Chesla and Sarmento Pegged Pre-Season All-Big Sky :: Pair of seniors set to lead the Bears into 2008

July 21, 2008

PARK CITY, Utah – In the Big Sky Conference preseason football all-conference team released at the annual preseason kickoff in Park City, Utah, two Northern Colorado seniors were tabbed to the team in tight end Ryan Chesla and linebacker Cristian Sarmento. The team was selected by a panel of media members in the league.

Chesla was named to the 2007 Big Sky All-Conference First Team, becoming the first-ever pick for the Bears. He led the team with 40.4 reception yards per game, gaining 444 yards on 37 catches and four touchdowns, missing the final game of the season due to injury.

Sarmento looks to lead the defense in 2008.

Sarmento was a second-team pick at the conclusion of the 2007 season, finishing the year ranked second in the Big Sky Conference with 135 tackles in 11 games, as he also missed the season finale with an injury.

The preseason Big Sky Conference poll will be released tomorrow at the conclusion of the kickoff. Northern Colorado begins fall camp on August 8 at 7:45 p.m. and the first game will be on Sept. 6 at Purdue.

2008 Preseason All-Conference Football Team

OFFENSE

QB

Matt Nichols*#

6-2

220

Jr.

Eastern Washington

RB

Trevyn Smith*

5-9

210

Jr.

Weber State

RB

Alex Henderson

5-10

205

Jr.

Northern Arizona

FB

Bobby McClintock

5-10

240

Jr.

Portland State

TE

Ryan Chesla*

6-5

240

Sr.

Northern Colorado

OG

Colin Dow#

6-5

300

Sr.

Montana

OG

Jeff Hansen

6-4

281

Jr.

Montana State

C

JD Quinn*

6-4

302

Sr.

Montana

OT

Brent Russum*

6-4

295

Sr.

Montana

OT

Ray Navar

6-6

255

Sr.

Sacramento State

WR

Aaron Boyce*#

6-2

205

Jr.

Eastern Washington

WR

Eddie Thompson*

5-11

180

Sr.

Idaho State

WR

Bryant Eteuati

6-3

160

Sr.

Weber State

K

Robbie Dehaze#

6-3

193

Sr.

Northern Arizona

Ret

Bryant Eteuati*#

5-7

160

Sr.

Weber State

DEFENSE

DE

Greg Peach*#

6-2

250

Sr.

Eastern Washington

DE

Dane Fletcher

6-2

242

Jr.

Montana State

DT

Bryce Scanlon*#

6-1

290

Sr.

Weber State

DT

Lance Witherspoon

6-2

275

Sr.

Eastern Washington

LB

Cyrus Mulitalo*#

6-1

245

Sr.

Sacramento State

LB

Bobby Daly*#

6-1

226

Sr.

Montana State

LB

Mike Brannon*

6-2

235

Sr.

Sacramento State

LB

Cristian Sarmento

6-1

220

Sr.

Northern Colorado

CB

K.J. Gerard*#

6-1

180

Sr.

Northern Arizona

CB

D.J. Clark*#

6-2

200

Sr.

Idaho State

S

Colt Anderson*#

5-11

190

Sr.

Montana

S

Kevin Retoriano

5-9

187

Jr.

Montana State

P

Mike Snoy

6-2

175

Jr.

Weber State

Sp. Teams

Cyrus Igono*#

5-10

205

Sr.

Northern Arizona

*First-Team All-Conference in 2007. #Unanimous Selection