1/20/07

Carlisle, Steinmetz All-Region selections

Thomas More linebackers Mark Carlisle (Canal Winchester, OH/Bloom Carroll) and Brad Steinmetz (West Harrison, IN/East Central) were named first-team All-South region by Don Hansen's Football Gazette.

     Carlisle, who is a two-time All-American, was named Presidents' Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player after leading the conference with 125 tackles. His 125 tackles allowed him to tie the school's career tackles mark. His final collegiate tackle, a forced fumble, secured Thomas More's upset win over #13 Mount St. Joseph in Bridge Bowl XI. He added 8.5 tackles for loss and an interception for the 6-4 Saints.

     Steinmetz, who is seen as Carlisle's heir apparent, was also a first-team PAC selection following his first season as a starter. Steinmetz made a huge impact on a rushing defense that was first in the PAC as the strongside linebacker was second on the team with 74 tackles, including 17.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks. Both totals were tops amongst PAC linebackers.

     Both candidates will move to the All-American ballot.

1/18/07

Saints named Hilvert Head Coach

CRESTVIEW HILLS – Thomas More College President Sister Margaret Stallmeyer, C.D.P has announced Jim Hilvert as the fourth head football coach in program’s 16-year history.

    “I would like to thank our committee for lending its time and effort to this search,” said Stallmeyer. “We believe that Jim Hilvert will be a great addition to the Thomas More College community and the athletic department.”

    Hilvert takes over for Mike Hallett, who resigned on December 18 to take the head coaching position at Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio.   

    Hilvert comes to Thomas More after serving as the defensive coordinator at rival College of Mount St. Joseph. He spent seven seasons coaching at the Mount, where the Lions made three consecutive trips to the NCAA Playoffs.  During his tenure at MSJ, he coached the conference’s defensive player of the year in four straight seasons, six All-North Region players and three All-Americans.

    “I am very excited that Thomas More College has given me my first head coaching opportunity,” said Hilvert. “It’s exciting to have the challenge and opportunity at Thomas More. They have a solid tradition of football for the last 17 years. There is a core of good players that are ready for great things.”

     In addition to his defensive coordinator role, Hilvert served as the recruiting and strength coordinator at Mount St. Joseph.

     “We are excited to start a new era for Thomas More football,” said Thomas More Athletic Director Terry Connor. “We feel Coach Hilvert is the right person to continue building upon our successful tradition.”

     A 1989 graduate of Elder High School in Cincinnati, OH, Hilvert earned his undergraduate degree at Div. II St. Joseph's (IN). He was a graduate assistant at Div. I Western Michigan University, where he also earned his master's degree. He and his wife, Jennifer, along with their daughter, Joy, residet in Highland Heights, KY.           

12/17/06

Carlisle records eight tackles in Bowl

AGUASCALIENTES, MEX. - Thomas More senior Mark Carlisle (Canal Winchester, OH/Bloom Carroll) recorded eight tackles as the United States defeated Mexico, 28-7, in the 2006 Aztec Bowl.

     Carlisle, who started for the United States, recorded the tackle on the game's first offensive play - a two-yard run. His eight tackles were second on the USA team - one behind the leader.

     In addition to his bowl performance, Carlisle earned honorable mention All-American honors from d3football.com. He is the third Thomas More player to earn All-American laurels from the website, and the first since offensive lineman Matthew Atkins in 2003. It was the second All-American honor for the linebacker this season.

     Carlisle finished the season with 125 tackles, which allowed him to tie the school's career tackles mark. It final collegiate tackle, a forced fumble, secured Thomas More's upset win over #13 Mount St. Joseph in Bridge Bowl XI. He added 8.5 tackles for loss and an interception for the 6-4 Saints.

12/11/06

Carlisle an AFCA All-American

WACO, TX - Thomas More senior Mark Carlisle (Canal Winchester, OH/Bloom Carroll) has been named to the American Football Coaches Association All-America team.

     Carlisle finished the season with 125 tackles, which allowed him to tie the school's career tackles mark. His final collegiate tackle, a forced fumble, secured Thomas More's upset win over #13 Mount St. Joseph in Bridge Bowl XI. He added 8.5 tackles for loss and an interception for the 6-4 Saints.

     The 6-2 linebacker will be playing this weekend in the 2006 Aztec Bowl, joining 17 other members of the AFCA team to face a team of Mexican college all-stars.

     He is the fourth Thomas More player to earn the AFCA honor, and the first since running back Will Castleberry in 2000.

12/8/06

Regional Selection, Aztec Bowl bid for Carlisle

Thomas More senior Mark Carlisle (Canal Winchester, OH/Bloom Carroll) has been selected to play in the 2006 Aztec Bowl in Aguascalientes, Mexico on December 16.

     Carlisle, who was named Presidents' Athletic Conference Player of the Year, finished the season with 125 tackles - which allowed him to tie for the school's career tackles mark. He finished eighth in the country in solo tackles and seventh in tackles.
      The Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico’s college football schedule. The game has been played 35 times since 1947 with the last nine contests featuring the United States-Mexico match-up. The United States leads the series, 8-1. This year’s game will kick off at 7 p.m. CST on December 16 and will be played at Estadio Victoria. The game can be heard via a webcast that can be accessed on the AFCA’s website at www.afca.com.

