McAreavey named all-conference at NWU

LINCOLN – Jack McAreavey, a 2012 graduate of Sidney High School, is one of seven Nebraska Wesleyan University players to be named all-conference by the Great Plains Athletic Conference for football in 2015.

The all-conference team was selected after a vote of the league coaches on Nov. 15 in Fremont.

Two NWU players were named to the All-GPAC Second-Team. On offense, McAreavey, a senior offensive lineman, received his first all-conference recognition. Kicker Kramer Rath was named All-GPAC second team on special teams.

McAreavey was a standout on the Prairie Wolves offensive line and became on the premier linemen in the league.

The 6-foot 7-inch, 315-pound offensive tackle started all 10 games at left tackle as a senior. The Sidney graduate started at both offensive tackle and center as a junior in 2014.

Rath is second team All-GPAC this year after garnering honorable mention in 2014. He finished the season 8-of-10 on field goal attempts, with a long make of 47 yards.

Dating back to last season, Rath has converted 15 of his last 17 field goals. He was 20-of-22 on PAT attempts and led the team in scoring with 44 points.

The Lincoln Southwest graduate is now tied for 5th on the NWU all-time charts with 16 career field goals.

The Prairie Wolves had five players receive honorable mention All-GPAC honors. Ryan Larsen, Shaka Taylor and Joel Wiedel were honorable mention on offense. Hunter Hand and Brandon McGill were selected on defense. Larsen and Hand are both now two-time honorable mention All-GPAC selections.

Morningside quarterback Ryan Kasdorf was the GPAC offensive player of the year, Northwestern lineman Sam Van Ginkel and Morningside linebacker Zac Schleuger were the GPAC co-defensive players of the year while Steve Ryan from Morningside was named GPAC coach of the year.

Nebraska Wesleyan finished the season with a 4-6 overall record and 3-5 GPAC record to finish seventh in the league standings.