Seven Football Players Selected to All-MIAA Teams

A total of seven Kalamazoo College football players have been selected to the All-MIAA first or second teams.

Headlining the first team is Brian Lewis on offense, Brant Haverdink on defense, and T.J. Thayer on special teams. Second team selections include Jim Hurd on offense, Brett Foster and Conor Lefere on defense, and Tom Hillemeier on special teams.

Brian Lewis, a junior offensive lineman from Farmington Hills (Harrison HS), is being selected to the All-MIAA first team for the first time. The Hornets’ offensive captain, Lewis anchored an offensive line which helped Kalamazoo rush for 151.4 yards per game and 3.9 yards per carry. The Hornets were passed for 1,574 yards (174.9 yds/game) on the season.

Brant Haverdink, a junior linebacker from Hamilton (Hamilton HS), led the Hornet defense with 121 tackles on the season including 16 for lost yardage. He also had a team-high five and a half sacks and three interceptions. His 121 total tackles is the second-highest total in school history. Haverdink, the Hornets’ defensive captain, was named MIAA Defensive Player of the Week twice during the season.

T.J. Thayer, a sophomore wide receiver/return specialist from Lowell (Lowell HS), was instrumental for the Hornets on offense as well as special teams. He was selected as first team All-MIAA return specialist. Thayer led the Hornets with an average of 25.1 yards per kick return. He also led the team with 8.0 yards per punt return. He led the league in kick return average with 23.6 yards per return in league contests.

Jim Hurd, a senior from Battle Creek (Harper Creek), was selected as the All-MIAA second team tight end. Hurd spent time at both fullback and tight end and is recognized as one of the best blockers in the league. He had six receptions on the season for 61 yards.

Brett Foster and Conor Lefere were two of only three freshmen to be named to either the first or second team.

Foster, a defensive lineman from Farmington Hills (Harrison HS), led the Hornet defensive line with 42 tackles including eight for lost yardage. He also had three quarterback sacks on the year.

Lefere, a defensive back from Jackson (Lumen Christi), led the Hornet defense with 10 pass break-ups on the year. He also had four interception returns for 86 yards. He had 38 tackles on the season, 30 of which were unassisted.

Tom Hillemeier, a junior kicker/punter from Ann Arbor (Pioneer HS), was selected as the kicker on the second team. Hillemeier connected on 9-of-12 field goals on the season with a long of 45 yards. He was 6-of-6 from beyond 30 yards. He also converted 20-of-24 extra point attempts.

Kalamazoo’s All-MIAA honorable mention selections included Andy Graham (Fr., WR, Lowell/Lowell), Justin Gross (Jr., RB, Chesaning/New Lothrop), Nate Hurst (Jr., DB, Ann Arbor/Huron), Mark LaCombe (Fr., DB, Shelby Twp./Eisenhower), and Dwight White (Fr., RB, Kalamazoo/Loy Norrix).