Mid-American Conference

MAC ANNOUNCES 2017 FOOTBALL ACADEMIC ALL-MAC TEAM
146 Students honored with excellence in academics and athletics
 
Cleveland, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced its 2017 Football Academic All-MAC team as a total of 146 students were named to the 2017 Academic All-MAC team.
 
Eastern Michigan (Sergio Bailey II, Blake Banham, Jason Beck, Jake Donnellon, Paulie Fricano, Juan Giraldo, Jeremiah Harris, Clay Holford, Brody Hoying, Jimmy Leatiota, Luke Maclean, Keyan Marshall, Steven Nielsen, Johnnie Niupalau, Jalen Phelps, Dan Samuelson, Ike Spearman and Breck Turner) topped the 2017 Academic All-MAC squad with 18 selections.
 
Western Michigan (Lucas Bezerra, Mark Brooks, Mike Caliendo, Stefan Claiborne, Jaret Curtis, Ra’Sean Davie, Mitch Heimbuch, Luke Juriga, Spencer Kanz, John Keenoy, Nick Matich, Odell Miller, Derrick Mitchell, Zach Novoselsky, Giovanni Ricci and Jon Wassink) was second with 16 selections, while Ohio (Kent Berger, Dorian Brown, Austin Clark, Dylan Connor, Austin Conrad, Jared Dorsa, Cody Grilliot, Kyle Kuhar, Troy Mangen, Quinton Maxwell, Andrew Meyer, Quentin Poling, Eric Popp and Jake Pruehs) was third with 14 selections.
 
There were 12 students named as four-time selections with Vinnie Palazeti (Ball State), Joseph Davidson (Bowling Green), Ryan Hunter (Bowling Green), Nate Locke (Bowling Green), Mark Chapman (Central Michigan), Jeff Perry (Central Michigan), Randy Heideman (Miami), Shane Wimann (Northern Illinois), Dorian Brown (Ohio), Cody Grilliot (Ohio), Quentin Poling (Ohio), and Brad Spelman (Toledo).
 
There were 15 students named as three-time selections: Trevor Roop (Bowling Green), Austin Doan (Central Michigan), Joe Ostman (Central Michigan), Blake Banham (Eastern Michigan), Jason Beck (Eastern Michigan), James Alexander (Kent State), George Bollas (Kent State), Marcus Elliott (Kent State), Christian Hagan (Northern Illinois), Max Scharping (Northern Illinois), Luke Shively (Northern Illinois), Nate Jeppesen (Toledo), Lucas Bezerra (Western Michigan), Derrick Mitchell (Western Michigan) and Zach Novoselsky (Western Michigan).
 
In addition, another 43 students were named as two-time Academic All-MAC selections.
 
The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student who has excelled in athletics and academics.  To qualify, a student must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.
 
2017 Academic All-MAC Team (146)
 
Akron (6):
Warren Ball, Akron, Senior, 3.556 GPA, Sport Administration (Columbus, Ohio)
+Nathan Bischof, Akron, Junior, 3.319 GPA, Sport Management (Akron, Ohio)
Kyle Foster, Akron, Junior, 3.214 GPA, Sport Management (Parkersburg, W.V.)
+John Lako, Akron, Sophomore, 3.438 GPA, Business Management (Monroe, Mich.)
+Xavier Quigley, Akron, Senior, 3.252 GPA, Sport Studies/Coaching (Ankeny, Iowa)
^Anthony Young, Akron, Senior, 3.540 GPA, Intervention/Sp. Ed. (Medina, Ohio)
 
