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HEIKKINEN NAMED A D2FOOTBALL.COM ALL-AMERICAN FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Garth Heikkinen

Garth Heikkinen became part of University of Minnesota Duluth history today (Jan. 17) when he was named to the D2football.com All-American first team for 2012. For the senior offensive guard, its was his fifth All-American honor this season and 10th of his career, which ties him for the program lead on both fronts with running back Isaac Odim (2008-10). As for first-team citations, however, Heikkinen has no equals (seven) among anyone who has ever worn a UMD uniform.

The recipient of the Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year Award, Heikkinen will suit up in this Saturday's 88th annual East-West Shrine Game in St. Petersburg, Fla., for the East Team. He also was a member of the Associated Press (Little All-American first team), American Football Coaches Association (first team), Daktronics (first team) and Beyond Sports College Network (second team) All-American teams in 2012 after starting a  Bulldog-record 54 consecutive games over the past four seasons. UMD's first four-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference honoree (North Division first team in 2010-12 and honorable mention in 2009), Heikkinen anchored an offensive line that allowed the seventh fewest sacks in the nation (seven, none of which came at his expense) while paving the way for the third highest-scoring offense in NCAA II football (a school-record 46.5  points per game).

As a junior, Heikkinen attained All-American status from five different groups including the AFCA (first team), D2Football.com (first team), Daktronics (first team), Associated Press (Little All-American second team), and Beyond Sports College Network (honorable mention).  Since Heikkinen, a Duluth Central High School alumnus, assumed a starting role at the start of the 2009 season, the Bulldogs went 47-7, captured one NCAA II national championship (2010), three overall NSIC titles and four NSIC North Division crowns, qualified for the NCAA II playoffs four times, and cracked the top 10 in every AFCA II weekly poll but three (all in 2011 and never below No. 15).

2012 D2football.com All-American Team

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