VELDHEER, HIETT SHARE SUPER REGION 3 GENE UPSHAW AWARD HONORS

VELDHEER, HIETT SHARE SUPER REGION 3 GENE UPSHAW AWARD HONORS

Winona State Univ. release

WINONA, MN  -- Seniors, Jared Veldheer (Hillsdale College) and Jack Hiett (University of Nebraska at
Kearney) will share the top honors as the representatives of Super Region 3 for The Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award presented by the Manheim Touchdown Club.

The representatives with the top two vote totals will be placed on a national ballot of final eight and the winner will be announced as part of the ceremonies of the Cactus Bowl Dinner on January 7, 2010..
Veldheer received seven (7) first-place votes from the Sports Information Directors of Super Region 3 and  totaled 77 points, while Hiett received six (6) first-place votes in his point total of 77. Each helped their respective squads reach the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.

Andy Schoonover (Minnesota State Mankato) also received six (6) first-place votes and totaled 72 points to place third in the final vote totals.

The following is the voting breakdown. First-place votes in parenthesis:
77 (7) Jared Veldheer Senior Offensive Tackle Hillsdale College
77 (6) Jack Hiett Senior Center University of Nebraska at Kearney
72 (6) Andy Schoonover Senior Offensive Guard Minnesota State University
39 (1) L.T. Brown Senior Center University of Mary
21 (1) Zach Meints Senior Offensive Guard Colorado School of Mines
20 (1) Benjamin Puffer Senior Offensive Tackle Chadron State College
20 Bill Noethlich Senior Offensive Tackle Southwest Minnesota State University
4 Josh Teeples Senior Nose Guard Adams State College