Career statistics
2009: Ahonen started every game at strong safety and earned second-team Empire 8 all-star honors. He made a career-best 12 tackles against St. John Fisher and collected 11 at Springfield. Ahonen matched a career high with six solo tackles in the win at Frostburg State and added a pass break-up. He was named Ithaca’s Honorary Defensive Captain after that game. He helped seal the win over #25 Alfred with an interception on his own one-yard line and also intercepted a pass against St. John Fisher. Ahonen picked up four tackles – including one for loss – in the season-opening win at St. Lawrence. He was named to the Empire 8 Presidents’ List following the fall semester.
2009 game-by-game statistics
2008: Ahonen played in every game and joined the starting line-up for the season’s last nine games. He earned all-star honors from the Empire 8 after ranking second among Ithaca’s defensive backs in tackles, tackles for loss, pass break-ups and interceptions. Ahonen made a career-high 10 tackles at St. John Fisher. He picked up nine tackles in the win at #7 Cortland and against Curry in the NCAA playoffs, making six solo stops in both games. He picked off a pass in the end zone in the win against the previously unbeaten Red Dragons. Ahonen’s first career interception – on the Bomber one-yard line – came in the Hartwick win in his first career start. He was named Ithaca’s Outstanding Back after the Homecoming win over Frostburg State; he collected three tackles, intercepted a pass to set up a touchdown and recovered a fumble to set up another TD. He blocked a field-goal attempt by Utica and a PAT try by Curry during the NCAA playoffs. He was named to the Empire 8 Presidents’ List following the fall and spring semesters.
2008 game-by-game statistics
2007: Ahonen was one of seven freshmen to earn a letter after playing in all but one regular-season game as a secondary back-up and special teams regular. Ahonen collected seven of his tackles in kick coverage to rank among the team leaders. He collected a career-high three stops – including his first career tackle for loss – in the win at Utica. He made a pair of tackles against Hartwick and two more in the Cortaca Jug win. Ahonen was named to the Empire 8 Presidents’ List following the fall and spring semesters.
2007 game-by-game statistics
High School: A 2007 graduate of Victor Central School, Ahonen was coached by Jim Haugh. He was a two-time pick to the All-Greater Rochester Team and earned first-team all-state honors as a senior. Ahonen helped Victor to a Section V title in 2005 and also earned all-league honors in basketball and baseball.
Personal: A graduate student in Ithaca’s MBA program, Ahonen earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting in just six semesters. He is the son of Dave and Caralee Ahonen. A third baseman on Ithaca’s NCAA playoff baseball team, Ahonen is a three-time all-region pick. He received Ithaca’s James Harris Award last spring as the top multisport athlete among the graduating senior class.
