INDIANAPOLIS- The 2022 football season was a memorable one for the Great Midwest Athletic Conference as Ashland University earned a bid to the Division II National Tournament as well as hosting rights. The Eagles were crowned 2022 regular season champions with a conference record of 7-1.
 
Under head coach Lee Owens, Ashland became the first school from the Great Midwest to play host in the first-round of the D-II playoffs. The Eagles were the No. 4 seed in Super Region One of the bracket. They defeated the Notre Dame College Falcons 20-13 in the opening round to advance to the regional semi-finals. Ashland’s historic run came to an end as they  came up short againstthe No. 1 seeded Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). The Crimson Hawks defeated the Eagles by a score of 19-13.
 
Ashland ended their 2022 campaign with a 10-2 overall record and were ranked No. 13 in the final American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches Poll.
 
The Eagles celebrated several post-season accolades including one All-American recognition. Senior Linebacker Michael Ayers was named to the AFCA All-America first team. He ended the season with 81 total tackles, including 48 solo tackles. The Great Midwest Player of the Year also totaled 10.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, one interception, eight pass breakups, 11 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. The Columbus, Ohio native was also named to the Conference Commissioner’s Association (CCA) Defensive first team for Super Region One.
 
Ayers is joined by teammate Gavin Posey as well as Findlay’s Kijana Caldwell and Ohio Dominican’s Ty Keirns as first team selections. Posey, an offensive lineman, was a first-team All-Great Midwest selection and started in all 12 games at the right tackle position. He was a key component to an offensive line that led Ashland to average 29.3 points and 395.0 yards per game.
 
Keirns was also awarded first-team honors at the offensive line position. The Great Midwest Offensive Lineman of the Year led the Panthers to allow the third fewest sacks in the conference (17). The Massilon, Ohio native appeared and started in all 10 games this season.
 
Findlay's Kijana Caldwell tied the league-high five interceptions at the defensive back position, including one return for a touchdown. He also registered 56 tackles (36 solo) at 5.1 tackles per game.
 
Five other student-athletes from the Great Midwest also got All-Region nods from the CCA. Mike Rigerman (UF), Isaac TeSlaa (HC), and Anthony Lowe (TU), were named offensive second-team while Charlie Cleveland (TU) and Jaylin Garner (ODU) earned defensive second-team honors.
 
Mike Rigerman totaled 37 catches for 478 yards at the tight end position. He also caught three touchdowns on the year.
 
Isaac TeSlaa was one of the top-receivers in the country throughout the 2022 season. He led the league in all statistical receiving categories with 68 receptions, 1,325 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 19.5 yards per catch. TeSlaa finished third in receiving yards during the regular season and was tied for sixth in receiving touchdowns.
 
Tiffin’s Anthony Lowe rounds out G-MAC representatives on the offensive team. Lowe was one of the top-returners in the country at the Division II level. He averaged 28.6 yards per kick return and 13.9 yards per punt return.
 
On the other side of the ball, Charlie Cleveland (TU) earned his third All-Region honor of his career. He had a record-breaking season, tying Tiffin’s career sack record with 30. He surpassed the program’s tackles-for-loss mark with 53. This season, Cleveland ranked fourth in the conference in tackles for loss at 1.11 per game and sixth in sacks with five.
 
Ohio Dominican’s Jaylin Garner also earned a spot at the defensive line position. Garner led the league in tackles for loss (16.5) and sacks (9). He also collected a total of 43 tackles this season.
 
A handful of student-athletes were also recognized as Academic All-Americans for their collective performance on the field and in the classroom. Ashland’s Gavin Posey was featured as one of eleven repeat selections for Division II. Posey was named first-team All-American after posting a 3.89 GPA as an accounting major.
 
Posey was joined by three other individuals from the Great Midwest.
 
2022 Academic All-America
Gavin Posey, First Team, Ashland University
Kijana Caldwell, First Team, University of Findlay
Ben Farrar, Second Team, University of Findlay
Nick Cone, Second Team, University of Findlay