Buechel earns MVP
HOUGHTON, Mich. – After a successful fall campaign, Michigan Tech football announced their team awards. The Huskies enjoyed a 7-4 season finishing in a three-way tie for third in the GLIAC with an in league record of 4-3 under second year head coach Dan Mettlach. The Black & Gold won their 14th-straight Miner’s Cup and also won a four OT thriller against South Dakota Mines on a Thursday Night in Houghton back in September, finishing the season with a comeback win on the road over Saginaw Valley State.
TEAM AWARDS
Fred Baird Memorial Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Hunter Buechel
- Fred Baird played for the Huskies from 1938-40
Daniel Dopp Memorial Outstanding Special Teams Award – Brenden Lach
- This award is named for Daniel Dopp, who played for Michigan Tech from 1989-92 and passed away in a car accident on Highway 2 in Iron County.
Offensive Back of the Year Award – Jake Rueff
Defensive Lineman of the Year Award – Austin Schlicht
Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year Award – Brady Isaacson
- Award given to the player who best simulates the opposing team’s defensive playbook in practice, demonstrating great effort, improvement, and skill to help prepare for future opponents.
Freshman of the Year Award – Avery Kucharski
Offensive Lineman of the Year Award – Brandon DeVries
Outstanding Offensive Player Award – Alex Fries
Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award – Josh Cribben
- This award is named after long-time Dean of Student and athletics supporter Harold Meese. Starting as a professor in 1950 in metallurgy, Meese became Dean of Students in 1959 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1984. Meese served as the athletic department’s academic advisor as a volunteer from 1989-94.
Defensive Back of the Year Award – Dante Basanese
Ted Kearly Award – Hunter Chambers
- The Ted Kearly Award goes to a player who exhibits passion, pride, and integrity on and off the field.
- The most successful football coach in Michigan Tech history, Ted Kearly guided the Huskies from 1969-72 and compiled a remarkable 29-7 (.806) record. During his tenure, the Huskies won three Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles. Kearly took over as athletic director following the 1972 football season and spent 17 successful years in the position. Kearly guided the start of women’s athletics into the Tech program, founded the Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame, and saved the school’s football program when the budget was cut 76-percent in 1980.
Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year Award – Jaxon Lippert
- Award given to the player who best simulates the opposing team’s offensive playbook in practice, demonstrating great effort, improvement, and skill to help prepare for future opponents.
Iron Man Award – Brandon DeVries
Alan Bovard Most Valuable Player Award – Hunter Buechel
- Alan J. Bovard came to Michigan Tech in 1947 as athletic director and department head. Bovard expanded the program from four varsity sports to 11, with 17 intramural programs during his tenure. He also coached football for 10 years, including during the 1948 undefeated season (7-0). Bovard was a co-founder of the Huskies Club.
NATIONAL HONORS
AFCA All-America Second Team – Brenden Lach
Don Hansen Division II All-America First Team (Defense) – Brenden Lach
Don Hansen Division II All-America Honorable Mention – Hunter Buechel
D2CCA All-America Second Team – Brenden Lach
D2Football.com Elite 100 Team, Second Team (Special Teams) – Brenden Lach
D2CCA All-Super Region 3 First Team – Brenden Lach
CSC ACADEMIC HONORS
CSC Academic All-District – Dante Basanese
CSC Academic All-District – Josh Cribben
CSC Academic All-District – Owen Watson
ALL-GLIAC HONORS
First Team All-GLIAC (Offense) – Ethan Champney
First Team All-GLIAC (Offense) – Darius Willis
First Team All-GLIAC (Defense) – Josh Cribben
First Team All-GLIAC (Defense) – Austin Schlicht
First Team All-GLIAC (Defense) – Hunter Buechel
First Team All-GLIAC (Defense) – Brenden Lach
Second Team All-GLIAC (Offense) – Alex Fries
Second Team All-GLIAC (Offense) – Hunter Chambers
Second Team All-GLIAC (Offense) – Brandon DeVries
Second Team All-GLIAC (Defense) – Owen Watson
Honorable Mention All-GLIAC – Dante Basanese
Honorable Mention All-GLIAC – Drew Collins
Honorable Mention All-GLIAC – Brandon Michalak
Honorable Mention All-GLIAC – Jake Rueff
Honorable Mention All-GLIAC – Porter Zeeman