West Chester Lands 11 on All-PSAC East Squad; Elder and McKenzie Major Winners

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – West Chester University's gridiron gang was well represented as usual when the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference announced its 2019 All-PSAC Eastern Division squad Wednesday afternoon.
 
Sr., Safety Jarey Elder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and R-Fr., RB Ja'Den McKenzie (Morton, Pa./Springfield) were the major winners, taking home defensive player of the year and rookie of the year honors, respectively. They were one of 11 Golden Rams to be honored by the PSAC Wednesday. Elder and McKenzie were a pair of five first-team honorees while six others were second team recipients. This is the fifth time in the last six years that a West Chester player has been among the major award winners in the East.
 
Elder, joins his older brother, Jarel, as an athlete of the year. Jarel Elder was the PSAC Eastern Division Offensive Athlete of the Year in 2017. They are the first brother combination to earn athlete of the year honors in the PSAC in either division. Elder's nod as the top defensive player in the conference also continues West Chester's string of consecutive seasons winning that major award. Former linebacker, Tyler Morrissey, won it each of the past two seasons. Incidentally, it also marked the third time in school history that the Golden Rams won the same major award three straight seasons (Def. AOY – 2006-08; Athlete of the Year – 1986-88). Elder is the sixth different player to win the defensive athlete of the year award under Furlong's watch. It is the eighth time overall that one of Furlong's defensive players was recognized.
 
Joining Elder and McKenzie on the first team were three defensive players: Sr., DT Tyrone Barge (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter), Sr. DE Ch'aim Smith (York, Pa./York Suburban), and R-Fr., LB Jackson Taylor (Glenside, Pa./Abington).
 
Second team plaudits went to: R-So., Brendan Ruskowski (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), Sr., Frank Tranzilli (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn), Sr., Shane Griffin (Jenkintown, Pa./Abington), Andrew Chegia (Kennett Square, Pa./Unionville), Omar Peterkin (Willow Grove, Pa./Archbishop Wood), and George Lambritsios (Broomall, Pa./Marple Newtown).
 
West Chester's 11 all-league honorees was actually the smallest representation since 2012, but did continue the streak of double-digit accolades for the Golden Rams to eight seasons -dating back to 2011.
 
West Chester heads to South Euclid, Ohio, and Notre Dame College for the first round of the NCAA Division II Football Tournament Saturday. Kickoff between No. 13 Notre Dame (10-1) and No. 22 West Chester (9-2) is 12 p.m. at Mueller Field.