THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 2, 1995 TAG: 9503020608
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY RICH RADFORD, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Kempsville's Mike Pishioneri, selected Player of the Year by The Virginian-Pilot and The Ledger-Star, has decided to play college football for a program that has won seven national titles.
Unfortunately, the last came in 1911 and the school no longer is eligible to compete for such championships.
Fortunately, he'll receive one of the nation's top educations.
Pishioneri is going Ivy League - Princeton, to be exact.
The 5-foot-10, 185-pound tailback turned down an appointment to the Air Force Academy, as well as invitations to play football at Yale (Ivy League schools do not offer scholarships) and Lehigh.
Pishioneri is still awaiting his letter of acceptance, to be mailed April 15, and Princeton coach Steve Tosches cannot comment on an incoming recruit until then. But Pishioneri, who scored 1,300 on the Scholastic Assessment Test and carries a 3.66 grade-point average, received a ``likely acceptance'' letter last week and contacted the other schools about his decision.
``Overall, I made my decision on how I felt during my visit on campus,'' said Pishioneri, who intends to major in chemistry.
The run-oriented Tigers were 7-3 last year and have the nation's second-best winning percentage in Division I-AA over the last four years at
Ivy League schools do not accept I-AA playoff berths.
As a senior, Pishioneri ran for 1,216 yards during the regular season and an area-high 22 touchdowns, leading Kempsville High to the Beach District championship.
In other signings:
All-Tidewater linebacker Richard Deberry of Norcom has signed a letter-of-intent with Elizabeth City State. Deberry, a 5-9, 180-pounder, had 20 sacks last season. He has yet to qualify for NCAA freshman eligibility and is awaiting SAT scores.
Indian River running back Shawndell Joyner has signed a letter-of-intent to attend Virginia Union. The 6-2, 190-pound Joyner has yet to qualify for NCAA freshman eligibility and is awaiting final grades. He ran for 897 yards in eight games as a senior. ILLUSTRATION: Mike Pishioneri, a standout running back at Kempsville, says he
plans to major in chemistry.
by CNB