ST. LOUIS - Four Marist football seniors - tight end Anthony Calcagni (Thornwood, N.Y.), offensive lineman Phede Celestin (Brooklyn, N.Y.), defensive lineman Terrence Fede (Nyack, N.Y.), and defensive back Nick Mainiero (Croton, N.Y.) - were named to the Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team, which was released on Tuesday.
Calcagni was named First Team All-Pioneer Football League (PFL) following a productive 2011 season. In his first year as the Red Foxes' starting tight end, he tied for the team lead with five touchdowns, and ranked second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards with 40 and 494, respectively. He had a career high 130 yards receiving at Butler on Oct. 22.
Celestin has been a mainstay on the offensive line the last two seasons. In that time, he has started all 22 games at right tackle, and is the only Marist offensive lineman to start every game each of the last two seasons. The 6-foot-5, 317-pound Celestin was named All-PFL Honorable Mention in 2010, and was named First Team All-PFL in 2011.
Fede was a Second Team All-PFL selection in 2011. He led the Red Foxes with eight-and-a-half sacks and added 16 tackles for losses. His 72 total tackles ranked second on the team. Fede's efforts helped Marist finish sixth in the FCS ranks in first in the PFL in total defense, as the Red Foxes allowed an average of just 285.64 yards per game.
Mainiero was named Honorable Mention All-PFL last year, and is one of four captains on this year's team. Last season, he was tied for second on the Red Foxes in both solo tackles (29) and passes broken up (four). He finished with 53 total tackles, including four stops for a loss and a sack. Mainiero also had one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The Marist football team reports for preseason camp on Wednesday, Aug. 8. The Red Foxes begin their 2012 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 at Bryant. They will play the first of their five home games on Saturday, Sept. 8 against Bucknell. Marist is in its fourth season as a member of the PFL, and will open league play on Saturday, Sept. 22 against Davidson. That contest will take place on Alumni Weekend.
