Award Comes as Surprise to Fox Lane Star

Tim Muller wasn't quite sure what to think when the news arrived in the form of a letter late in December.

The Fox Lane senior football star learned that he had been selected to the Westchester Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame's 2009 Scholar-Athlete or "Golden Dozen" team.

"When I received the award in the mail, I had no clue what the background and meaning of it was," said Muller, a receiver, safety and kicker. "My parents were familiar with the honor and explained how big of an accomplishment was, and how they were proud of me. I had not heard of the award before I received it, but judging by the letter that was sent and the tradition it apparently, has I am very honored to be a recipient of it."

Muller and the 11 other winners, along with 24 honorable-mention selections, will be honored on Jan. 28 at a dinner at the Westchester Country Club in Harrison marking the award's 38th year.

Muller, who formed a potent offensive combination with senior quarterback Jesse Hunt, had more than 600 yards receiving this past season, averaging 15 yards per reception. He was a big reason Hunt, who like Muller earned all-section honors, wound up passing for more than 1,300 yards for the season as Fox Lane finished 6-2 and won the League A-North championship.

Despite his offensive heroics, Muller's most memorable play of the season may have occurred on special teams. In a dramatic 34-33 overtime win over Nyack on Oct. 2, he blocked a potential game-winning extra-point attempt by Nyack with the scored tied at 27-27, forcing overtime.

Fox Lane's Kuranja Elliot then scored on a 1-yard run in overtime. Muller's subsequent point-after kick proved to be the margin of difference as Nyack then scored a touchdown, but failed to convert on a 2-point conversion run try. Muller, a team captain, was named the Foxes' MVP.

The Golden Dozen team is comprised of senior football players from Westchester and Putnam counties who have excelled both academically, athletically and in extra-curricular activities and community service.

Muller, who maintains a 90 grade average and is a member of the Business Honor Society, is a member of the Foxes' Athletic Council, Business Honor Society, St. Patrick's Youth Group, Future Leaders of America and Safe Rides and is a volunteer at the Bedford Correctional Facility and the Lions' Club's Senior Citizens Yard Clean-Up. He's also a team captain on the Foxes' varsity baseball and basketball teams.

" My parents have always supported me and been at my side for both sports and academics so it made my high school career easy," Muller said. "Playing sports has always helped me manage time for my school work and putting in a lot of effort in both has allowed me to succeed in school and in sports. There are some times when you make sacrifices to get your school work done on time but receiving an award like this makes you realize it was the right decision."

Also named to the Golden Dozen team were Jameson Pickel (John Jay) and Andrew Madigan (Somers).

Pickel, the Indians' quarterback, had 1,732 all-purpose yards this past season. He is a Midnight Run coordinator and member of the Peer Leadership Program. Pickel, who has a 90 grade average, is taking four Advanced Placement courses. Also, a standout defenseman in lacrosse, he will be playing that sport at Johns Hopkins University.

Madigan, a three-year starting offensive guard/linebacker for the Tuskers, had 108 tackles on the season and 300 for his career. He is involved with the school orchestra and jazz piano concerts at Caramoor in Katonah.

He plans on playing football in college and has received offers from Amherst College and Johns Hopkins University. He has also applied to Harvard and Princeton.

The other honorees are Anthony Cardon (White Plains), P.J. DeMercurio (Mahopac), Cole McCormack (Rye), Jack Miller (Mamaroneck), Brian Murray (Bronxville), Obinna Nwakeze (Rye Country Day), Charlie Rollins (Rye), Ryan Shilling (Carmel) and Matt Fedro (Yorktown).

Honorable-mention recipients are John Crowley  (Somers), Michael Cardi  (John Jay), Marc Palmer  (Kennedy Catholic ),Benjamin Berkey   (Horace Greeley), Kyle Shaub (Horace Greeley), Michael Brereton  (Mahopac),  Anthony Brunetto  (Dobbs Ferry), Phillip Castracucco  (Tuckahoe), Daniel Collins (Briarcliff), Sean Cronin  (Pleasantville), Kyle Davy  (Ossining), Christopher Denison  (Pelham), Michael Fata  (Dobbs Ferry), Brian Glazewski  (Rye Country Day), Josh Golick  (Hastings), James Houghteling  (Hackley), Michael Miceli (New Rochelle), Robert Millman  (Mamaroneck), Daniel Morrissey   (Pelham), Mark Parascandola ( Iona Prep), Daniel Prager  (Briarcliff), Joseph Riley (Ossining), Dean Simpkins ( Byram Hills) and Corey Smith (Port Chester). 

Like Madigan, Muller is also undecided on a college. " I'm looking at Trinity College, the University of Pennsylvania and Holy Cross," Muller said. "Trinity is a strong D3 team, and the others are DI-AA (now known as the Football Championship Subdivision). I have to continue to talk with the coaches but they are all good schools and I think I could fit in at any of them."