Ball State (12):
Chris Beech, Ball State, R-Freshman, 3.641 GPA, Business Administration (Miamisburg, Ohio)
Mitch Larsen, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.222 GPA, Pre-Dental Preparation (Fairfield, Ohio)
Riley Miller, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.590 GPA, Exercise Science (Yorktown, Ind.)
+^#Vinnie Palazeti, Ball State, Senior, 3.630 GPA, Professional Selling (Owosso, Mich.)
+Danny Pinter, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.666 GPA, Business Administration (South Bend, Ind.)
Andrew Poenitsch, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.449 GPA, Industry and Technology (Waukesha, Wisc.)
+Zac Ricketts, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.492 GPA, Industry and Technology (Bremen, Ind.)
+Kyle Schrank, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.753 GPA, Finance (Fishers, Ind.)
+Fred Schroeder, Ball State, Junior, 3.234 GPA, Biology (Yuma, Ariz.)
Kaleb Slaven, Ball State, R-Freshman, 3.488 GPA, Finance (Muncie, Ind.)
+Marc Walton, Ball State, Junior, 3.333 GPA, Marketing (Mentor, Ohio)
Grant Williamson, Ball State, Sophomore, 3.263 GPA, Accounting (Rolling Prairie, Ind.)
 
Bowling Green (10):
Caleb Bright, Bowling Green, R-Freshman, 3.555 GPA, Criminal Justice (Urbandale, Iowa)
+Clark Clancy, Bowling Green, Senior, 4.00 GPA, Master’s in Business Administration (Troy, Mich.)
+^#Joseph Davidson, Bowling Green, Senior, 3.957 GPA, Finance/Mathematics (Findlay, Ohio)
+^#Ryan Hunter, Bowling Green, Senior, 3.831 GPA (Graduate GPA 3.0), Criminal Justice (North Bay, Ontario)
Cam Jefferies, Bowling Green, Sophomore, 3.380 GPA, Supply Chain Management (Painesville, Ohio)
+^#Nate Locke, Bowling Green, Senior, 4.000 GPA, Psychology (Canton, Ohio)
Grant Loy, Bowling Green, R-Freshman, 3.303 GPA, Pre-Construction Management (New Washington, Ohio)
+James Morgan, Bowling Green, Sophomore, 3.871 GPA, Individualized Planned Program (Green Bay, Wisc.)
+^Trevor Roop, Bowling Green, Senior, 3.838 GPA, Public Health (Convoy, Ohio)
Gabe Skrobot, Bowling Green, R-Freshman, 4.00 GPA, Biology (Zanesville, Ohio)
 
Buffalo (11):
Drew Anderson, Buffalo, Junior, 3.23 GPA, Business Administration (Orinda, Calif.)
Kyle DeWeen, Buffalo, Senior, 3.64 GPA, Business Administration (Niagara Falls, N.Y.)
Chris Doubek, Buffalo, Junior, 3.26 GPA, Media Study (Randolph, N.Y.)
Tomas Jack-Kurdyla, Buffalo, Sophomore, 3.58 GPA, Sociology (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
Tyree Jackson, Buffalo, Sophomore, 3.34 GPA, Social Science Interdisciplinary (Norton Shores, Mich.)
Zach Lefebvre, Buffalo, R-Freshman, 3.27 GPA, Undecided (Victor, N.Y.)
Jake Molinich, Buffalo, R-Freshman, 3.22 GPA, Business Administration (Pittsford, N.Y.)
K.J. Osborn, Buffalo, Sophomore, 3.34 GPA, Sociology (Ypsilanti, Mich.)
Matt Otwinowski, Buffalo, Sophomore, 3.76 GPA, Business Administration (LaPorte, Ind.)
Tim Roberts, Buffalo, Senior, 3.68 GPA, Social Science Interdisciplinary (Hahnville, La.)
Chris Spell, Buffalo, Senior, 3.43 GPA, Sociology (Cortland Manor, N.Y.)
 
