Upper Midwest Athletic Conference

Conference Champion St. Scholastica leads all in UMAC Postseason Awards

11/17/2011 4:25:19 PM

ST. PAUL -- After earning a perfect 9-0 record in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) play and its first league championship, the College of St. Scholastica led all schools with 10 first team all-conference selections. In addition to dominating the all-conference awards list, St. Scholastica also took home the UMAC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Year awards.

Saints quarterback Alex Thiry was named the league’s offensive player of the year after having about as close to a perfect season under center as one can get. Thiry, who leads all NCAA Division III quarterbacks in efficiency, was amongst the top three in the league in passing average per game, passing efficiency and total offense. Thiry completed 133 of 183 for 34 touchdowns and just one interception throughout the conference season.

In addition to being named a first team all-UMAC linebacker, St. Scholastica’s Sean Graskey earned UMAC Defensive Player of the Year honors. In nine conference games, Graskey had 81 total tackles, 12 of which were for a loss. Graskey, a senior, was among the UMAC’s best in tackles, tackles for a loss, fumbles forced and fumbles recovered.

Turning to special teams, the Saints’ Mike Theismann won the special teams player of the year award. Theismann was sixth in the league in overall scoring and was the top scorer for kickers. In UMAC affairs, the freshman made all four of his field goal attempts while making 54 PAT attempts.

Northwestern College’s Josh Swore was chosen as the UMAC Lineman of the Year after earning a top 10 finish in total tackles and leading the conference in both sacks (8.5) and tackles for a loss (21). Swore also tied for fourth in fumbles recovered while earning first team all-conference accolades.

St. Scholastica head coach Greg Carlson was selected as the UMAC Coach of the Year by his colleagues. Behind Carlson’s leadership, the Saints improved from a 5-2 conference record in 2010 to a flawless 9-0 in 2011. In just the program’s fourth year, Carlson will lead St. Scholastica into its first-ever NCAA Tournament game this Saturday at the University of St. Thomas.

Following St. Scholastica’s 10 first team all-conference awards was Westminster College (Mo.), who has seven first team selections. Greenville College and Northwestern College (Minn.) each had five first team selections.

Crown College won the UMAC Football Team Sportsmanship Award, an accolade that is selected by the UMAC coaches to best represent sportsmanship throughout the entire 2011 season. Each team had one representative on the individual sportsmanship award list:

Alex Thiry, College of St. Scholastica
Neil Johnson, Crown College
Josh Girard, Eureka College
Cole Bailey, Greenville College
Dan Routh, MacMurray College
Joe Lindloff, Martin Luther College
Mike Owczarek, Northwestern College
Dillon Wasko, Presentation College
Matt Anderson, University of Minnesota-Morris
Louvis Johnson, Westminster College

Below is a full listing of the 2011 UMAC Football Postseason Awards:

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year: Alex Thiry, College of St. Scholastica
Defensive Player of the Year: Sean Graskey, College of St. Scholastica
Special Teams Player of the Year: Mike Theismann, College of St. Scholastica
Lineman of the Year: Josh Swore, Northwestern College
Coach of the Year: Greg Carlson, College of St. Scholastica
 

Quarterback – 1st Team
Alex Thiry	SR	College of St. Scholastica
Brendan Chambers	SO	Greenville College

 

 

Running Backs – 1st Team
Josh Young	SR	Northwestern College
Zain Gower	SR	Westminster College

 

 

Defensive Lineman – 1st Team
Zach Dubanoski	JR	College of St. Scholastica
Chris Doran	JR	College of St. Scholastica
Josh Swore	JR	Northwestern College
Rodney Lyles	JR	Westminster College
Tashon Fultz	JR	Westminster College

 

 

Linebackers – 1st Team
Sean Graskey	SR	College of St. Scholastica
JP Leary	SR	College of St. Scholastica
Kiso Faletufuga	SR	Greenville College
Gus Lyles	JR	Westminster College

 

 

Defensive Backs – 1st Team
Justin Trautmiller	SR	College of St. Scholastica
Mike Minehan	SR	Eureka College
Andy Lozano	SR	Greenville College
Rasheed Woolfolk	FR	Presentation College
Shane Harris	SR	Westminster College

 

 

Punter – 1st Team
Justin Bosman	FR	College of St. Scholastica

 

 

Punt Returner – 1st Team
Josh Hiltner	SR	University of Minnesota-Morris

 

 

Quarterback – 2nd Team
Sam Durley	JR	Eureka College

 

 

Running Backs – 2nd Team
Travis Nehowig	JR	College of St. Scholastica
Bobby Hughley	JR	Greenville College
Leandro Dower	SO	University of Minnesota-Morris

 

 

Wide Receivers – 2nd Team
Nick Thiry	JR	College of St. Scholastica
Jalanni James	JR	Presentation College
Brendan Foss	SO	University of Minnesota-Morris

 

 

Tight End – 2nd Team
Zach Freitas	SR	Crown College
Alex Hess	SR	Eureka College

 

 

Offensive Lineman – 2nd Team
Max Moser	SO	Crown College
Trendon Amuzie	JR	Greenville College
Demetrius Suggs	SR	MacMurray College
Eric Duve	JR	Martin Luther College
Tate Rinehart	FR	Presentation College

 

 

Punter – 2nd Team
Jordan Jefferson	JR	Eureka College

 

Punt Returner – 2nd Team
Chad Rusinkovich	SR	Northwestern College