Today, Saint Francis head coach Dave Opfar named the team captains for 2009, and the list of names should not surprise those familiar with the team.

The captains are center Cody Kekipi (Kale Ane Waimanalo, Hawaii/Punahou), wide receiver Antoine Rivera (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro), defensive end Russel Fisher (Kailua, Hawaii/Mid Pac Institute), and linebackers Scott Lewis (South Fork, Pa. /Bishop McCort) and Matthew Parker (Darlington, Pa./Blackhawk).

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“These guys are the cream of the crop when it comes to leading their teammates both on and off the field,” said Opfar. “They’ve earned that trust and respect, and they’ve definitely earned this honor.”

The list is a mix of seniors (Kekipi, Rivera and Fisher) and juniors (Lewis and Parker), but all five players bring years of starting experience to the captaincy.

“These guys aren’t just great leaders, they’re great players as well,” said Opfar. “As a result, their example means a lot to the rest of this team.

Both Kekipi and Lewis were recently named to the 2009 Preseason All-Northeast Conference team, both in recognition of their outstanding 2008 seasons and in anticipation of more in 2009.

Rivera returns to the Red Flash in 2009 after a knee injury robbed him of all but three games last season. He stands poised to move near the top of most Red Flash receiving categories and will be remembered as one of the best to play the position at Saint Francis.

Fisher has distinguished himself not only as a fine player on the field but as a fine person off the field as well. He was nominated for the 2009 Allstate/AFCA Good Works team for his contributions to Relay for Life, the Special Olympics, and other charitable causes around the SFU campus.

Parker’s 2008 campaign sits somewhat in the shadow of Lewis’s record-breaking year, which is a shame given its quality; Parker recorded 122 tackles in 2008, good for eighth in the nation.

By Saint Francis University Athletic Communications