Issued: December 18, 2002

FOOTBALL RECEIVES BOTH ALL-REGION, ALL-AMERICAN HONORS

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire football team continues to receive post-season accolades as several players have recently received All-Region and All-American honors.

Tight end Brad Newton (Sr.-Baldwin/Baldwin-Woodville) received dual honors as he was named First Team Football Gazette All-West Region and Honorable Mention Hewlett Packard All-American Teams. Selected to the 2002 Aztec Bowl and a unanimous First Team All-WIAC honoree, Newton ranked eighth in the WIAC with 39 receptions and ninth with an average of 45.7 receiving yards per game in 2002. A Football Gazette First Team All-West Region and Honorable Mention All-American selection in 2001, Newton ranks 12th on the Blugold career receiving list with 78 receptions.

Offensive lineman Mike Bestul (Sr.-Chippewa Falls/Chi-Hi) joined Newton as a First Team Football Gazette All-West Region selection. A unanimous First Team All-WIAC selection and WIAC Co-Scholar Athlete Award winner in 2002, Bestul anchored an offensive line that saw the Blugold offense rank third in passing offense (207.2 yards/game) and fourth in scoring offense (26.7 points/game) and total offense (352.8 yards/game). Bestul is a two-time Verizon Academic All-America First Team selection.

Linebacker Brad Gawronski (Sr.-Reedsburg/Webb) earned First Team Football Gazette All-West Region honors after leading the Blugold defense with 67 tackles. A unanimous First Team All-WIAC selection, Gawronski received First Team All-WIAC and Third Team Football Gazette All-West Region honors in 2001.

Defensive lineman Nick Goeser (Sr.-Scandinavia/Iola-Scandinavia) was a Third Team Football Gazette All-West Region selection after finishing second in the WIAC with two forced fumbles. Named First Team All-WIAC in 2002, Goeser finished with 46 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three passes defended.