Nov. 12, 2009

Bay City, Mich. - The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference released its 2009 All-Conference Football team Wednesday and 21 Grand Valley State student-athletes earned honors as selected by the league head coaches. GVSU, the five-time defending GLIAC Football Champions, is preparing for the NCAA DII Football Playoffs. The Lakers received a first-round bye and will play the winner of the Hillsdale-Minnesota state contest Nov. 21 at Lubbers Stadium.

Three Lakers earned special postseason recognition from the GLIAC. Senior QB Brad Iciek (Grandville, Mich.) was named the GLIAC "Offensive Back of the Year," while senior offensive tackle Nick McDonald (Sterling Heights, Mich./Henry Ford II) was named the GLIAC "Offensive Lineman of the Year". Junior defensive lineman Danny Richard (West Bloomfield, Mich.) was voted the "Defensive Lineman of the Year."

Iciek, who ranks third in the nation and led the GLIAC in pass efficiency rating (173.8), completed 165-of-256 passes for 2,359 yards and 26 TDs during the 2009 campaign. He is 33-3 as a starting QB and directs an offense that ranks first in the GLIAC in rushing (237.8 ypg), third in passing (227.4 ypg), first in total offense (465.2 ypg) and second in scoring (36.9). McDonald anchors a Grand Valley State offensive line that ranks third nationally and led the GLIAC in QB sacks allowed (6) in 11 games, while Richard tallied 40 total tackles (24 solo/16 assisted), 16.5 tackles for loss (-68), 10.0 QB sacks (-51), three QB hurries, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two bloced field goals during the 2009 season.

Ten Lakers received All-GLIAC First-Team plaudits for the 2009 season. Iciek was named the All-GLIAC First-Team quarterback, while running back James Berezik (Fraser, Mich./Warren De La Salle), wide receiver Blake Smolen (Grosse Ile, Mich.), and offensive linemen Cameron Bradfield (Grand Rapids, Mich./Creston) and McDonald were also first-team honorees. Smolen was also named the All-GLIAC First-Team specialist.

Joining Richard as a First-Team All-GLIAC honoree was defensive lineman Alex Gilde (McBain, Mich.), linebacker Justin Victor (Allen Park, Mich.) and safety Jacob McGuckin (Allen Park, Mich.). Running back P.T. Gates (San Diego, Calif.), place kicker Justin Trumble (Grosse Point, Mich./Macomb Dakota), defensive lineman Nick Lawrence (Brighton, Mich.) and defensive backs Zach Breen (Rockford, Mich.) and Matt Bakker (Middleville, Mich./South Christian) were all honored as All-GLIAC Second-Team performers.

Freshman offensive lineman Matt Armstrong (Lansing, Mich./Sexton), junior wide receiver Ryan Bass (Portage, Mich./Northern), sophomore linebacker Brad Howard (Mishawaka, Ind.), sophomore tight end Andrew Lorman (Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove), sophomore defensive lineman Andre Thomas (Detrot, Mich./Denby) and senior punter Justin Trumble earned Honorable Mention All-GLIAC plaudits.