     In addition, Carlisle was the lone Thomas More player to earned all-region honors from d3football.com. The senior linebacker earned second-team laurels from the website. Last season, he earned third-team honors.

11/13/06

Carlisle named PAC most Valuable Player

WEXFORD, PA - Thomas More senior Mark Carlisle (Canal Winchester, OH/Bloom Carroll) was named Presidents' Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player Monday by conference coaches at the season-ending coaches meeting. Carlisle is one of 13 Thomas More players to earn league laurels, including five first-teamers.

     Carlisle, who finished the season with a PAC-high 125 tackles, earned PAC Defensive Player of the Year honors three times this season. The last honor came Sunday as he recorded 20 tackles, including 13 solos, and a forced fumble that ended Mount St. Joseph's comeback bid. He was 10th in the conference with 8.5 tackles for loss and fifth with two forced fumbles. His 445 career tackles ties with Mike Wolf for the school's all-time lead.

     Senior cornerback Chris Willis (Indianapolis, IN/Broad Ripple), along with sophomores Bo Allen (Indianapolis, IN/Lawrence North), Brad Steinmetz (West Harrison, IN/East Central) and Clayton Garrigus (Indianapolis, IN/Ben Davis) earned first-team honors.

     Willis, a two-time first team selection, wrapped up the season with 31 tackles and two interceptions, while Allen led all TMC defensive linemen with 45 tackles, including 9.5 for loss and two sacks.

     In his first season as a full-time starter, Steinmetz made a huge impact on a rushing defense that was first in the PAC. The strongside linebacker was second on the team with 74 tackles, including 17.5 for loss and 7.5 sacks. Both totals were tops amongst PAC linebackers. Garrigus returned after missing all of last season with an injury to play in all 10 games.

     Senior Chase Weber (Ft. Mitchell/Beechwood), senior Nick Hazlett (Galloway, OH/Westland), sophomore Greg Frey (Cincinnati, OH/Princeton) and junior Rashawn West (Oxford, OH/Talawanda) were named second team All-PAC.

     Weber was tied for the conference lead with seven touchdown receptions and was second in reception yards with 62.8 yards per game. West, the fastest member of the team, had 49 tackles on the season, while Hazlett recorded 61 stops.

      Junior Brandon Lee (New Albany, IN/New Albany), senior John Hennessey (Villa Hills/Covington Catholic), freshman Monty Collier (New Albany, IN/New Albany), sophomore Trevor Stellman (Burlington/Conner) and senior Austin Vogt (Erlanger/Lloyd Memorial) were all named honorable mention.

     Thomas More finished the season 6-4 overall, 2-4 in the PAC. 

11/11/06

BRIDGE BOWL CHAMPS

EDGEWOOD - The story lines were abundant following Bridge Bowl XI, but the main saga brings a smile to the Thomas More faithful as the Saints brought the traveling trophy back to their side of the river with a 21-17 win over #13 Mount St. Joseph Saturday at Dixie Heights High School. The Lions were the highest ranked team to be defeated by Thomas More in the program's history.

     Thomas More now holds an 9-2 advantage in the rivalry.

     It marks the first BB win for head coach Mike Hallett; brings to end the Lions' two-year reign and ends MSJ's dream of an unbeaten season. Senior Mark Carlisle (Canal Winchester, OH/Bloom Carroll) tied the schoo'ls career tackles record on his final tackle of the game, a forced fumble. As a team, Thomas More set two school records in holding MSJ to one pass completion for six yards. Both are also Bridge Bowl records. Two more Bridge Bowl records fell Saturday as Carlisle recorded 20 tackles and junior Kyle James (Ft. Thomas/Highlands) connected with senior Chase Weber (Ft. Mitchell/Beechwood) for a 79-yard touchdown pass to open the scoring.

     James, in his first collegiate start at quarterback, finished with 129 yards passing on eight of 13 passing and one touchdown. Weber, who finished the game with 103 yards on four receptions, added a 35-yard pass that helped put the Saints in position for the victory.

     Special teams made its presence felt as there were three blocked kicks and a bad snap that led to a safety.

     After MSJ scored its only touchdown of the game with four minutes left in the first quarter, senior safety Nick Hazlett (Galloway, OH/Westland) blocked the extra point. Thomas More scored its next touchdown as sophomore linebacker Brad Steinmetz (West Harrison, IN/East Central) blocked a punt and freshman Josh Schmitz (Bellevue/Bellevue) fell on the ball in the endzone.

     The Lions returned the favor early in the third quarter with a blocked punt of their own, but the Thomas More defense made the visitors settle for a field goal. The marked a stretch in which MSJ scored three field goals and a safety to take a 17-14 lead.

     Mount St. Joseph's lead was short-lived as freshman running back Monte Collier (New Albany, IN/New Albany) capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive that covered 6:50 with a three-yard touchdown scamper. Collier finished the game with 107 yards on 28 carries for his third 100-yard rushing performance of the season.

     Thomas More completes its first winning season since 2003 at 6-4.