2011 Football captains chosen

After voting last week, the Penn football team released its captains for the 2011 season.

TE Luke Nawrocki, LB Erik Rask and OL Greg Van Roten will lead the Quakers in their attempt for a third-straight undefeated Ivy title. All three received All-Ivy Honorable Mention nods as sophomores, and last year Nawrocki was again named Honorable Mention while Rask and Van Roten were named First Team.

Van Roten was part of Penn's offensive line, which led the league in offense and was fourth in the nation in fewest sacks allowed. He will anchor a young O. line this season, as the remainder (Joe D'Orazio, Drew Luongo, Luis Ruffolo and Jared Mollenbeck) graduate in May.

Rask led the team with 65 tackles, and blocked a field goal in the title-clincher against Harvard.

Nawrocki was third on the team in 2010 in receptions and yards, behind graduating seniors Matt Tuten and David Wurst.

Here's what coach Bagnoli had to say about his team's choices:

I think they were really good choices, they’re three of the hardest working kids, three of our kids who are the first ones to practice, the last ones out, great role models, terrific players, good leadership skills, so first part we commend them on who they selected, they were overwhelming choices, so that was easy. Second part they’re going to have to lead. There’s a lot of young kids who’ve got to understand how hard you’ve got to practice, how hard you’ve got to prepare, how much time goes into film study, how much time goes into the weight room, and those kids will play a central role in making sure that we get those kids to understand that.

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