By Rob Potter
LOUDONVILLE, NY — March 29, 2002 – Justin Mootz, a 1998 Tri-Valley graduate, was one of three Siena College senior football players recently named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Second Team.
The team is chosen by the league’s head coaches.
Mootz, who played on both the defensive line and at linebacker, finished fifth on the team with 45 tackles. He was second on the team with 10.5 tackles-for-loss and fifth with 2.5 sacks.
He also was an honorable mention selection for the Don Hansen All-American team for Division I-AA schools and earned the 2002 Capital District New York State Football Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete Award. His cumulative g.p.a. is 3.1.
“I had lots of fun, it was a good experience,” said Mootz, who will graduate in May with a degree in psychology. “A lot of kids don’t get to follow their dreams, but I lived it for awhile.”
At Tri-Valley, Mootz played middle linebacker and tailback. He helped the Bears capture the Western Sullivan League title in the 1996 and ’97 gridiron seasons.
In his first year at Siena, he played strong safety.
“But the past three years, I’ve played outside linebacker,” he said.
After graduating in May, Mootz plans to pursue a career in law enforcement.
“My ultimate goal is to work for the FBI,” he said.