News - Lakeland College, Sheboygan WI

Preseason honors continue to roll in for Lakeland defense

Athletics - posted on 8/20/2012

SHEBOYGAN - Lakeland College football players Bruce Romagnoli (Sr.-Iron Mountain, Mich.) and T.J. Kinjerski (Sr.-Mishicot, Wis.) have recently added to a growing list of preseason honors for Muskie defenders before the 2012 season.

Romagnoli and Kinjerski both received honors from the USA Football News website as they were named to NCAA Division III Preseason All-American teams. Romagnoli also received another distinction when he was named to the D3Senior Classic Preseason All-American Team.

Romagnoli was named a Preseason First Team All-American linebacker by USA Football News in the website's poll voted on by coaches, sports information directors, players' agents. Kinjerski also was named a Preseason Honorable Mention All-American by virtue of his being named a Central Region All-Star as a defensive lineman.

Romagnoli also was named a first team preseason pick on the North Defense by the Collegiate Development Football League, which sponsors the D3Senior Classic all-star game, which will be held Friday, Dec. 7 in Salem, Va. The award serves as a watch list for seniors who may be selected for the game in December.

The awards are the second and third preseason awards for Romagnoli before his senior season, as he previously also was named a Preseason Second Team All-American by the Beyond Sports Network website. Romagnoli is a returning First Team All-Northern Athletics Conference performer, while Kinjerski was named Second Team All-NAC last year as a junior.

As a junior Romagnoli had an outstanding season in the middle of the Muskie defense, leading the team in tackles (95). He also had 13 1/2 tackles for a loss, three sacks, two pass break-ups, one interception and one forced fumble and recovery. Kinjerski also had an excellent season as a junior with 30 tackles, 3 1/2 tackles for loss including two sacks, and two fumble recoveries.

USA Football News NCAA Division III Preseason All-American Team
D3Senior Classic Preseason All-American Team