CU-Mansfield Sports Release – Thursday, March 19, 2026.
MANSFIELD PA – The Mansfield Mountaineers’ sprint football and the Butsko Selection Committee announced that Jack Gartner will be honored with the 2026 Frank Butsko Memorial Award at the annual breakfast on Saturday morning, April 25.
Steve McCloskey will be the third Honorary Member Butsko award winner. The Austin Snyder Alumni Appreciation Award will go to Joe Zaparzynski. The John “Jay” Atkins Mountie Award will go to Brad Hood of the Mansfield baseball team. The Tom Elsasser Award for Character will go to Rod Pursell during the ceremony.
REGISTRATION WILL BE OPEN SOON
Frank Butsko Award – Jack Gartner
Honorary Member – Steve McCloskey
The highlight of the Butsko Breakfast is the presentation of the Frank Butsko Award. This is the most prestigious award that can be bestowed upon a Mountaineer football player. The Butsko award has been an annually given out event since 1986 to honor the memory of former Mountaineer assistant coach Frank Butsko, who was killed in an automobile accident during a recruiting trip.
Gartner served as captain in his junior year on the offensive line. The offense was one of the most dynamic groups helping the Mountie offense rush for 1667 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns.
McCloskey will be the third ever honorary winner, joining Steve Zegalia and Tom Elsasser. McCloskey is one of the most decorated and honored athletic communication professionals in the nation, became Mansfield’s first full-time sports information director in July of 1988. A role served until his retirement in 2017. He was instrumental in the establishment of a sprint football program at Mansfield that was featured in a front-page article of the Wall Street Journal.
Austin Snyder Alumni Appreciation Award- Joe Zaparzynski
The Austin Snyder Alumni Appreciation Award is named in honor of former Mansfield football standout and longtime supporter Austin Snyder ’62. Snyder came to Mansfield after an injury ended his scholarship at Syracuse and then became a key member of the Mountaineer football program. Snyder hosted a yearly fundraising event in the Philadelphia area that provided funds critical to the success of the program throughout the 1990s and 2000s.
A four-year standout in the secondary, Zaparzynski twice led the team in interceptions with five picks in 1987 and 1988. Recorded 169 career tackles and 20 pass breakups along with seven sacks on blitzes. He picked off 12 career passes. Ranks fourth in career breakups and fifth in career interceptions.
Zaparzynski has been instrumental in the success of the Zegalia Golf Outing fundraiser. Leading the charge in gaining sponsors and continued exposure of this top fundraising event.
John “Jay” Atkins Mountie Award – Brad Hood
The John “Jay” Atkins Mountie Award was established by the Butsko Selection Committee in 2010 to honor the courage and dignity of former Mountaineer standout offensive lineman Jay Atkins, who was diagnosed with MS, forcing him to leave his position with the Mansfield Admissions Office. Atkins is a popular and beloved member of the Mountaineer football program, earning All-PSAC honors during the late 1980s. His dignity and pride in Mansfield continue to inspire us.
Hood is a three-year member of the Mountie baseball program. In 2026, Hood earned a prominent spot in the relief rotation. In December, Brad’s brother Stephen, passed away following a car accident in Summit Hill, Pa. Stephen was a pitcher at Kutztown. This season Brad changed his number to 11 to honor his brother.
The Tom Elsasser Award for Character – Rod Pursell
The Tom Elsasser Award for Character was established with great pride by the Butsko Awards Committee in 2024 to honor the spirit, passion and commitment displayed by former long-time head coach Tom Elsasser.
Coach Elsasser was responsible for bringing Coach Butsko to Mansfield. Elsasser also was the guiding force behind creating the Butsko Award and annual Butsko Breakfast to honor the memory of Coach Butsko. During the entirety of his career at Mansfield, Coach Elsasser defined the character traits that have become the standard expectations of anyone associated with the Mountaineer football program.
Purcell was a four-year starter (football) on the offensive line for the Mountaineers from1983-86. He was the winner of four varsity letters and a co-captain in 1986. He was a 1st-Team All-PSAC East Selection in 1985 and 1986 and named to the All-American team in 1986. Respected by both peers and opponents, he was the first recipient of the Frank A. Butsko Award.
