College Sports Communicators (CSC) released its 2022 Academic All-District® Teams for football on Tuesday and seven Lake Forest players made the list.
To be eligible for nomination, student-athletes must be starters or important reserves and have played in at least half of the team's contests at their position. They must maintain at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale at their current institution and be at least a sophomore academically and athletically.
The Forester seniors recognized on Tuesday are Dante Esposito, Alan Hanson, Angel Sotelo, and Vincent Wallace. Juniors Aayden Dodd, Jimmy Lonigro, and Andres Mestre were also honored.
Mestre was the team's starting center for all but two games while Sotelo, a computer science major, appeared at guard in the first seven contests and made four starts. They were part of an offensive line that helped the Foresters rush for 186 yards per game and allow a total of just 16 sacks in 11 contests.
Hanson, a chemistry major, started every game at tight end this fall and caught 18 passes for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Cornerbacks Esposito and Lonigro helped the Lake Forest defense set a program record with just 209.7 total yards allowed per game in 2022. Esposito, an All-American in 2021, returned from injury to play in the team's final eight games and start the last seven. He made 18 tackles, led the team with eight pass breakups, and added his ninth career interception. Lonigro appeared in all 11 contests, starting the first six, and had 15 tackles, two pass breakups, and a blocked kick.
Dodd and Wallace were key parts of Lake Forest's special teams units. Dodd has been the primary snapper on extra points, field goals, and punts for the last two seasons while Wallace, a backup quarterback, has served as the holder for extra points and field goals throughout his four-year career. Both players are data science majors emphasizing in finance and economics. Dodd is also majoring in finance.
Six of the seven players were Academic All-Midwest Conference selections in 2021 and all four seniors earned the honor in 2019 as well. In addition, Wallace was the 2021 recipient of the MWC Elite 20 Award.
The Foresters posted a 9-2 overall record this season, captured their second straight MWC title, and earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the second year in a row.
Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced in mid December.
College Sports Communicators Release