Four Raiders earn first-team All-American selections – Medford News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News

Mail Tribune (Medford, OR — Wayback)

2004-01-14

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Four Raiders earn first-team All-American selections Jan 14, 2004 12:00 AM A A ASHLAND ' The 2003 Southern Oregon University football team's late-season surge helped the program garner a school-record four first-team NAIA All-American selections. Seniors Steve Baker, Garret Gelker, Dusty McGrorty and Todd Wesolowski earned the top individual all-star honor while leading the 23rd-ranked Raiders on a season-ending four-game win streak that clinched the program's fifth consecutive winning season (5-4). Baker finished as a two-time All-American after leading the NAIA with a 43.8 punting average ' the school's best clip since 1965. Gelker, a 6-1, 225-pound defensive end, earned All-American status for the second consecutive year by racking up 41 season tackles, including 19 for losses, along with three forced and recovered fumbles. McGrorty, a 6-foot, 220-pound tailback, capped his extraordinary career as a three-time All-American by rushing for 1,703 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2003. He finished with 5,414 career yards (No. 4 all-time among NAIA players), 79 touchdowns (No. 2 all-time) and 474 points (No. 2 all-time). Wesolowski, a 6-4, 250-pound left tackle, is the school's first two-time All-American offensive lineman. The four-year starter and 2002 second-team All-American pick helped the 2003 team finish ninth nationally for scoring offense (33.4 per game) and 10th for total offense (414.3). As a team, the quartet helped Southern Oregon finish in the NAIA top-25 for the fifth time since 1997.