It had been a record-breaking and award-winning week for Tomás Kenary of the Middlebury football team, as the defensive lineman has now been named as one of 20 semifinalists for the prestigious Gagliardi Trophy. 
 
ABOUT THE GAGLIARDI TROPHY

• The Gagliardi Trophy, given annually since 1993, is awarded to the most outstanding NCAA Division III football player and recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and community service.  
• The award is named after John Gagliardi, Saint John's legendary Hall of Fame head football coach, who passed away at the age of 91 in 2018. John retired in 2012 with 489 career victories, the most in college football history. 
• The 40-member Gagliardi Trophy national selection committee reviews the credentials, ranks the candidates 1-15 and casts their votes. Fan balloting, which is available on D3football.com, accounts for the 41st ballot. Fans will be permitted to cast one ballot per device, through 1 p.m. ET on Dec. 2. 

KENARY'S HIGHLIGHTS

• Kenary is just the second Panther to ever earn the accolade, joining McCallum Foote '14 who was a semifinalist in 2012 and one of four finalists in 2013.
• The senior is the only NESCAC player to land a spot on the list, and is one of just six defensive players in this year's selection group.
• Kenary is a neuroscience major with a minor in Spanish. He has earned the College Scholar Award four times, is a three-time NESCAC All-Academic honoree, and was tabbed a 2022 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection.
• Last summer, Kenary volunteered as a research assistant at the Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C. helping develop a database to enhance research for patients with different neurological disorders. Additionally, he has run a diabetes sports camp for children, embarked on a service trip to Argentina, and helped with Middlebury's annual Be The Match drive and preseason community service efforts. 
• Kenary finished the year ranking second on Middlebury's single-season list in sacks (11.5), yards from sacks (94), tackles for loss (19.5) and yards from TFL (108).
• The Panther broke the school record for career sacks during week six, running his tally to 24.5. 
• He helped the defensive unit set a single-game record in sacks (nine), contributing 4.5 during the week one contest, while also leading the squad to a single-season mark of 27 wrap-ups and 69 passes defended (56 pass breakups, 13 interceptions). 
• Kenary earned the NEWF Golf Helmet and NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week honors during the first week of the season, and was also named a semifinalist for the National Foundation's William V. Campbell Trophy.

The Gagliardi Trophy finalists will be announced during a live show on Thursday, Dec. 7, on D3football.com. Hosts Pat Coleman and Frank Rossi will profile the finalists during the program. The 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner will be revealed on D3football.com during the week of the NCAA Division III football national championship on the evening of Friday, Dec. 15. In the lead-up to the announcement of the 2023 Gagliardi Trophy winner, D3football.com will provide updates on specific dates and times of the announcement. A full list of the semifinalists can be found here.