Grayvold named to AFCA All-America team
WHITEWATER ,Wisc. – University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football senior Brady Grayvold (Norway, MI/Norway) was selected to the 2014 American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches’ All-America Team, the organization announced Wednesday, Dec. 10.
Grayvold, a defensive back, was one of just four defensive backs selected to the defense and the only representative of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference among any of the honorees (11 offense, 11 defense, three specialists).
A three-year starter, Grayvold has played a key role in helping the Warhawks secure back-to-back WIAC titles and the 2013 NCAA Division III championship. UW-Whitewater continues its run at a second consecutive national title this Saturday in the NCAA semifinals against Linfield (Ore.) at 2:30 p.m. at Perkins Stadium.
Grayvold currently leads the team and the WIAC with seven interceptions. He has accumulated 13 interceptions over his last 18 games dating back to the start of the 2013 postseason. Grayvold was selected to the d3football.com National Team of the Week for games played on Oct. 10-11 after posting two interceptions, including one returned 45 yards for a touchdown, to help the Warhawks defeat UW-Stout 37-0 on the road.
Grayvold, a d3football.com Preseason All-American, also leads the team with 13 passes defended and ranks fifth on the team with 39 tackles, including 29 solo stops. He has also forced one fumble and recovered another.
Over the last three months, Grayvold has racked up a number of conference, regional and national accolades. He was named to the Capital One Academic All-District 6 first team by the College Sports Information Directors of America in early November, then garnered first team All-WIAC accolades two weeks later.
Grayvold has been recognized twice nationally for his achievements in athletics, academics and service. He carries a 3.41 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, is majoring in secondary education and history and has volunteered at numerous events both on and off the UW-Whitewater campus.
In September, he was named a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s William V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes the best scholar-athlete in the nation.
Recently, Grayvold was announced as one of 10 semifinalists for the NCAA Division III Gagliardi Trophy, awarded to the nation’s most outstanding player by Jostens and the J-Club of St. John’s (Minn.) University.
Last season, Grayvold set a program record with nine interceptions, including six in the NCAA Division III Playoffs, to help the Warhawks win their fifth national championship in the last seven years. He was tabbed second team all-conference and earned WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll merits for the second straight year.
Grayvold is currently second in school history with 18 career interceptions. He has already matched a program record with four interceptions returned for touchdowns during his career.
The AFCA has selected an All-America team every year since 1945.
(Information/Photo Courtesy of UW-W Athletics)