Selected to the Academic All-OAC Squad
BEREA, OHIO -- Eleven Baldwin-Wallace College football players have been tabbed to the 2004 Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference team. To be named Academic All-OAC, a student-athlete must maintain a 3.25 grade point average and either be a starter or key contributor on his or her team.
Named as Academic All-OAC selections are senior defensive back Justin Andes (Canal Fulton/ Canton Central Catholic), senior wide receiver Dave Ehrman (Strongsville), junior middle linebacker Joe George (Massillon/ Perry), junior outside linebacker Justin Princehorn (Massillon/ Washington), senior offensive center Tom Kovacevich (Strongsville), sophomore offensive guard Tom Lutz (Oregon/ Clay) and senior fullback Bryan Pickens (New London/ Norwalk St. Paul). Both Andes and Ehrman were unanimous first-team picks. It marks the second straight year that Ehrman was a unanimous choice.
Named honorable mention Academic All-OAC are sophomore running back Brandon Hedges (Oregon/ Clay), senior safety and captain Mike Scarcella (Strongsville/ Parma Padua), senior defensive end Rick Schontz (Butler, Pa./ Butler) and senior defensive back Matt Walker (New Middletown/ Springfield Local).
Andes, who carries a 3.73 grade point average in biology and pre-med, started in the Yellow Jacket secondary for the third straight year. The three-time Academic All-OAC player and three-time Academic All-District IV choice was third on the team in tackles with 55, including 30 solo stops. He had one interception and nine pass breakups. He had 123 career tackles and six interceptions. In addition, Andes was a second-team All-OAC selection this year.
Ehrman, who carries a 3.72 grade point average in business administration and accounting, is a four-year starter. During his career, the three-time Academic All-OAC selection caught 97 career passes for 1,247 yards and 11 touchdowns. In 2001, Ehrman set a B-W freshman-record with 32 receptions, and twice he led the team in total receptions. This year, Ehrman grabbed 13 passes for 197 yards and one TD.
George, who carries a 3.6 grade point average in biology and pre-med, has started 31 straight games for the Yellow Jackets and is just one of 11 players in school history to record more than 200 career tackles (currently has 225). This fall, George led B-W in tackles with 87 and additionally had 4.5 tackles for lost yardage and one interception. He was a second-team All-OAC pick.
Princehorn, who carries a 3.3 grade point average in computer science, is also a three-year starter. This fall, he was second on the team in tackles this year with 72 and first in 2003 with 104. In addition this year, Princehorn had two quarterback sacks, nine tackles for lost yardage, caused two fumbles and had a team-leading two interceptions and 11 pass breakups. After three seasons, Princehorn has 183 career tackles, including 23 tackles for lost yardage and six interceptions. This fall, Princehorn was a first-team All-OAC selection and in 2003 was a second-team All-OAC pick.
Kovacevich, who carries a 3.74 grade point average in math, economics and business administration, was the starting center the past two years and an Academic All-OAC selection each year. During his three years as a varsity contributor, Kovacevich helped B-W to have a 1,000-yard rusher each year and average 378 yards of offense and 30 points per game. A year ago, he was also a second-team All-OAC choice.
Lutz, who carries a 3.61 grade average, started at guard and led a Yellow Jacket offensive line that helped Hedges, his high school teammate, lead the OAC in rushing and the B-W offense average 331 yards per game. In addition, Lutz was a second-team All-OAC pick this fall.
Pickens, who carries a 3.71 grade point average in physical therapy, has alternated at fullback on the varsity the past three years. This year, as the starter, Pickens carried the ball 13 times for 52 yards and caught 10 passes for 81 yards and a TD. During his career, Pickens caught four TD passes.
Hedges, who carries a 3.3 grade average in sport medicine and fitness management, led the OAC in rushing with 1,162 yards on a school single-season record 225 attempts with 13 touchdowns and in all-purpose yards with 1,315 yards and led B-W in receiving with 23 catches for 152 yards and scoring with 78 points. Hedges was a two-time OAC Offensive Player of the Week and had seven 100-yard rushing games, including a career-high 192-yard effort. He additionally was a first-team All-OAC selection this fall.
Scarcella, who carries a 3.40 grade point average in biology and pre-med, was a three-year varsity contributor at safety. He alternated as a starter this year and played in a "nickel" back role as both a sophomore and junior. This fall, Scarcella was credited with making 23 total tackles and intercepting one pass.
Schontz, who carries a 3.0 grade average in health and physical education, ended a strong four-year varsity career, including three seasons as a starter. This fall, Schontz had 29 tackles, including one QB sack and five tackles for lost yardage. During his four-year career, he had 122 tackles, 12 sacks and 22 tackles for lost yardage and five caused fumbles. He was additionally selected honorable mention All-OAC this fall.
Walker, who carries a 3.40 grade point average in education, was a four-year varsity contributor as both a defensive back and punt return specialist. On defense, Walker had 78 career tackles and three pass breakups. As a punt return specialist, he returned 47 punts for 396 yars and an 8.4-yard average per return. Walker also earned OAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors as a sophomore when B-W defeated Allegheny (Pa.) in Meadville.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on B-W football and other athletics teams, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327, by FAX at 440-826-2329 or via e-mail at kruple@bw.edu.
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