Dec. 17, 2004

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University punter Michael Koenen, a 5-foot-11 senior from Ferndale, was named to the 2004 Daktronics, Inc., Division II All-America football second team released today.

This is the 12th year the All-America team has been selected by a vote of sports information directors from NCAA Division II football playing members. The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition.

Koenen, who earned first-team Daktronics All-America honors as a sophomore, ranked third nationally in punting in 2004 as he averaged 43.5 yards, setting a school record and finishing second among Northwest small college leaders with a career punting average of 43.1 (191 attempts for 8,227 yards). Koenen led the nation in punting (44.9 avg.) as a sophomore, and ranked No.4 nationally (43.4) as a junior.

Koenen, who will compete in the 2005 Cactus Bowl Senior All-Star Game on Jan. 7 at Kingsville, Texas, completed his four-year career as the Northwest small college, Great Northwest Athletic Conference and school record holder in kick scoring with 272 points, converting 43-of-74 field goal attempts and 143-of-150 PATs. He established Western career records for made PATs and kickoffs for touchbacks (73), ranking second among school leaders in PAT attempts and third in both field goals made and attempted.

This past season, Koenen scored 76 points, breaking his own school and league records for PAT (40-of-41, .976) and field goal (12-of-17, .706) percentage, and ranked No.11 nationally in field goals per game (1.2).

Western finished 6-4 and tied for second in the GNAC at 3-3.

2004 DAKTRONICS, INC., ALL-AMERICA FOOTBALL TEAM

National runner-up Pittsburg State placed four players on the 2004 Daktronics, Inc., Division II All-America football team. National champion Valdosta State added one first-team and one second-team selection to the squad.

This is the 12th year the All-America team has been selected by a vote of sports information directors from NCAA Division II football playing members. The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition.

Senior place kicker Will Rhody was the lone first-team selection for the national champion Blazers, joined by second-team offensive lineman Torry Howard.

National runner-up Pitt State had four first team selections led by senior offensive lineman Nathan Baker and sophomore running back Germaine Race, who received the most votes at their position. Gorilla junior offensive lineman Chad Weeks and sophomore defensive lineman Ryan Meredith were also selected first team.

There were two players from the 2003 Daktronics, Inc., Division II All-America team that were selected to the 2004 squad. Grand Valley State senior defensive lineman Kenyonta Marshall repeated as a first-team selection and Michigan Tech senior Joe Berger moved up from second-team to first-team in 2004.

Top vote-getters at multiple player positions included Winona State junior running back Chris Samp; Texas A&M-Kingsville junior linebacker Deandrae Fillmore; Grand Valley State senior cornerback Lucius Hawkins and Colorado School of Mines senior safety Daniel Leger.

In all 52 players were selected with 32 of them seniors, 12 juniors, seven sophomores and one freshman.

OFFENSE
TIGHT END
First Team+Cole Drussa, 6-3, 230, Sr., Missouri-RollaSecond TeamDavid Feliciano, 6-4, 235, Jr., Harding
WIDE RECEIVER
First TeamDallas Mall, 6-3, 196, Sr., Bentley+Chris Samp, 6-3, 215, Sr., Winona StateSecond TeamZach Edwards, 5-10, 173, So., Central OklahomaBrandon Simmons, 6-0, 190, Jr., West Chester
OFFENSIVE LINE
First TeamBrian Alderson, 6-4, 275, Jr., South Dakota+Nathan Baker, 6-4, 313, Sr., Pittsburg StateJoe Berger, 6-5, 290, Sr., Michigan TechTodd Herremans, 6-8, 305, Sr., Saginaw Valley StateChad Weeks, 6-3, 339, Jr., Pittsburg StateSecond TeamTorrey Howard, 6-1, 295, Sr., Valdosta StateDaniel Lynch, 6-5, 295, Sr., CatawbaJim McCarville, 6-3, 310, Sr., St. Cloud StateRicardo Phillips, 6-5, 300, Sr., North Carolina CentralBrad Schneider, 6-6, 320, Sr., Northwest Missouri State
QUARTERBACK
First Team+Drew Beard, 5-10, 175, Sr., Southeastern Oklahoma StateSecond TeamJimmy Terwilliger, 5-11, 190, So., East Stroudsburg
RUNNING BACK
First Team+Germaine Race, 5-11, 217, So., Pittsburg StateDerrick Wimbush, 6-2, 220, Sr., Fort Valley StateSecond TeamAntoine Bagwell, 5-11, 185, Jr., California (Pa.)Danny Woodhead, 5-9, 185, Fr., Chadron State
ALL-PURPOSE BACK
First Team+Jamaica Rector, 5-10, 175, Sr., Northwest Missouri StateSecond TeamSean Treasure, 6-1, 185, Jr., Minnesota State, Mankato
PLACE KICKER
First Team+Will Rhody, 6-1, 186, Sr., Valdosta StateSecond TeamA.J. Haglund, 5-8, 160, Sr., Central Oklahoma
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
First TeamJustin Brown, 6-2, 260, Sr., East Central (Okla.)Walter Curry, 6-4, 268, Sr., Albany State+Kenyonta Marshall, 6-2, 310, Sr., Grand Valley StateRyan Meredith, 6-2, 228, So., Pittsburg State
Second TeamCurry Cursh, 6-3, 215, So., Arkansas TechDamien Gilyard, 6-4, 225, So., C.W. PostTim Schellhammer, 6-4, 240, Jr., South DakotaSteve Williams, 6-3, 300, Jr., Northwest Missouri State
LINEBACKER
First Team+Deandrae Fillmore, 5-9, 220, Jr., Texas A&M-KingsvilleMoises Gordon, 6-1, 220, Sr., LivingstoneAdam Long, 6-2, 240, Sr., Northwest Missouri StateAdam McGurk, 6-1, 205, Jr., Adams State
Second TeamJoe Gangemi, 5-11, 235, Sr., C.W. PostChris Peavy, 6-2, 235, Sr., ShawCharles Roberts, 6-0, 238, Sr., Fayetteville StateAdam Stroik, 6-1, 212, Sr., Minnesota State, Mankato
CORNERBACK
First Team+Lucius Hawkins, 5-11, 175, Sr., Grand Valley StateHoward Williams Jr., 6-1, 185, Sr., Elizabeth City StateSecond TeamCharles Allgood, 6-0, 190, Sr., Adams StateMartell Foster, 5-11, 180, Sr., Northwood
SAFETY
First TeamMatt Crispell, 6-2, 205, Jr., East Stroudsburg+Daniel Leger, 6-1, 210, Sr., Colorado MinesSecond TeamDejuane Boone, 6-0, 195, Sr., Grand Valley StateDanieal Manning, 5-11, 205, So., Abilene Christian
PUNTER
First Team+Jeff Williams, 6-4, 215, Jr., Adams StateSecond TeamMichael Koenen, 5-11, 195, Sr., Western Washington
+ indicates top vote getter at a position