INDIANAPOLIS—The coaches’ votes are officially in as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Football All-Conference Team along with individual awards was released Thursday afternoon following the conclusion of the 2022 season.
 
Student-athletes were voted first, second, and third teams, with specific allocation of numbers by position on offense, defense, and special teams. Nine individual awards were voted on as well.
 
Ashland captured the Great Midwest regular season title and earned a bid to the NCAA Division II Football tournament in Super Region One. The Eagles are set to play Notre Dame College in a rematch on Saturday, Nov. 19.
 
Looking ahead, Tiffin University will represent the Great Midwest in America’s Crossroads Bowl, set to take place on Saturday, Dec. 4. The Dragons will face Truman State University from the Great Lakes Valley Conference.
 
The Great Midwest Player of the Year was announced as Ashland’s Michael Ayers (Columbus, Ohio / Walnut Ridge HS). Ayers was the 2021 Defensive Player of the Year and returned this fall after being third in tackles last season. He registered 62 tackles this season, including 38 solo tackles. The Columbus, Ohio led a defense that allowed opponents to average 14.4 points per game. On the season, Ayers tabbed nine QB hurries as well as six pass-breakups.
 
Earning Great Midwest Offensive Player of the Year honors was Hillsdale wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (Hudsonville, Mich., Unity Christian HS). TeSlaa led the Great Midwest and ranks third in all of Division II in receiving yards with 1,325 on the year. His 13 touchdown’s ranks sixth on the national stage and first in the conference. TeSlaa ranks second in the conference in scoring, averaging 7.1 points per game.
 
Jaylin Garner of Ohio Dominican was voted Great Midwest Defensive Player of the Year. The Senior averaged a league-high 1.65 tackles for loss per game. Garner also led the league in sacks with nine total on the year, averaging almost one a game. Garner hold the program record for sacks in a game at 4. His career total is 168 tackles through 44 games and is the Ohio Dominican career leader in tackles for loss (47.5) and sacks (26.5).
 
The Great Midwest Offensive Lineman of the Year was Ohio Dominican’s Ty Keirns ( Massilon, Ohio / Massilon Washington HS). Keirns made 10 appearances this season at the left tackle position. He was a member of an offensive line that allowed the team to rush for 110.3 yards per game. Keirns helped the Panthers churn out 373 offensive yards per game.
 
Winning the honor for the third straight time on the other side of the ball was Tiffin’s feared pass rusher in Charlie Cleveland (East Chicago, IN / East Chicago Central HS) selected as Great Midwest Defensive Lineman of the Year . Cleveland routinely faces double teams from opposing offensive coordinators to try and slow down his 6-4, 250 lb. frame. The redshirt junior averaged 5.9 tackles per game and recorded five sacks on the year. He now has 30 sacks in his career, surpassing the Great Midwest career-sacks record.

Ethan Enders (Marion, Ohio / Pleasant HS)is this years Great Midwest Freshman of the Year.  He appeared and started in all ten games for Ashland at center.  Enders helped the Eagle’s offense average a league-high 211.7 rushing yards per game.
 
Anthony Lowe from Tiffin University was voted the Great Midwest Special Teams Player of the Year. Lowe leads the conference in both punt and kick returns. He totaled 315 yards in kick returns at 28.6 yards per game, shattering the league single-season record. In punt returns, Lowe registered 222 yards through 10 games.
 
The Great Midwest Elite 26 Award Winner was Tiffin’s Jordan Speller (Elida, Ohio / Elida HS). The Elite 26 Award recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete at the conference championship level in his or her sport while also achieving the highest academic standard
among his or peers. Speller checks in with a cumulative 4.0 GPA while majoring in Education.
 
Ashland’s Lee Owens was voted by his peers as the Great Midwest Coach of the Year. Owens led the Eagles to their best record at 9-1 since joining the conference. In his 19^th year at Ashland, Owens has won 136 games with an overall record of 136-60. He guided the Eagles to a regular season championship as well as a berth to the NCAA Division II Tournament.