Central Michigan (13):
+^#Mark Chapman, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.37 GPA, Communications (Port Huron, Mich.)
Zach Crouch, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.21 GPA, Entrepreneurship (Lowell, Mich.)
+^Austin Doan, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.64 GPA, Psychology (Romeo, Mich.)
Derek Edwards, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.34 GPA, Marketing (Novi, Mich.)
+Luke Idoni, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.74 GPA, Biology/Biomedical Sciences (Fenton, Mich.)
Kaden Keon, Central Michigan, Sophomore, 3.55 GPA, Undecided (St. Louis, Mich.)
Oakley Lavallii, Central Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.36 GPA, Undecided (Boca Raton, Fla.)
Zach Oakley, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.20 GPA, Marketing (Osceola, Ind.)
+#Joe Ostman, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.68 GPA, General Management (St. Ignace, Mich.)
+^#Jeff Perry, Central Michigan, Senior, 3.51 GPA, Mechanical Engineering (Morris, Ill.)
Derek Smith, Central Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.35 GPA, Undecided (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
^Mitch Stanitzek, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.77 GPA, Marketing (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Clayton Walderzak, Central Michigan, Junior, 3.20 GPA, Construction Management (Standish, Mich.)
 
Eastern Michigan (18):
Sergio Bailey II, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.34 GPA, Communication (San Diego, Calif.)
+^Blake Banham, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.64 GPA, Criminology and Criminal Justice (St. Paul, Minn.)
+^Jason Beck, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.28 GPA, Sport Management (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Jake Donnellon, Eastern Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.48 GPA, Exercise Science-Intent (Ann Arbor, Mich.)
+Paulie Fricano, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.47 GPA, Exercise Science-Intent (Rochester, N.Y.)
+Juan Giraldo, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.42 GPA, Criminology and Criminal Justice (Gilbert, Ariz.)
+Jeremiah Harris, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.40 GPA, Sport Performance & Fitness Entrepreneurship (Lambertville, Mich.)
+Clay Holford, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.62 GPA, Supply Chain Management (Carrollton, Texas)
+Brody Hoying, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.64 GPA, Supply Chain Management (Coldwater, Ohio)
Jimmy Leatiota, Eastern Michigan, Junior, 3.22 GPA, Communication (San Jose, Calif.)
+Luke Maclean, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.55 GPA, Criminology and Criminal Justice (Grand Blanc, Mich.)
Keyan Marshall, Eastern Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.87 GPA, Biology (Toledo, Ohio)
Steven Nielsen, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.59 GPA, Sport Management (Dragoer, Denmark)
Johnnie Niupalau, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.37 GPA, Communication (San Mateo, Calif.)
Jalen Phelps, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.29 GPA, Communication (Marietta, Ga.)
Dan Samuelson, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.41 GPA, Communication (Plymouth, Ind.)
+Ike Spearman, Eastern Michigan, Senior, 3.70 GPA, Communication (Saint John, Ind.)
+Breck Turner, Eastern Michigan, Sophomore, 3.54 GPA, Sport Management (Norwalk, Ohio)
 
Kent State (13):
Derek Adams, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.97 GPA, Entrepreneurship (Manheim, Pa.)
+^James Alexander, Kent State, Senior, 3.37 GPA (3.68 GPA Grad School), Criminal Justice (Miami, Fla.)
+^George Bollas, Kent State, Junior, 3.66 GPA, Chemistry (Aurora, Ohio)
John Henry Bronczek, Kent State, Junior, 3.50 GPA, Business Management (Massillon, Ohio)
+^Marcus Elliott, Kent State, Senior, 3.34 GPA, Visual Communication Design (Toledo, Ohio)
Trey Harrell, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.28 GPA, General Business (Metaire, La.)
^Shane Hynes, Kent State, Junior, 3.26 GPA, Sport Administration (Clarkston, Mich.)
Joey Palumbo, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.43 GPA, Sport Administration (Hudson, Ohio)
Jamal Parker, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.25 GPA, Sport Administration (Pennsauken, N.J.)
Kavious Price, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.26 GPA, Communications (Bradenton, Fla.)
Nathan Puthoff, Kent State, Senior, 3.25 GPA, Computer Information Systems (Columbus, Ohio)
^Matthew Sommers, Kent State, Senior, 3.28 GPA, Exercise Science (Kent, Ohio)
+Chase Van Hoef, Kent State, Sophomore, 3.40 GPA, Managerial Marketing (Grand Haven, Mich.)
 
