Gronewold named to another pre-season squad

Ashton Gronewold

Ashton Gronewold had a huge sophomore year at UMR and won a number of post-season awards for his efforts. That has now translated into quite a bit of pre-season notice for the junior wide receiver, as Gronewold has been named to three pre-season All-America teams for the 2006 season.

The latest honor came from Don Hansen's Football Gazette, which selected Gronewold as one of 10 wide receivers to its pre-season squad. That comes on the heels of being named to pre-season All-America teams by Street and Smith's and Lindy's Football magazine that have already appeared on newsstands. Gronewold finished the 2005 season by setting new single-season records at UMR for receptions (75), yardage (1,080) and touchdowns (17 receiving, 18 overall), earning honorable mention All-America honors as well as being named to the by the Independent Football Alliance. Gronewold also led the team with 1,288 all-purpose yards and his 17 receiving touchdowns also tied the national high in Division II last year during the regular season. He was one of two receivers on both of the earlier pre-season All-America squads as he was joined by East Stroudsburg's Evan Prall; Prall's quarterback, Jimmy Terwilliger, was also named to the pre-season All-America team by both publications.

The Miners had the fourth-rated passing offense in NCAA Division II in the 2005 season and Gronewold was among the national leaders for receptions, receiving yards and points scored. A native of Carthage, Ill., Gronewold also garned second-team all-region laurels from Football Gazette and Daktronics in 2005.

The Miners will report August 5 for the beginning of pre-season drills in preparation for the August 26 season opener at Tiffin.