AFCA Release

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's University Senior linebacker Ryan Wimmer (St. Cloud, Minn./Cathedral) was named to the 2009 American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) Division III All-America Team on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

He becomes the 90th All-American in SJU football history (sixty-nine SJU student-athletes have earned All-America honors a total of 90 times).

A three-time All-MIAC selection (2007 second team, 2008-09 first team), Wimmer finished second on the team with 62 tackles (38 solo), including 8.5 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and one sack in 2009. He ended his career fifth in school history with 307 total tackles and 150 solo tackles, and ninth in assisted tackles (157). Wimmer was named to the D3football.com All-West Region second team on Dec. 11 and to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District second team in November.

SJU ended the 2009 season with an 8-0 record in the MIAC and a 10-1 overall record. The Johnnies earned their MIAC-record 31st conference championship, the 27th under the direction of Gagliardi, and made their 24th postseason appearance (and 11th in the past 12 seasons). Gagliardi ended his record 61st season with a 471-126-11 (.784) career record and a 447-120-10 (.783) record in 57 seasons at SJU.