13 student/athletes named Academic All-OAC in Football for 2016
By Tim Glon
ADA — Thirteen Ohio Northern student/athletes were named Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference in football for the 2016 season.
Senior Scott Rapps (Bay Village/Bay), juniors Cyler Caldwell (Wadsworth), Jason Lucas (North Ridgeville) and Carter Kemper (Cincinnati/Mariemont) and sophomores Ethan Edwards (Urbana), Joe French (Elgin, Ill./St. Edward Central Catholic), Landry Hostetler (Stasburg/Starsburg-Franklin), Lucas Huber (Van Buren), Austin Jensen (Mason), Matt Laubscher (Solon), Brenden Medina (Oberlin), Joe Rinicella (Solon) and Kurt Wollenhaupt (Delphos/Jefferson) all received the honor.
The award winners must be a sophomore or higher in class standing, maintain varsity status and have a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.50.
Rapps, a senior defensive tackle majoring in manufacturing technology, played in 27 games and started 20 on the defensive line in his four years at Ohio Northern.
He Had 123 career tackles to go with 24 TFLs and 11.5 sacks in his career and was named Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2015.
Caldwell, a corner back majoring in mechanical engineering is making his second appearance on the Academic All-OAC squad.
He has played in 30 games with 45 career tackles at corner and on special teams.
Lucas, a safety majoring in exercise physiology, started all 10 games and was third on the team with 71 tackles this season.
In 15 career games, Lucas has 74 tackles an interception and a fumble recovery for the Polar Bears.
Kemper is an offensive tackle majoring in mechanical engineering and is now a two-time Academic All-OAC honoree.
He started the final seven games at left tackle this season and has played in nine games in his career.
Edwards is a receiver majoring in criminal justice.
He played in two varsity games this fall.
French, a place kicker majoring in marketing, set an Ohio Northern school record and led the OAC with 12 field goals in his first season as a starter.
He finished the season ranked sixth in the OAC and second on the team with 72 points this season.
Hostetler is a linebacker majoring in mechanical engineering.
A member of the two-deep for most of the season, Hostetler had 21 tackles at linebacker and on special teams. In 16 career games, Hostetler has 24 tackles and a blocked punt.
Huber is a tight end/H back majoring in criminal justice.
He played in three games this season in his first season on the varsity roster.
Jensen is a receiver majoring in accounting.
He saw action in two varsity games this fall.
Laubscher is a quarterback majoring in accounting.
He played in one varsity game this season.
Medina, a defensive back majoring in accounting, saw action in two games this fall.
He had his first career tackle against Capital on Oct. 8.
Rinicella is a offensive lineman majoring in business.
He was on the 2-deep at left guard for much of the 2016 season.
Wollenhaupt is a place kicker majoring in exercise physiology.
He has had two successful seasons on the ONU JV squad.
The Polar Bears posted a 5-5 overall record and posted its 20th upper division finish in the OAC in the last 21 seasons, tying for fourth place in the 10-team league with a 5-4 record under 13th-year head coach Dean Paul.