Miami (8):
Kobe Burse, Miami, Sophomore, 3.31 GPA, Sports Leadership and Management (Muskegon Heights, Mich.)
Sam Connolly, Miami, Junior, 3.25 GPA, Kinesiology (Chicago, Ill.)
+Evan Crabtree, Miami, Junior, 3.81 GPA, Sports Leadership and Management (Dublin, Ohio)
+Brad Earnest, Miami, Junior, 3.66 GPA, Biology (Atlanta, Ga.)
+^#Randy Heideman, Miami, Senior, 3.38 GPA, Accounting (Bloomington, Ill.)
+Ryan Mullen, Miami, Junior, 3.35 GPA, Kinesiology (Lake Villa, Ill.)
+Mitch Palmer, Miami, Junior, 3.33 GPA, Biology (St. Louis, Mo.)
Zach Swarts, Miami, Junior, 3.51 GPA, Public Administration (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
 
Northern Illinois (12):
Jackson Abresch, Northern Illinois, Senior, 4.00 GPA, Master’s in Business Administration (Hartland, Wisc.)
Mitchell Brinkman, Northern Illinois, Sophomore, 3.71 GPA, Business Administration (Council Bluffs, Iowa)
+Trayshon Foster, Northern Illinois, Sophomore, 3.24 GPA, Communications/Media Studies (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
+^Christian Hagan, Northern Illinois, Senior, 3.49 GPA, Entrepreneurship & Social Responsibility (Omaha, Neb.)
Tre Harbison, Northern Illinois, R-Freshman, 3.22 GPA, Journalism/Communication Studies (Shelby, N.C.)
Ty Harmston, Northern Illinois, Junior, 3.59 GPA, Human Anatomical Sciences (Stockton, Ill.)
Jimmy Russell, Northern Illinois, Senior, 3.77 GPA, Physical Education (DeKalb, Ill.)
Hayden Sak, Northern Illinois, Junior, 3.42 GPA, Marketing (Aurora, Ill.)
+^Max Scharping, Northern Illinois, Junior, 3.66 GPA, Master’s in Exercise Physiology/Fitness Leadership (Green Bay, Wisc.)
+^Luke Shively, Northern Illinois, Junior, 3.38 GPA, Chemistry & Biochemistry/Biological Sciences (Tipton, Ind.)
+Jordan Steckler, Northern Illinois, Sophomore, 3.51 GPA, Marketing (Two Rivers, Wisc.)
+^#Shane Wimann, Northern Illinois, Senior, 3.544 GPA, Sociology (Wisconsin Dells, Wis.)
 
Ohio (14):
+Kent Berger, Ohio, Junior, 3.762 GPA, Marketing/Finance (Mentor, Ohio)
+^#Dorian Brown, Ohio, Senior, 3.481 GPA, Specialized Studies (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
+Austin Clark, Ohio, Sophomore, 3.370 GPA, Finance (Tipp City, Ohio)
Dylan Connor, Ohio, R-Freshman, 3.975 GPA, Biology/Pre-Professional (Fort Wayne, Ind.)
Austin Conrad, Ohio, R-Freshman, 3.579 GPA, Management Information Systems (Grafton, Ohio)
Jared Dorsa, Ohio, R-Freshman, 3.241 GPA, Pre-Exercise Physiology (Kings Mills, Ohio)
+^#Cody Grilliot, Ohio, Senior, 3.588 GPA, Marketing (Clayton, Ohio)
Kyle Kuhar, Ohio, Sophomore, 3.539 GPA, Sports Management (Avon Lake, Ohio)
+Troy Mangen, Ohio, Senior, 3.805 GPA, Management and Strategic Leadership/Marketing (Union, Ohio)
+Quinton Maxwell, Ohio, Sophomore, 3.364 GPA, Pre-Business Law/Accounting (Rayville, Mo.)
Andrew Meyer, Ohio, Junior, 3.807 GPA, Finance/Management Information Systems (Canal Winchester, Ohio)
+^#Quentin Poling, Ohio, Senior, 3.499 GPA, Exercise Physiology (Gomer, Ohio)
Eric Popp, Ohio, Sophomore, 3.269 GPA, Engineering Tech Management (Loveland, Ohio)
+Jake Pruehs, Ohio, Senior, 3.376 GPA, Industrial and Systems Engineering (North Olmsted, Ohio)
 
