GRAND FORKS, N.D. ? University of North Dakota senior football players Mitch Braegelmann (St. Cloud, Minn.) and Danny Freund (Kenosha, Wis.) were named to the 11th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team announced by the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA). Of the 79 players nominated, only 43 were honored by the FCS ADA.
Braegelmann, a chemical engineering major, received his second-consecutive ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America first team honor this year and became the second player in UND history to earn back-to-back first team honors. He was also an ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VII first team selection and was named one of five Laureates by Tau Beta Pi*, the national engineering society.
At the annual awards banquet, Braegelmann was the recipient of the Todd Thomas Memorial Scholarship, the Dan Martinsen-Kremeier Team Captain Award (along with Freund, Rory Manke, and Brady Trenbeath), and was selected as UND's Most Valuable Offensive Lineman for the third straight season. In addition, he was named to the Great West All-Conference offensive second team and earned Great West Fall All-Academic honors.
This past season, Braegelmann started all 10 games at center where he anchored an offensive that produced the Great West Conference's most productive running back and led UND to a league-leading 87.5 percent and 46.0 percent fourth and third down conversions, respectively. With the addition of this season, the four-year letterwinner started every game played for the Sioux since his debut in 2004.
Freund, a banking and financial economics major, received his second-consecutive ESPN the Magazine All-District VII first team honor and earned Great West Fall All-Academic accolades. He was a recipient of UND's Dan Martinsen-Kremeier Team Captain Award and was named UND's Most Valuable Offensive Back and Offensive Player.
A Sept. 28 Great West Conference Co-Player of the Week, Freund started all 10 games for the Sioux this season at quarterback. He recorded over 100 yards and threw a minimum of one touchdown in each contest. He also became the first quarterback in UND history to throw for at least 300 yards three times in back-to-back seasons.
Freund threw a career-high 30 completions in the season finale against South Dakota (Nov. 22) for 305 yards and two touchdowns, tabbed a career-high 46 attempts with three TDs against Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 27), and tossed a season-long 63-yard touchdown pass against St. Cloud State (Sept. 6). He led the team in total offense with 2,379 yards passing and an average of 229.2 yards per game and was second on the team with 18 touchdowns.
In North Dakota's debut Division I season, Freund finished second in the FCS with a 158.5 (217-302-7) pass efficiency, third with an average of 237.9 passing yards per game and fifth in total offense.
Football players from all FCS institutions are eligible for these prestigious awards. Each of the nominees are required to have a minimum grade point average of 3.20 (on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate study and have been a starter or key player with legitimate athletics credentials. He must have reached his second year of athletics and academic standing at the nominated institution and have completed a minimum of one full academic year at the nominated institution. He must also have participated in 50 percent of the games played at his designated position.
A special Review Committee of Football Championship Subdivision athletics directors was responsible for selecting the all-star team and scholarship finalists. Completing this task were Greg Burke, Northwestern State; Peter Fields, Montana State; Marilyn McNeil, Monmouth; Ron Strollo, Youngstown State; Tim Van Alstine, Western Illinois (chair); and Donny White, Virginia Military Institute.
Now in its 16th year, the Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association's mission is to enhance Football Championship Subdivision football. The Association is administered by NACDA, which is now in its 44th year. NACDA is the professional and educational association for more than 6,500 college athletics administrators at more than 1,600 institutions throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. More than 2,300 athletics administrators annually attend the NACDA Convention. For more information on the FCS ADA, please visit http://www.fcsada.com.
-GoSioux!-
* The Laureate program is the Tau Beta Pi's annual program recognizing gifted engineering students who have excelled in areas beyond their technical majors.
