VanGoethem Named First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American
AUSTIN, Texas – Michigan Tech punter Ryan VanGoethem has been selected as a 2016 First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American, announced Wednesday afternoon by the College Sports Information Directors of America. This is the second time VanGoethem has earned First Team Academic All-American accolades. He was named to the first team following the 2015 season as well.
VanGoethem, a senior on the field and graduate student in the classroom, had another outstanding season punting the football for the Huskies. The West Branch, Michigan native averaged 39 yards per punt with 17 of his 50 kicks landing inside the 20-yard line. He forced opponents to make 14 fair catches and on October 15th at Tiffin, he launched a career long 72-yard kick. VanGoethem was also named to Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Conference Honorable Mention squad for the second year in a row.
VanGoethem is one of 50 NCAA Division II players nationally to earn Academic All-America status. Criteria for the award requires nominees to be in their second year at their institution and maintain at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average. Voting by CoSIDA members is based on both academic and athletic performance. The 24 CoSIDA Academic All-America® Division II football first team members hold a composite 3.86 G.P.A. Seven of the 24 student-athletes have a perfect 4.00 cumulative G.P.A.
The official CoSIDA press release with the complete list of NCAA Division II Academic All-Americans can be viewed by clicking here.