Heikkinen & Vandervest Make BSN Pre-Season All American Team

June 26, 2012

Northland Sports Online

University of Minnesota Duluth interior linemen Garth Heikkinen and Chris Vandervest both landed a spot on the Beyond Sports College Network (BSN) NCAA II Preseason All-American Team, which was released this week.

Heikkinen, a four-year starting offensive guard from Duluth, Minn., was a first team selection. One year ago, he attained All-American honors from four different groups — Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, D2Football.com and Daktronics — after anchoring an offensive line which helped UMD roll up the highest regular season rushing yardage in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Heikkinen, who will serve as one of five UMD team captains in 2012, is a three-time All-NSIC North Division honoree (first team in 2011 and 2010 and honorable mention in 2009).

Vandervest, a native of Green Bay, Wis. and member of the BSN Preseason All-American second team, handled the Bulldogs’ starting nose tackle assignment for the opening five outings of the 2011 season before relocating to left defensive end.

He concluded his sophomore season ranking ninth among Bulldogs in total tackles with 42 and was third in both stops for a loss (11.0) and quarterback sacks (5.0) en route to securing All-NSIC North Division first team acclaim.

UMD, the four-time defending NSIC champion, begins preseason camp on Aug. 11 and will launch its 80th season of intercollegiate football with an Aug. 30 clash at Southwest Minnesota State University.

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