INDIANAPOLIS- The coaches’ votes are officially in as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Football All-Conference team along with individual awards were unveiled Tuesday afternoon.
Student-athletes were voted first or second team with a specific allocation of numbers by position on offense, defense, and special teams.
Ashland and Findlay claimed a share of the Great Midwest regular season title, each posting G-MAC records of 8-1. The two each earned a bid to Super Region Three in the NCAA Division II Football Championship.
Ashland’s Michael Shimek earned the top league’s top honor, capturing the Player of the Year award after posting a dominant defensive performance. Shimek leads all of Division II in sacks with 15 total, averaging 1.46 per game. His 15 sacks totaled 121 yards as Ashland posted one of the best defenses in league, allowing opponents to score just 14.2 points per game. The North Canton, Ohio native also leads the conference in tackles for loss at 1.54 per game. Shimek is joined by teammate Nico Traczyk on the individual awards list, earning Offensive Lineman of the Year. Traczyk, a sophomore from Highland Heights, Ohio, was a leader on an offensive line that churned out a league-high 2,077 rushing yards. Last season, Traczyk earned a spot at right tackle as a true freshman and was a second-team all-conference member. Head coach Doug Geiser mentored a total of 13 student-athletes on the all-conference team, including seven first-team selections. Ashland advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs and are set to face No. 1 Ferris State on Saturday, November 29.
The University of Findlay totaled 11 individuals on the all-conference list, led by Sam Weihrauch and Londyn Claxton. Weihrauch was voted the Defensive Player of the Year after ranking second in the league in tackles for loss at 1.46 per contest. The tandem of Weihrauch and Londyn Claxton, who is recognized as the Defensive Lineman of the Year, led one of the best defenses in the country, giving up just 770 rushing yards this season. Through 12 games, Claxton totaled 27 tackles, 12 of which were solo. He also was credited with eight tackles for loss for 29 yards. The Oilers had one of the best seasons in program history and earned the No. 2 seed in the postseason before falling to Minnesota Duluth.
Northwood University had a historic season, under 2025 Coach of the Year Dustin Beurer. The Timberwolves finished the year with a 9-3 overall record and a 7-2 in-conference record. Beurer and his staff earned a bid to the postseason for the first time since 2006. Their nine wins is the most in program history since 2005, when the team went 10-2. 13 Timberwolves made the all-conference team, with Quarterback Ethan Hamby highlighting all honorees as the Offensive Player of the Year. Hamby led a Northwood offense that averaged 352.1 offensive yards per game. He ranks second in the league with 186 completions on 289 attempts for a completion rate of 64.4%. Through the regular season, he totaled 2,256 yards with 22 touchdowns and zero interceptions. He finished the regular season with a 155.1 pass efficiency, 323 rushing yards, and a conference-high five rushing touchdowns.
Looking ahead, Hillsdale will represent the conference at the inaugural Albanese Candy Bowl. Shea Ruddy was once again voted as the Special Teams Player of the Year. Ruddy leads the league in kick returns with 24 for 783 yards. Two of his returns were good for touchdowns, including a season-high 90-yard return. Ruddy’s 783 yards of kickoff returns ranks seventh in all of Division II. Running back Ben Ngishu was voted as the league’s top freshman after totaling the third-highest rushing yards in the league with 716. Ngishu registered four touchdowns at 65.1 yards per game. His longest rush of the year came against nationally-ranked Findlay, where he recorded a 58 yard run. Noah Larrick is the league’s Elite 26 Award Winner for Academic Excellence. Larrick, a tight end from New Concord, OH, is a senior majoring in Biochemistry.
A full list of all-conference honorees can be found
HERE.