LEESBURG, Va. – West Liberty University defensive back Marco Ricchetti has been honored as an NCAA Division II All-American by Beyond Sports Network. Ricchetti was a third-team selection at safety on the 2012 BSN NCAA Division II All-America Team, released earlier this week.
A 6-3, 200-pound weak safety from Martins Ferry, Ohio, Ricchetti played a key role in helping the Hilltopper football team bounce back from a 1-win season in 2011 to post a 6-5 mark this past fall with wins against regionally-ranked Shepherd and UNC-Pembroke.
Ricchetti was a first-team All-WVIAC selection at defensive back after earning a trio of WVIAC Defensive Player of the Week awards this fall.
He led West Liberty in tackles with 101 stops, including 5 double-figure tackle games, and also posted a team-high 5 interceptions.
Ricchetti had a dozen tackles and a 42-yard interception return to set up a score in the Hilltoppers’ upset of eventual WVIAC champion Shepherd. He set a career high with 14 tackles against Charleston but saved the best for last with a game-saving fourth-quarter interception in the end zone to preserve West Liberty’s season-ending win against UNC-Pembroke.
The Hilltopper standout was one of 10 WVIAC players to earn All-America recognition on the BSN honor roll.
Concord’s Jake Lilly and Riyadh Richardson were first-team selections while Shepherd’s John Frick and Glenville State’s Mark Jackson were second-team picks.
Charleston’s Jordan Roberts, West Virginia Wesleyan’s LaVaughn Hughes, Shepherd’s Keon Robinson and Seton Hill’s Tyler Zimmer joined Ricchetti as third-team All-Americans while Fairmont State’s Matt Wilmer was accorded honorable mention.
