November 12 , 2007

 

Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg football standout Andy Vanover, class of 2008 from Tipp City, Ohio, has been recognized for his special combination of athletic and academic accomplishments with CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine College Division Academic All-District IV honors.

Vanover was named second-team all-district in 2006, but he earned a promotion this year to the first team. In his third year as the Tigers' starting fullback, Vanover has posted two 100-yard rushing games and a 100-yard receiving performance. Ranked third in the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) in touchdowns per game, Vanover has a team-high nine scores this season. The Tigers' leading rusher on the season, Vanover also ranks fifth in the conference for overall scoring.

Vanover, a management major, carries an excellent grade point average of 3.74. After two years spent clearing the way for former All-American tailback Tristan Murray, the No. 2 rusher in school history, Vanover has emerged as a dual-threat skill position player out of the backfield. After accumulating 475 yards of total offense a year ago, Vanover has 109 rushing attempts and 18 receptions in 2007, good for 670 yards of total offense, second-most on the team.

Vanover has spent the last two summers as the assisant manager of the Tippecanoe Family Aquatic Center. He is a four year letter winner for the Tigers, and helped lead them to a conference championship in 2006, and was voted team captain by his coaches and teammates in 2007. Vanover was one of 13 seniors honored prior to Saturday's game against Hiram College. He plans to attend graduate school, pursuing a Masters degree in Sports Management.

Vanover will now be considered for Academic All-America honors in voting that takes place later this month.