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Senior Sam Scharinger has become one of only a handful of Lakeland College football players to be named All-American.
Scharinger named football Division III All-American
Athletics - posted on 12/13/2004
Senior Sam Scharinger has become one of only a handful of Lakeland College football players to be named All-American.Scharinger, a linebacker from Howards Grove, was named third team defense on The Football Gazette's 2004 All-American Team. He was one of just 78 players nationally named to the team, and one of just nine linebackers on the team. A record 693 players were nominated this season.
He becomes just the 13th player in Lakeland history to earn postseason All-American status, and the first since 1996 when Mark Novara and Brandon Lawson were both named to The Gazette All-American team. Lakeland has fielded a football team since 1934 when the school was Mission House College.
"What a great honor for a young man who worked extra hard to put himself in a position to earn an accolade like this," said Lakeland head coach Jim Zebrowski. "An award like this shows that Lakeland is starting to get respect on the national Division III level. That's a tribute to all our kids and how hard they're working."
The award is the latest in a long list this fall for Scharinger, who was also named second team defense on The Football Gazette's All-North Region Team. He was named winner of the Illini-Badger Conference Outstanding Linebacker Award and First Team all-IBC linebacker.
The Gazette is in the 15th consecutive year of sponsoring its Division III All-American team. The team is selected by sports information directors from the nation's Division III colleges.
Scharinger led the Muskies in tackles (113), tackles for loss (23.5 for 111 yards), sacks (10) and forced fumbles (four). At the end of the regular season, he was ranked third in the nation in Division III in tackles for loss per game (2.5) and fifth in solo tackles per game (7.9).
Lakeland football All-Americans
1967 - Pat Curran, RB, NAIA (Hon. Mention)
1968 - Pat Curran, RB, NAIA (2nd team)
1970 - Elease Davis, P, NAIA (HM)
1975 - Jeff Johnson, DB, NAIA (HM)
1980 - Jim Wisniewski, OL, NAIA (2nd team); Peter Bunch, LB, NAIA (HM)
1985 - Cleveland Clark, DB, NAIA (HM)
1986 - John Gosse, DL, NAIA (2nd team)
1987 - John Gosse, DL, NAIA (2nd team)
1988 - Roger Sulek, LB, Football Gazette (3rd team)
1989 - John Oglego, P, Kodak (1st team, Div. II)
1992 - Angelo Tinsley, LB, NAIA (HM)
1993 - Angelo Tinsley, LB, NAIA (HM)
1996 - Mark Novara, QB, Football Gazette (2nd team); Brandon Lawson, WR, Football Gazette (2nd team)
2004 - Sam Scharinger, LB, Football Gazette (3rd team)
1968 - Pat Curran, RB, NAIA (2nd team)
1970 - Elease Davis, P, NAIA (HM)
1975 - Jeff Johnson, DB, NAIA (HM)
1980 - Jim Wisniewski, OL, NAIA (2nd team); Peter Bunch, LB, NAIA (HM)
1985 - Cleveland Clark, DB, NAIA (HM)
1986 - John Gosse, DL, NAIA (2nd team)
1987 - John Gosse, DL, NAIA (2nd team)
1988 - Roger Sulek, LB, Football Gazette (3rd team)
1989 - John Oglego, P, Kodak (1st team, Div. II)
1992 - Angelo Tinsley, LB, NAIA (HM)
1993 - Angelo Tinsley, LB, NAIA (HM)
1996 - Mark Novara, QB, Football Gazette (2nd team); Brandon Lawson, WR, Football Gazette (2nd team)
2004 - Sam Scharinger, LB, Football Gazette (3rd team)
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