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| Photo by Larry Radloff, d3photography.com |
Joe Callahan was named winner of the 2015 Gagliardi Trophy on Wednesday night, Dec. 16, in Salem, Va., as part of the festivities surrounding Stagg Bowl XLIII.
Callahan, a quarterback from Wesley, beat out other finalists in Guilford quarterback Matt Pawlowski, St. Thomas offensive tackle David Simmet and St. John's running back Sam Sura to take home the trophy.
"I think before they announced that I was probably more nervous than I have been for any football game so far," Callahan said afterward. "I really wanted to win this year. It would have been tough making a seven-hour drive back (to Delaware) losing."
Callahan is the second Wesley player to take home the honor, following safety Rocky Myers, who won in 2004. Myers made Wesley the only South Region school to win the Gagliardi Trophy, and Callahan made the Wolverines the only East Region program to do so as well.
This season, Callahan became the first Division III quarterback to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a season, leading the Wolverines to an 11-2 season and the national quarterfinals.
The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service. The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach, who retired after the 2012 season with 489 career victories, the most in college football history.
The other Gagliardi Trophy semifinalists were Mount Union safety Alex Kocheff, McNamara, Hardin-Simmons receiver Jessie Ramos, Wartburg quarterback Logan Schrader, Wheaton tackle Matt Snebold and Hendrix running back Dayton Winn.
You can watch the archived broadcast below.
All-time Gagliardi Trophy winnersMount Union players have won the Gagliardi Trophy seven times, while St. John's and Wesley players have each won twice. Here's the full list: |
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| Year | Player | Pos. | School |
| 2015 | Joe Callahan | QB | Wesley |
| 2014 | Kevin Burke | QB | Mount Union |
| 2013 | Kevin Burke | QB | Mount Union |
| 2012 | Scottie Williams | RB | Elmhurst |
| 2011 | Michael Zweifel | WR | Dubuque |
| 2010 | Eric Watt | QB | Trine |
| 2009 | Blaine Westemeyer | OL | Augustana |
| 2008 | Greg Micheli | QB | Mount Union |
| 2007 | Justin Beaver | RB | UW-Whitewater |
| 2006 | Josh Brehm | QB | Alma |
| 2005 | Brett Elliott | QB | Linfield |
| 2004 | Rocky Myers | SS | Wesley |
| 2003 | Blake Elliott | WR/RET | St. John's |
| 2002 | Dan Pugh | RB | Mount Union |
| 2001 | Chuck Moore | RB | Mount Union |
| 2000 | Chad Johnson | QB | Pacific Lutheran |
| 1999 | Danny Ragsdale | QB | Redlands |
| 1998 | Scott Hvistendahl | WR/P | Augsburg |
| 1997 | Bill Borchert | QB | Mount Union |
| 1996 | Lon Erickson | QB | Illinois Wesleyan |
| 1995 | Chris Palmer | WR | St. John's |
| 1994 | Carey Bender | RB | Coe |
| 1993 | Jim Ballard | QB | Mount Union |