Ten Huskies Pickup GLIAC Postseason Honors
BAY CITY, Mich. – The Michigan Tech football team had 10 players earn Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference postseason honors when they were announced by the conference office on Tuesday. Senior wide receiver David Walter, sophomore defensive lineman Cody Goldsworthy, and senior linebacker Ben Tauchen were named 2nd Team All-GLIAC while defensive back Travis Tidwell was named the GLIAC Freshman of the Year. In addition, the Huskies had six players selected as honorable mentions.
Tidwell, a native of Detroit, Michigan, had a great freshman season for the Huskies and emerged as one of the teams' leaders on defense. Tidwell led Tech with four interceptions (tied for 3rd in the GLIAC) and was third on the team with 62 total tackles. He averaged 6.2 tackles per game and ended the year with 12 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Tidwell led the conference in passes defended per game and ranked ninth in all of NCAA Division II in that category.
Walter, a native of Midland, Michigan, hauled in 52 passes for 627 yards and two touchdowns during the course of the 2016 season. Walter averaged 5.2 receptions and 62.7 receiving yards per game to go along with 12.1 yards per catch. Walter also completed two passes on the season, including a 26-yard touchdown pass at Tiffin on October 15th. Walter wrapped up his career at Tech with 1,262 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His total catches and yards per game in 2016 were career highs.
Goldsworthy, who hails from L'Anse, Michigan, tied for the team lead in sacks with 3.5 and had 35 total tackles this season. He had six tackles for a loss and also recorded a safety for Tech in the overtime victory at Northern Michigan. His tackles for a loss total cost opposing offenses 37 yards in 2016.
Tauchen, a native of Bonduel, Wisconsin, finished the 2016 season with 67 total tackles, which included a sack and three tackles for a loss. He also broke up three passes this past season. His total tackles ranked second on the team and his tackles per game average (6.7) was also second for the Huskies' defense. Tauchen finished his four-year collegiate career with 201 total tackles.
Nick Brajak, Brandon Cowie, Evan Mayer, Alex Sherbinow, Ryan VanGoethem, and Joe Vieau were selected as GLIAC Honorable Mention honorees. Brajak, a senior defensive back from Munster, Indiana, recorded 62 tackles and an interception in 2016. Cowie, a senior quarterback from West Bend, Wisconsin, completed 174 passes for 1,888 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also rushed for two additional scores.
Mayer, a senior defensive lineman from Wausau, Wisconsin, tied for the team lead in sacks (3.5) and led the Huskies in tackles for a loss (7.5) while registering 35 total tackles. Sherbinow, a junior fullback from Marquette, Michigan, had four rushing touchdowns and two touchdown receptions on the season. He was also a pivotal piece in the running game as a lead blocker. VanGoethem, a senior punter from West Branch, Michigan, averaged 39 yards per punt and landed 17 kicks inside the 20-yard this year. Vieau, a senior offensive lineman from Midland, Michigan, helped anchor the front five which paved the way for 1,477 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns this season for Tech.
The official GLIAC press release which includes the complete list of all-conference honorees can be viewed by clicking here.