna
 
Defense
Linebacker: Evan Chromy, Catholic
Linebacker: Ethan Shank, Juniata
Linebacker: Luke Hughes, Susquehanna
Linebacker: Steven Seibert, Susquehanna
Defensive Back: Ryan Pentz, Lycoming
Defensive Back: Aidan Lane, Moravian
Defensive Back: Ben Fleming, Susquehanna
Defensive Back: R. Opperman, Wilkes
Defensive Line: Lawson Haylock, Catholic
Defensive Line: Mike Sipps, Lycoming
Defensive Line: M. Golay, Wilkes
Defensive Line: R. Stevens, Wilkes
Punter: Wyatt Buell, Juniata
 
Honorable Mentions
Offense
Quarterback: Dylan Jackson, WestConn
Quarterback: C. King, Wilkes
Running Back: B. Contella, Wilkes
Offensive Line: Vaughn Phelps, Juniata
Offensive Line: Oscar Ortega, Lycoming
Offensive Line: D. Felder, Wilkes
Place Kicker: Vasco Granitto, Lycoming
Place Kicker: Marciel Do Amaral, WestConn
Return Specialist: Andrew Tabor, Catholic
Return Specialist: D. Pigga, Wilkes
 
Defense
Linebacker: Khalil Johnson, Lycoming
Defensive Back: Tucker Lowery, Juniata
Defensive Back: M. Kevin Cornick III, Wilkes
Defensive Back: J. Johnson, Wilkes
Defensive Line: Matt Ragusa, Catholic
Defensive Line: Jaydon Handy, Susquehanna
Defensive Line: Tim Pherson Jr., Susquehanna
Punter: P. Zarafonitis, Wilkes