By: Laura Chapman
Assistant Sports Information Director
chapmal@juniata.edu • juniatasports.net
ROSELAND, N.J – U.S.A. College Football has announced its 2014 Division III Pre-Season All-Americans and senior lineman Josh Gongloff (Tyrone, Pa./Bellwood-Antis), senior tight end Kyle Schuck (Selinsgrove, Pa./Selinsgrove), senior wide receiver Isaiah Slutter (Hawley, Pa./Wallenpaupack Area), senior quarterback Ward Udinski (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West), and senior linebacker Ethan Wilt (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) of Juniata College football have all earned Honorable Mention status.
"This shows the individual responsibility that our players put in and realizing that that results in collective success," said head coach Tim Launtz. "You don't get these types of honors without having success as a football team and you don't get these types of honors unless you have been individually responsible to prepare yourself to be a member of the team. I think it speaks very well to the culture our players have developed here at Juniata and how they believe in themselves and believe in their teammates and how the whole is more important than the sum of the parts."
All five men were members of the 2013 Juniata football team that completed a 7-4 season, the first winning season for the Eagles since 1999, went 6-3 in Centennial Conference play, reclaimed the Goal Post from Susquehanna University, and participated in a post season bowl for the first time since 1973 when the Eagles took on Albright College in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Southwest Bowl Championship.
"We have nine starters returning on offense and you can contribute the success of these four offensive guys to the entire offense," added Launtz. "They've been able to standout because of the success of the overall offense and we view that as a very strong part of this football team going into the season."
Gongloff, Schuck, Slutter, and Udinski all earned Second-Team All-Centennial honors for the 2013 season and Wilt was selected to the Honorable Mention defensive team. All told, the 2013 Juniata football team earned eight all-league selections, including three graduates from the Eagles defense and the Defensive Player of the Year, and Launtz and his staff earned Coach of the Year honors.
"Ethan Wilt is a three year starter and Ethan will provide the leadership and guidance that I feel is necessary in replacing the individuals that have graduated from last years' team," said Launtz. "This honor for Ethan demonstrates that we have had success overall as a team and a defense and people recognize Ethan's contributions."
Schuck, Slutter, Udinski, and Wilt were named the four 2014 team captains for the upcoming season.
"Ward Udinski has been instrumental in developing the culture of this team," said Launtz. "Isaiah, and Kyle, and [Josh] – they all play a very major role by the way they approach things as individuals and that results in our team having the success that it has had.
For a full list of USA College Football Division III All-Americans, click here.
Follow Your Eagles! Stay up-to-date on your Juniata College Eagles by following us on twitter (@JuniataEagles) and on Facebook (Juniata Eagles).