Van Alstyne Voted to D3football.com All-East Region Team
Framingham, Mass. – Senior running back Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.) has been named to the D3football.com All-East Region Second Team Offense in balloting conducted by East Region Sports Information Directors and D3football.com staff. A total of 77 players were chosen from 284 nominations in the East.
Van Alstyne earns his third all-region honors from D3football.com having been a second team selection in 2011 after his sophomore season. He was a first team all-region selection and a third team All-America a season ago.
Van Alstyne culminated his outstanding career rushing for 1,620 yards on 308 carries with 19 touchdowns, while making 14 catches for 106 yards with a score in 2013. Van Alstyne has racked up multiple honors this season including being selected All-New England by the New England Football Writers for the third time as well as being a first team All-MASCAC selection. He garnered his second straight Joseph Zabilski Award from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston which is given to the best player in Division II/III on each side of the ball.
Van Alstyne finished his career with over 6,000 yards rushing, a feat only two other Division III New England backs have achieved, and over 400 points. His 6,145 career rushing yards on 1,131 carries place him first on the All-Time Division III New England rushing leaders list and his 408 points land him fourth. Van Alstyne, who holds nine Framingham State offensive records, participated in the 2013 National Bowl on Sunday, December 8th at Florida International with the top players from across the country and rushed for a touchdown. He will be back on the field again on Friday, December 13th at the D3 Senior Classic in Salem, VA.
The 2013 Rams finished the season 9-2 and were the champions of the MASCAC in the inaugural season of MASCAC football. The Rams made their second straight appearance in the NCAA Division III Football Championship after earning an at-large bid.