by PRESS RELEASE PER BW MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS
WESTERVILLE, Ohio — Baldwin Wallace University head football coach Jim Hilvert has been named the Ohio Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and eight student-athletes have been selected to the All-OAC squad.
Hilvert, who just completed his fifth season, earns his first Coach of the Year honor after leading BW to an 8-2 record and second place finish in the OAC with a mark of 7-2. He has a record of 29-13 at BW with a league record of 23-12. Hilvert has a career collegiate coaching record of 95-39 in 11 seasons.
During his tenure, Hilvert has mentored 34 All-OAC selections, 59 Academic All-OAC performers and four College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-Americans.
Senior defensive lineman Sekou Imani (Dover), senior defensive back Iyan Mitchell (Tampa, Fla./Robinson), senior running back Jon Murray, Jr. (Cincinnati/Withrow), senior linebacker Nick Pankow (Medina) and senior offensive lineman Patrick Simon (Olmsted Falls) were named to the first-team. Senior offensive lineman Jivan Meguerditchian (Avon Lake/St. Ignatius) landed on the second-team. Junior linebacker Mason Levasseur (Panama City, Fla./South Walton) and junior offensive lineman George Newcomb (West Seneca, N.Y.) were tabbed as honorable mention.
Imani, who garners his second career All-OAC first-team accolade, led the team and was second in the conference with a career-best 11.5 sacks. He led the squad and was third in the league in tackles for loss with a career-high 15. Imani also recorded 25 tackles, forced a career-best three fumbles, recovered two fumbles, tallied first career interception, and had one pass break-up.
For his career, Imani played in 32 games and recorded 111 tackles, 37.5 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, forced and recovered five fumbles, had four pass breakups, two blocked kicks and one interception. a two-time Ohio Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week selection, two-time Dick Miller Defensive Player of the Game Award winner and the 43rd Lee Tressel Shrine Classic Player of the Game Award recipient
Mitchell, who earns his third career All-OAC honor, made an impact on offense, defense and special teams and appeared and started in all 10 games. He caught 11 passes for 117 yards with two touchdowns.
Mitchell recorded a career-high 39 tackles, broke up a career-best 12 passes and had one interception. He returned 11 kickoffs for 42 yards and a career-high 17 punts for 238 yards. For his career, Mitchell played in 24 games and caught 61 passes for 1,011 yards with nine touchdowns.
He recorded 50 tackles, 12 pass breakups and had two interceptions. Mitchell returned 38 kickoffs for 771 yards and 18 punts for 289 yards. He was the 2019 BW Outstanding Receiver Award recipient and 2018 BW Offensive Scout Player of the Year Award winner.
Murray, Jr., who earns his fourth career All-OAC accolade, led the team, the conference and was tied for 10th in NCAA Division III in touchdowns with a career-best 17. He also led the squad and was second in the league with a career-best 1,111 yards.
Murray, Jr. led the team and was second in the OAC in scoring with a career-high 102 points. For his career, Murray, Jr. played in 32 games and rushed for a school-record 2,8715 yards on 553 carries with 35 touchdowns. He caught 24 passes for 210 yards and one touchdown.
Pankow, who garners his first All-OAC accolade, led the team and was tied for second in the OAC in tackles with a career-high 86 and was second on the team and ninth in the league with a career-best 11.5 tackles for loss. He also recorded a career-high four sacks, career-best two interceptions and forced his first career fumble. For his career, Pankow played and started in 22 games after transferring from NCAA Division II Ashland University.
He tallied 189 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, six sacks, five pass breakups, two interceptions, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble. Off the field, he is a two-time Academic All-OAC performer, College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District 7 selection Dean’s List student, Jacket Scholar and a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma and Dayton C. Miller honoraries.
Simon, who earns his third All-OAC honor, helped anchor an offensive line that led the OAC in rushing with 239.4 yards-per-game, was fourth in the league in scoring with 32.3 points-per-contest and fifth in total offense with 368.6 yards-per game.
For his career, Simon played and started in 42 games and played every position on the offensive line at one point, including every spot in one season. He helped the BW offense average 405.7 total yards per-game and 30.0 points-per-contest during his career.
Simon was the 2019 BW Dick Van Alman Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award and Ray E. Watts Most Valuable Offensive Player Award recipient. Off the field, Simon is a three-time Academic All-OAC performer, Dean’s List student, Jacket Scholar and member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society.
Meguerditchian, who garners his first All-OAC accolade, helped anchor an offensive line that led the OAC in rushing with 239.4 yards-per-game, was fourth in the league in scoring with 32.3 points-per-contest and fifth in total offense with 368.6 yards-per game.
For his career, Meguerditchian played and started in all 32 games at center. He helped the BW offense average 397.4 total yards per-game and 33.5 points-per-contest during his career. Off the field, Meguerditchian is a two-time Academic All-OAC performer, two-time College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) All-District 7 selection, Dean’s List student, Jacket Scholar and a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor society.
Levasseur, who earns his first All-OAC accolade after transferring to BW this season, was second on the team with 64 tackles, including 5.5 for a loss. He was tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries with two. Levasseur also tallied three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, one interception and one sack.
Newcomb, who garners his first All-OAC accolade, helped anchor an offensive line that led the OAC in rushing with 239.4 yards-per-game, was fourth in the league in scoring with 32.3 points-per-contest and fifth in total offense with 368.6 yards-per game. He has appeared in 10 career games and will earn his second varsity letter this fall. Off the field, Newcomb is a Dean’s List student.
BW finished the 2021 fall campaign with and 8-2 overall record and a 7-2 mark in the OAC
