KINGSVILLE, Texas – Mercyhurst College senior Josh Szeluga has been selected to participate in the 2010 Valero Cactus Bowl on Friday, Jan. 8.
The Cactus Bowl, which is a two-team all-star game featuring NCAA Division II senior football players, will be played at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas, on the campus of Texas A&M-Kingsville.
A two-time All-PSAC West selection at tight end, Szeluga owns a 3.52 grade point average in business.
The Cheektowaga, N.Y. product was a CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine All-Region Second Team selection a year ago and made his first appearance on the national ballot after earning a first team nod in 2009.
The senior posted one of his most productive seasons for the Lakers in 2009, collecting team-highs in receptions (42) and yards (476) while posting a shared-high in receiving touchdowns (3). His spotlight year has helped him climb the all-time lists in receptions and receiving yards, ranking fourth with 115 catches and sixth with 1,370 yards. As a junior, Szeluga hauled in 32 receptions for 402 yards and three touchdowns, placing second on the team in all three categories while as a sophomore he earned All-GLIAC honorable mention after tying the school record with 10 touchdown receptions in a season.
There will be seven American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-Americans from this year and three Harlon Hill Trophy finalists playing in the Cactus Bowl. Szeluga is one of 11 senior standouts from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) participating in the all-star game.
The annual bowl game was originally known as the Snow Bowl and was played in Fargo, N.D., in 1994-2000 before being renamed the Cactus Bowl and relocated to Kingsville, Texas, in 2001. There have been over 100 players signed by NFL teams after playing in the Cactus Bowl.
For more information on the Cactus Bowl, including ticket prices, visitors’ guide and complete team rosters, please visit the official site by clicking
here.