Football's Kessler gets academic honor

November 14, 2003
Thur. Nov. 13, 2003

Tommies' Ben Kessler makes Academic All-District

St. Thomas defensive tackle Ben Kessler (SO-Janesville, Wis.) was voted first-team Co-SIDA Academic All-District on College Division District 5 football team announced Thursday.

Kessler, who has a 4.00 gpa as a Preisthood/Seminary major, goes onto the national ballot for Academic All-America consideration.

Three other Tommies were honored on the third team -- TE Billy Schreiber (SO-New Ulm), who has a 3.875 gpa in Economics; DB Paul Sommerstad (JR-Apple Valley/Eastview), who has a3.563 gpa in Finance; and Punter Kyle Davenport (SR-Marquette, Mich.), who has a 3.402 gpa in Biochemistry.

Kessler started all 10 games this season and recorded six sacks among his nine tackles for loss and had three fumble recoveries and one QB hurry. He had two sacks and fumble recovery in last Saturday's 34-20 loss to 7-2 Concordia-Moorhead. He also had one sack and four tackles vs. unbeaten St. John's. Last season, he had 21 tackles and two sacks as a part-time starter.

Kessler is a campus seminary event coordinator; a Habitat for Humanity volunteer; and a Loaves & Fishes volunteer.

Here's a list of Minnesota collegians named to the first three teams (courtesy Ausgburg SID):

Academic All-District V College Division Football honorees from Minnesota colleges and universities:

First team -- Keith Heckendorf, quarterback, St. Cloud State; Tim Battaglia, Minnesota-Duluth, wide receiver; Ryan Koch, St. Cloud State, wide receiver; Jake Theis, St. John's, running back; Adam Hoffmann, Augsburg, offensive line; Mitch Maxwell, Concordia-Moorhead, offensive line; Eric Mickelson, St. Cloud State, defensive back; Matt Wassink, Bethel, linebacker; Ben Kessler, St. Thomas, defensive line; Kris Storvick, Gustavus Adolphus, defensive line.

Second team -- Chad Davison, Minnesota State-Moorhead, wide receiver; Joel Russow, Martin Luther, running back; David Blaskowski, Winona State, offensive line; Bob Jeske, Minnesota State-Mankato, offensive line; Tim Nass, Martin Luther, offensive line; Adam Stubbendick, Gustavus Adolphus, offensive line; Paul Tschetter, Bethel, kicker; Sam Lacy, Bethel, defensive back; Matt Nicholson, St. Cloud State, defensive back; Jared Ziemke, Minnesota State-Mankato, defensive back; Brandon Fox, Augsburg, linebacker; Isaac Sieling, Gustavus Adolphus, linebacker; Joe Cullen, Augsburg, defensive line.

Third team -- Brian Senske, St. Olaf, quarterback; Jeff Lehn, Bethel, wide receiver; Billy Schreiber, St. Thomas, tight end; Jim Diley, St. John's, offensive line; Andrew Kaczor, St. Cloud State, offensive line; Blaine Thomas, Bemidji State, offensive line; Luke Muellerleile, Carleton, defensive back; Paul Sommerstad, St. Thomas, defensive back; Jordan Taige, Concordia-Moorhead, defensive back; Paul Gans, St. John's, linebacker; Andrew Wild, Carleton, linebacker; Quentin Anderson, Southwest Minnesota State, defensive line; Kyle Davenport, St. Thomas, punter.