Worcester, MA --- The WPI football team officially wrapped up the 2007 season last month as they held their annual postseason banquet on January 25. Senior Mike Butler (Athol, MA) was honored as the team's most valuable player while freshman Manny Cambra (Bethel, CT) was named as the team's rookie of the year and sophomore Greg Lyons (Holden, MA) was tabbed as the Engineers Pride Player of the Year.

"It was a difficult season, but not necessarily a disappointing one in that the coaches and players remained positive, enthused and motivated," said ninth-year head coach Ed Zaloom.

Senior George Chyoghly (Boylston, MA) was also selected as the teams offensive back of the year while junior Andrew Sides (Acton, MA) was garnered as WPI's defensive back of the year.

Sophomore Justin Pollard (Taunton, MA) took home honors as the Boyton Hillers best offensive lineman while fifth-year senior Nate Levesque (Fall River, MA) was distinguished as the Engineers best defensive lineman. Sophomore linebacker Chris Norton (Harrington Park, NJ) rounded out the awards as the special team's player of the year.

Butler was tabbed as a first-team All-East D3football.com as a tight-end leading the Crimson and Gray with 45 receptions for 845 yards and nine touchdowns. Through week nine of the regular season Bulter led the nation in receiving yards and touchdowns for a tight-end in all of Division III.

Chyohgly and Sides were both first-team All-Liberty League selections this past season. Chyoghly topped the Engineers with 104 rushes for 565 yards and seven touchdowns while he also added with 12 receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown. Side finished last season tied for second-best in the league with six interceptions and he finished second on the team in tackles with 51.

Pollard and Levesque were both named All-Liberty League on the second team. Pollard, a center, helped anchor an offensive line that finished third in the conference in total offense, second in rushing offense and fourth in passing offense. Levesque finished the year with 7.5 tackles for a loss for a total of 31 yards while he amassed 46 total tackles (36 solo), three sacks, and a forced fumble.

Norton notchined two forced fumbles for the Crimson and Gray and added five tackles on special teams.

"We will also sorely miss the seniors who will be graduating," said Zaloom.

Those other seniors included Matt Burger (Ballston Lake, NY-WR), Rob Pantalone (Camp Hill, PA-QB), Adam Haines (Manchester, NH-DB), James Bellafato (Braintree, MA-DL), Matt Fraiser (Hague, NY-DE), Nick Ambrosino (Glens Falls, NY-DB), Dustin Bradway (Glastonbury, CT-DB), Orry Cummings (Windham, ME- WR), Matt Duplin (Winthrop, MA-DL), Joe Frascotti (Duxbury, MA-DL), John Hehir (Plymouth, NH-OL), Chris Norton (Harrington Park, NJ-LB), Derek Pszybysz (North Andover, MA-K), Keegan Richey (Concord, NH-DL), and Mike Wood (Clarksburg, MA-DL).

Levesque, and Butler, Burger, Haines, Pantalone were honored by Zaloom as this year's captains. Zaloom also announced that the upcoming captains for the 2008 WPI football team would be quarterback Justin Wells (Jay, ME), linebacker Matt Boudreau (Rensselaer, NY), and Sides.

The Crimson and Gray finished this year's campaign with a 4-6 overall record and 1-6 in Liberty League play.