RELEASED:  Friday, November 14, 2008

Five Secure Academic All-District Football Status

MADISON, Wis.--Five Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) individuals have been named to the 2008 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Five College Division Football Team.

UW-Eau Claire’s Paul Bielmeier and Ben Shea were first team choices, while the Blugolds’ Matt Ebner and UW-Whitewater’s Matt Gifford and Mike Sherman were second team picks.

The team is comprised of all NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA student-athletes from Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota and is voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Bielmeier, a senior from Edgar, Wis., and Shea, a junior from Manitowoc, Wis. (Lincoln), are both majoring in kinesiology and boast a 3.93 grade point average.  Bielmeier claimed academic all-district status for the second straight year after receiving second team accolades last season.

Both individuals are eligible for the Academic All-America squad that will be announced Nov. 25.

Ebner, a senior from Mindoro, Wis. (Melrose-Mindoro), carries a 3.61 grade point average and is majoring in math education.

A junior from Waukesha, Wis. (West), Gifford is majoring in health, human performance and recreation and maintains a 3.99 grade point average.   His 3.99 grade point average was the highest on the 23-member second team.

Sherman, a senior from Oconomowoc, Wis. (Kettle Moraine), maintains a 3.79 grade point average and is majoring in sociology.