Nine Wolverines Earn Academic All-Big Ten Honors
12/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Fifth-year senior defensive tackle Will Johnson(Oakland, Mich./Lake Orion HS) became the sixth football player in school history to earn Academic All-Big Ten honors four times. Johnson will graduate this semester with a general studies degree from the College of Literature, Science and the Arts.
A business administration major in the Ross School of Business, senior/junior punter Zoltan Mesko(Twinsburg, Ohio/Twinsburg HS) received academic all-conference accolades for the third straight season and could join the elite list of four-time performers next season. Mesko also gained All-Big Ten first team honors to go along with the academic honor.
Junior/sophomore wide receiver Jon Conover(Northville, Mich./Catholic Central HS) and senior/junior defensive end Tim North(Linden, Mich./Linden HS) received Academic All-Big Ten honors for the second straight season. Both participated on special teams in all 12 games.
Three additional starters -- left guard John Ferrara(Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell HS), kicker K.C. Lopata(Farmington, Mich./Farmington HS) and quarterback Steven Threet(Adrian, Mich./Adrian HS) -- earned academic all-conference honors for the first time in their careers. Redshirt freshman defensive end Will Heininger(Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer HS) and kicker Jason Olesnavage(Ferndale, Mich./Ferndale HS) also collected recognition for the first time in their careers.
Johnson and Lopata will graduate in commencement ceremonies next Sunday (Dec. 14).
In order to qualify for academic all-conference honors, a student-athlete must be in his second season of competition, maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and letter during the current season of competition.
Sixty-Six Wolverines Named to Fall Academic All-Big Ten Team (12/3/08)
Media Contact: David Ablauf (734) 763-4423