Toledo (13):
Liam Allen, Toledo, Senior, 3.485 GPA, Marketing (Toledo, Ohio)
Cameron Bell, Toledo, Sophomore, 3.220 GPA, History (Sagamore Hills, Ohio)
Nate Childress, Toledo, Sophomore, 3.276 GPA, Business (Rossford, Ohio)
Justin Clark, Toledo, R-Freshman, 3.308 GPA, Business (West Bloomfield, Mich.)
Reggie Gilliam, Toledo, Sophomore, 3.328 GPA, Interdisciplinary Studies (Columbus, Ohio)
Bryce Harris, Toledo, Sophomore, 3.489 GPA, Psychology (Akron, Ohio)
+^Nate Jeppesen, Toledo, Senior, 3.577 GPA (3.668 Graduate GPA), Interdisciplinary Studies (Graduate-Master of Recreation & Leisure Study (Portage, Mich.)
Shakif Seymour, Toledo, R-Freshman, 3.450 GPA, Business (Cleveland, Ohio)
Brad Smith, Toledo, Senior, 3.618 GPA, Exercise Science (Clyde, Ohio)
+^Brad Spelman, Toledo, Senior, 3.7217 GPA (4.0 Graduate GPA), Accounting (Graduate-Master of Business Administration (Hilliard, Ohio)
+Tyler Taafe, Toledo, Junior, 3.473 GPA, Finance (Hubbard, Ohio)
+Brant Weiss, Toledo, Senior, 3.512 GPA (3.67 Graduate GPA), Management (Graduate-Master of Business Administration) (Sunbury, Ohio)
+Logan Woodside, Toledo, Senior, 3.42 GPA (3.134 Graduate GPA), Marketing (Graduate-Recreation Management) (Frankfort, Ky.)
 
Western Michigan (16):
+^Lucas Bezerra, Western Michigan, Senior, 3.73 GPA, Biomedical Sciences (Troy, Mich.)
Mark Brooks, Western Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.66 GPA, Pre-Integrated Supply Management (Portland, Mich.)
Mike Caliendo, Western Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.85 GPA, Biomedical Sciences (Brookfield, Wis.)
Stefan Claiborne, Western Michigan, Sophomore, 3.64 GPA, Pre-Business (Clinton Township, Mich.)
Jaret Curtis, Western Michigan, R-Freshman, 4.00 GPA, Political Science (Green Bay, Wis.)
Ra’Sean Davie, Western Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.23 GPA, Pre-Entrepreneurship (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Mitch Heimbuch, Western Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.29 GPA, Pre-Business (Romeo, Mich.)
+Luke Juriga, Western Michigan, Sophomore, 3.48 GPA, Pre-Manufacturing Engineering Tech. (Aurora, Ill.)
Spencer Kanz, Western Michigan, R-Freshman, 3.89 GPA, Pre-Finance (Luxemburg, Wis.)
+John Keenoy, Western Michigan, Junior, 3.77 GPA, Finance (Kentwood, Mich.)
Nick Matich, Western Michigan, Junior, 3.21 GPA, Sales & Business Marketing (Clarkson, Mich.)
+Odell Miller, Western Michigan, Junior, 3.58 GPA, Exercise Science (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
+^Derrick Mitchell, Western Michigan, Junior, 3.41 GPA, Finance (Paw Paw, Mich.)
+^Zach Novoselsky, Western Michigan, Junior, 3.62 GPA, Management (Lincolnshire, Ill.)
+Giovanni Ricci, Western Michigan, Sophomore, 3.42 GPA, Pre-Business (Loveland, Ohio)
Jon Wassink, Western Michigan, Sophomore, 4.00 GPA, Accountancy (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
 
+2016 Academic All-MAC selection
^2015 Academic All-MAC selection
#2014 Academic All-MAC selection
*2013 Academic All-MAC selection