Complete Academic All-OAC Team (.pdf)

BEREA, OHIO --  Five Baldwin-Wallace College football standout student-athletes have been named to the 2011 Academic All-Ohio Athletic Conference squad announced today (Wednesday, November 30, 2011).

Senior cornerback Matt Bowen (Tiffin/Columbian), junior quarterback Ryan O'Rourke (Avon) and junior offensive lineman Clayton Wolf (Parma Heights/Padua Franciscan) were selected to the Academic All-OAC team and senior linebacker Matt Higginbotham (Hartville/Uniontown Lake), junior safety Tom Goebel (Parma/Padua Franciscan) and junior linebacker Nick Milano (North Royalton/Padua Franciscan) were all tabbed as honorable mention.

Bowen, an accounting and finance double major who carries a 3.69 grade point average, is earning his second straight Academic All-OAC accolade.  He is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta and Chi Alpha Sigma Honor societies and Dean's List. Bowen has been named as a first-team Capital One Academic All-District IV student-athlete for the past two years. This season, he appeared and started in all 10 games and recorded 35 tackles, including one and half for a loss, and tied for the team lead in interceptions with four. For his career, Bowen has appeared in 30 games and has recorded 108 tackles, including six and half for loss, one quarterback sack, 29 pass breaks and six interceptions, including two that were returned for touchdowns. In addition, he been tabbed as an honorable mention All-OAC and earned OAC Defensive Player of the Week on one occasion. 

O'Rourke, who carries a 3.65 grade point average in education, is earning his first Academic All-OAC honor.   He is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society, Dean's List and was a Capital One Academic All-District IV selection. O'Rourke has been the starting quarterback for the past two seasons and served  as one of four team captains this season.  This season, he completed 129-of-221 passes for 1,611 yards with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions. O'Rourke also has rushed for 117 yards and one touchdown. For his career, he has completed 248-of-434 passes for 57.1 percent for 3,124 yards with 28 touchdowns. O'Rourke has been twice selected as the OAC Offensive Player-of-the-Week.

Wolf, an accounting and economics double major who carries a 3.67 grade point average, is earning his first Academic All-OAC accolade. He is a member of the Dean's List and is a Jacket Scholar.  This season, Wolf played in all 10 games and was part of the offensive line that helped to average 196.8 rushing yards per game and allowed just 17 sacks.   For his career, he has played in 15 games. 

Higginbotham, who carries a 3.42 grade point average in exercise science, is earning his first Academic All-OAC honor.  He is a member of the Dean's list.  Higginbotham, who had his best season as a collegian in 2011, appeared in all 10 games and recorded 47 tackles, including three for loss, had one sack, forced one fumble and had one quarterback hurry.   For his career, he tallied 71 tackles, including three and half for loss, one sack and forced one fumble.  In addition, Higginbotham has one career kick off return for 13 yards.

Goebel, a business administration who carries a 3.66 grade point average , is earning his first Academic All-OAC accolade.  He is a member of the Chi Alpha Honor Society and Dean's List.  This season, Goebel played in nine games and recorded 12 tackles and had one pass defense.   For his career, he has appeared in 19 games and has tallied 36 tackles, including one four loss, has two interceptions and five pass defenses. 

Milano, who carries a 3.72 grade point average in criminal justice major, is earning his first Academic All-OAC honor. He is a member of the Dean's List.  Milano, who missed the 2010 season with an injury, played in all 10 games and recorded 14 tackles.  For his career, he has appeared in 11 games and has recorded 15 tackles.

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