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JERSEY CITY, New Jersey -- Two Marietta College Pioneers were named to the 2021 Associated Press Division III All-America Team. Seniors Drake Neuberger (Norwalk, Ohio/Norwalk) and Tay Pryor (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak) both earned second team honors.
This marks the third All-America honor this fall for both Neuberger and Pryor. Neuberger has earned second team honors from the American Football Coaches Association, D3football.com and the Associated Press. Pryor received second team honors from the AFCA and Associated Press, and third team accolades from D3football.com.
Neuberger becomes the program's most decorated player with his fourth career All-America award. A trio of Pioneers have earned three All-America honors including Roger Walker '18, Caleb Riggleman '19 and Pryor.
In addition to the three All-America accolades, Neuberger's list of honors for the 2021 season includes D3football.com Preseason All-America second team, Ohio Athletic Conference Paul Hoernemann Co-Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman of the Year, first team All-OAC, D3football.com Region 4 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and D3football.com first team All-Region 4.
Neuberger finished the season with 69 tackles and led the OAC with 20.5 tackles for a loss and 14.0 sacks. He ranked second in NCAA Division III for sacks and fourth for tackles for a loss. Neuberger's sack total set the Marietta College single season record.
Pryor adds the three All-America awards to his list of honors for 2021 that includes first team All-OAC and first team D3football.com All-Region 4.
Pryor led Division III with 1.8 passes defended per game. His 15 pass break ups were tops in the OAC. Pryor finished the season with 48 total tackles. He had three interceptions and blocked one kick.Marietta finished the season with a 4-6 overall record and 4-5 OAC mark.
KREEGER NAMED MEN'S OAC POTW
WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Marietta College senior Tim Kreeger (Delphos, Ohio/Delphos St. Johns) was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Men's basketball Player of the Week Monday (Dec. 20) afternoon by the league office. This is the second weekly award for the Pioneers this season with Kreeger joining Lukas Isaly (Clarington, Ohio/River) as recipients.
Kreeger came off the bench to lead all scorers with 17 points in Marietta's 87-62 win over Otterbein University last week. Kreeger made 8-of-13 shots from the floor and pulled down four rebounds in 20 minutes of action.
For the season, Kreeger is averaging 8.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He leads the Pioneers with 15 steals and is second on the team with five blocked shots.
Marietta is currently ranked No. 8 in the D3hoops.com Top 25. The Pioneers are 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the OAC.
The Pioneers' next game will be in the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas. Marietta plays the University of Chicago at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. MC will then square off against No. 7 University of Saint Joseph on Wednesday at 8 p.m.
HEFNER NAMED WOMEN'S OAC POTW
WESTERVILLE, Ohio -- Marietta College senior Devin Hefner (Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg South) was named the Ohio Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Week Monday (Dec. 20) afternoon by the league office. This is the second career weekly award for Hefner.
Hefner led the Pioneers to a pair of road wins last week including an upset of No. 3 ranked John Carroll University. Marietta defeated Otterbein University, 70-57, on Wednesday and then knocked off the Blue Streaks, 81-80, on Saturday.
Hefner led all scorers with 23 points at John Carroll. She hit 7-of-13 shots from the floor and was 9-of-12 at the free throw line. She also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out three assists.
The 23 points were the most scored against John Carroll by an opposing player this season. Marietta's 81 points are also the most the Blue Streaks have allowed this year.
Hefner started the week with 12 points and five rebounds against Otterbein. She was a perfect 5-of-5 from the floor and 2-of-2 at the charity stripe. Hefner also had four steals in the game.
For the week, Hefner averaged 17.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. She shot 66.7% from the floor and 78.6% at the line.
Hefner is Marietta's leading scorer this season averaging 9.4 points per game. She ranks second on the team averaging 5.4 rebounds per night.
Marietta is currently 8-1 on the season and 3-1 in the OAC. The Pioneers are back in action in the 36th annual Jim Meagle Holiday Classic sponsored by BSN Sports on December 29-30 in Ban Johnson Arena. Marietta plays the College of Wooster on Wednesday (Dec. 29) at 7 p.m. and Carnegie Mellon University at 3 p.m. on Thursday.