February 26, 2009

Mana Ohia Named ECAC Southwest Region Rookie Of The Year - First Ever ECAC Award For Builder Football

Apprentice School freshman linebacker Mana Ohia was named the 2008 Eastern College Athletic Conference Southwest Region Rookie of the Year on Tuesday night. He received his award at the Eastern College Football Awards Banquet held at the Meadowlands Sports Complex.

This award is the first-time an Apprentice School football player has ever won an honor from the ECAC.

Ohia was the Atlantic Central Football Conference Rookie of the Year selection after a freshman season of 44 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two sacks and two blocked kicks. He recorded a season high 14 tackles against Salisbury University in a home loss to the nationally-ranked Sea Gulls. Ohia, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii and a maintenance electrician apprentice, had blocked kicks against Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham and Salisbury University.

The 2009 season will open for the Builders on Sept. 5 at Apprentice School Head Football Coach Michael Vite and Mana Ohia (center) with ECAC representatives at the ECAC Football Awards banquet on Tuesday, Feb. 24 Malone College in Canton, Ohio. Mana Ohia receiving his ECAC Southwest Region Rookie Of The Year Honors on Feb. 24