CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Friday afternoon (11/18/22) the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) released All-Conference selections for the 2022 football season, voted on by the league's head coaches. The University of Dubuque Spartans football team received 13 All-Conference selections. The Spartans had two First-Team, eight Second-Team, and three Honorable Mention selections. 

Junior, Jack Connors earned his first conference accolade by receiving A-R-C First-Team Offense. The Carpentersville, Illinois native helped the Spartans to third overall in the conference in total yards per game averaging 436.7 yards. Connors proved to be the anchor behind the offensive line. Sophomore, Garrett Hertzfeldt also recorded his first conference selection by being named A-R-C First-Team Defense. Starting at defensive end for the Spartans, Hertzfeldt led the team in tackles for loss with 8.5 and sacks with 5.5. The Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin native tied eighth in tackles for loss and tied for third in sacks in league play. Hertzfeldt finished the season with 27 tackles and a 13 yard interception returned for a touchdown. 

The Spartans had eight Second-Team All-Conference selections in which all of the players are receiving their first conference accolades. Running back, Kallion Buckner rushed 107 times for a total of 736 yards and nine touchdowns. The sophomore, averaged 92 yards per game which was second best in the conference. The native from Madison, Wisconsin is now third all time in yards per rush in a single season at the University of Dubuque. Junior linebacker, Brock Carter led the Spartans in conference play with a total of 47 tackles while averaging 5.9 tackles per game. Carter led the A-R-C in pass breakups with a total of 12. Sophomore, Elijah Diblich proved to be a ball hawk starting at defensive back. The Melrose Park, Illinois native intercepted five passes which placed second in the A-R-C. He also broke up eight passes which was top five in the conference. Leading the way for the Spartan offense was sophomore quarterback Ben Gultig. Through conference play, Gultig completed 157-239 passes for 2,054 yards and 20 Touchdowns. He led the conference in touchdown passes thrown and averaged 256.8 yards per game placing him second in the A-R-C. Gultig also left his name in the record books by capping off the season with a 66.3 completion percentage which is second all time at the University of Dubuque. 

Defensive Lineman De'Quan Ramsey earned Second-Team Defense proving to be a run stopper in the middle of the defensive line front. Ramsey recorded 22 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery. Sophomore Wide Receiver, Wade Sheets hauled in 52 catches for 804 yards and eight touchdowns. The Van Vert, Ohio native finished second in the conference in receiving yards, touchdowns, and receiving yards per game averaging 100.5 yards per game. At center for the Spartans, Wes Spitzmiller earned Second-Team Offense as his explosiveness off the ball helped opened up running lanes and protected in the passing game. Defensive back Dalton Wood started in all eight conference games, despite playing with an injury collecting 45 tackles, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble.

The Honorable Mention players were Tyler Geiman, Jamari Jenkins, and Liam Smith. Senior, starting defensive back, Geiman earned his second All-Conference honor throughout his career. Geiman finished third in the conference with nine pass breakups and hauled in one interception. Sophomore tight end, Jenkins caught 19 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns in conference play collecting his first All-Conference honor. Freshman kicker, Smith connected on three field goals which tied for fourth in the A-R-C. Smith placed his name in the University of Dubuque record book finishing ninth all time in school history for single season extra points making 32 on the year. 

The Spartans finished their season with a record of 6-4 overall and 6-2 in conference play finishing tied for second in the A-R-C. Looking forward to next year the Spartans return several key starters as they battle for the top of the A-R-C.