On Tuesday (Dec. 23), Ashland University senior defensive end
Michael Shimek and redshirt freshman kicker
Manaki Watanabe have been named to the 2025 Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF) All-America Team.
The honors add to a decorated postseason for both student-athletes, who helped lead the Eagles to a 10-3 record, a Great Midwest Athletic Conference co-championship with the University of Findlay and an NCAA Division II playoff victory over University of Minnesota-Duluth.
Shimek, the Great Midwest Player of the Year, produced one of the most dominant defensive campaigns in program history. He finished the season with 17.5 sacks, 18.5 tackles for loss, 60 total tackles (32 solo), three forced fumbles and two blocked kicks.
A finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award and a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, Shimek's 17.5 sacks rank fourth in Ashland history, trailing only three seasons by College Football Hall of Famer Bill Royce.
Watanabe, a finalist for the Fred Mitchell Award, finished the season as the statistical leader among Division II kickers. He led the nation in field-goal percentage (95.5) and field goals made, converting 21 of 22 field goals and 39 of 40 extra points.
His 21 field goals set a single-season school record, and his 102 points scored tied for the fourth-highest single-season total in Ashland history.
Eagles football finished the season ranked number 15 in the nation by final the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Coaches poll.
