Bucknell University Athletics
A.J. Kizekai Receives Senior Athletic Award at Bucknell
5/4/2010 8:00:00 AM | Football
May 4, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell senior A.J. Kizekai (Pawtucket, R.I./Blair Academy (N.J.)), a member of the Bison football team, received a special award at the University's annual Senior Athletic Awards Banquet, sponsored by the Bison Club and held at the Elaine Langone Center on Tuesday, May 4.
Kizekai won the Bryan-Humphreys Award, presented to senior athletes "who have exhibited exceptional versatility within his/her sport, displaying outstanding achievement and the selfless determination to help the team succeed by contributing in a variety of ways." Kizekai shared the award with Amy Mantush of the women's track and field team, who was the female selection.
In addition to Kizekai, several other student-athletes were honored at the banquet, including the winners of the Christy Mathewson Award, given to the most outstanding athletes in the senior class.
A four-time All-Patriot League selection, including a three-time first-team return specialist, Kizekai, ended his career with nearly every kickoff return and all-purpose yard mark in the Bison record books. He owns the records for most returns in a career (109) and yards (2,725). Additionally, he holds Bucknell records for most yards in a season (1,113) and game (210) as well as the longest return (100), which he registered in 2008 against Lafayette.
In 2009, Kizekai, who registered six plays of at least 70 yards in his career, including a 70-yard reception vs. Lafayette this past fall when he posted a career-high 140 receiving yards, had two returns of better than 50 yards and posted two 100-yard return games. He led the Patriot League in all-purpose yards per game (130.0) and stands sixth in Patriot League history and second at Bucknell in career all-purpose yards (5,536).
In addition to being a stellar return man, Kizekai is a versatile player out of the backfield. He finished third on the Bison with 281 yards rushing this past year. He was also second in receiving with 20 catches for 257 yards. Kizekai added four touchdowns to his career total in 2009, giving him a four-year total of 20.
At the team's postseason awards banquet, Kizekai was showered with honors, earning the Captains Award, the George L. McGaughey Memorial Award, which is given to the outstanding player in the Lafayette game, and the special teams MVP. Kizekai, who was team MVP in 2007 as a sophomore, earned nine career team awards.
Bucknell is a highly selective, privately endowed liberal arts institution with an enrollment of approximately 3,500 undergraduate students. Bucknell competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the Patriot League and has full membership along with American, Army, Colgate, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh and Navy. Bucknell has won the Presidents' Cup, signifying the Patriot League's all-sports champion, in 15 of 19 years, including 11 of the last 12.
