Thursday, December 2, 2021

GOLDEN, Colo. – Three First Team All-GNAC players who played key roles in Central Washington’s run to a fourth consecutive conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs have been named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Super Region 4 Team.

Senior linebacker Donte Hamilton and junior kicker Patrick Hegarty received first-team honors while senior defensive lineman Zach Stecklein was named to the second team.

The All-Super Region 4 Team is comprised of players from the GNAC, Lone Star Conference, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

Hamilton, the GNAC Defensive Player of the Year, finished the season with 78 tackles. He led the conference with six interceptions and finished third with 11 tackles for loss for 69 yards and 5.5 sacks for 42 yards. Among Division II players, Hamilton ranks ninth with 0.5 interceptions per game. He finished with season highs of 10 tackles and three interceptions in the Wildcats’ 30-20 upset of Midwestern State on October 2.

Hegarty was one of the most accurate kickers in Division II, making 11 of 14 field goals and 57 of 58 point-after attempts. His 8.2 points scored per game ranked 26th in the nation. Hegarty also ranked 17th in Division II with a .786 field goal percentage and was 27th with one field goal made per game. He had four field goals of 40 or more yards on the season including a career-long 50-yard field goal against Midwestern State.

Stecklein was named the GNAC Defensive Lineman of the Year after amassing 49 tackles while leading the conference with 9.5 sacks and ranking 22nd in Division II with 0.86 sacks per game. He also ranked second in the conference with 15 tackles for loss and 37th in Division II with 1.4 tackles for loss per game.

Stecklein saved his best for last with a season-high eight tackles in the Wildcats’ first-round playoff game with Northwest Missouri State on November 20. He has highs of four tackles for loss and three sacks at Western Oregon on October 9.

With their first-team selections, Hamilton and Hegarty are now eligible for selection to the D2CCA All-America Team, which will be announced on Thursday, December 16.