Gustavus Adolphus College

Joe Welch

Welch returning a kick against Concordia last season.

Gustavus Adolphus safety Joe Welch, a senior from Hastings, Minn., has been named to the Pre-Season All-America Football Team as released by Lindy’s Sports Magazine. Welch, a first team selection, was one of four Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference athletes honored on the Lindy’s Pre-season All-America First and Second Teams. That group included Welch, Josh Ostrue (First Team, St. Thomas), Brad Eckelmann (Second Team, Carleton), and Ryan Wimmer (Second Team, Saint John’s).

Welch, a D3football.com Third-Team All-America selection last season, led the Gusties with 98 tackles, including 51 solo stops, to go along with one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. Welch finished third among MIAC defensive players with 10.1 tackles per game as he was named to the All-MIAC First Team Defense. He posted double-digit tackles in five games including a season-high 16 stops against Concordia. Welch recorded five interceptions on a defense that ranked sixth in Division III with 22 picks. He enters his senior season with 180 career tackles (which ranks 17th all-time at Gustavus) and 99 solo stops (which ranks ninth all-time at Gustavus). Welch needs 20 tackles to become the 14th player at Gustavus to compile 200 career stops.

Welch, who will serve as a captain for the second consecutive year, will report with his teammates to begin practice for the 2009 season on August 22nd. The Gusties will open up at home against Coe College on September 12 at 1 pm at Lloyd Hollingsworth Field.

Lindy’s 2009 Preseason All-Div-III Team

Offense - First Team Alex Tanney QB Jr. Monmouth Tunde Ogun RB Sr. Chris. Newport Cecil Shorts WR Sr. Mount Union DeRon Brown RB Sr. MIT Michael Jennings WR Sr. Illinois College Kenny Russell TE Jr. Fitchburg St. Josh Ostrue C Sr. St. Thomas (MN) Blaine Westemeyer OL Sr. Augustana (IL) Josh Kotecki OL Sr. Monmouth John Shivers OL Sr. Millsaps Dan Schwindenhammer OL Sr. Monmouth Jose Green AP Jr. Willamette Alan Munoz K Jr. Mary Hardin-Baylor

Defense - First Team James Herbert DE Sr. Mount Union Gerard Bryant DT Sr. St. Lawrence Giustin Jenkins DT Sr. Pacific Lutheran Marcus Ball DE Jr. UW-Stout Matt Wenger LB Jr. North Central Randy Wright LB Jr. Elmhurst Kyle Gesswein LB Jr. Delaware Valley Victor Edwards CB Sr. Cal Lutheran Troney Shumpert CB Sr. UW-Whitewater Drew McClain S Sr. Mount Union Joe Welch S Sr. Gustavus Adolphus T.J. Grzesikowski P Jr. Ferrum

Offense - Second Team Justin Feaster QB Sr. Hardin Simmons Adam Anderson RB Sr. Whitworth Levell Coppage RB So. UW-Whitewater Pat O’Connor WR Sr. Dickinson Kody Lemond WR Jr. Wabash Reed Eason TE Jr. Rose-Hulman Chad Schenkel C Jr. Franklin Brad Eckelmann OL Jr. Carleton Kyle Antos OL Jr. North Central Storm Tropea OL Sr. Wooster Mike Stoffel OL Sr. Johns Hopkins Caleb Jennings AP Jr. Emory and Henry Jackson Damron K So. Cal Lutheran

Defense - Second Team Anthony White DE Jr. UW-Whitewater Matt Williamson DT Sr. Mount Union Joe Goetz DT Sr. Ithaca Jim Sestito DE Sr. Plymouth State Brad Steinmetz LB Sr. Thomas More John Lawrence LB Sr. Hamilton Ryan Wimmer LB Sr. St. John’s Chalankis Brown CB Jr. Sewanee Bobby Bott CB Sr. Case Western Michael Tracy S Sr. Hardin-Simmons Tom Tassinari S Sr. Tufts Bobby Eppleman P Jr. Susquehanna