Tiffin, Ohio – December 11, 2009 – Four members of the Heidelberg University football team earned all-region honors for their play on the gridiron this fall. Leading the way with two honors apiece was senior defensive tackle Matt Grieves (Huron, Ohio / Huron) and junior offensive guard Nathan Kater (Villa Hills, Ky. / Covington Catholic). Also earning an all-region postseason award was junior wide receiver Mike Preston (Maple Heights, Ohio / Euclid)and senior running back Jemar Lewis (Bedford Heights, Ohio / Bedford).
Grieves was named to the D3football.com All-North Region First Team Defense, along with earning a spot on the Ohio College Football.com second team defense. Along with his all-region accolades, Grieves picked up his third All-Ohio Athletic Conference honor this season after being named to the first team. In 2009 he led the team in tackles with 82, including a team-best 39 solo stops. He also stood atop the team and was ranked in the top-10 in the nation in tackles for a loss with 19.5. Finally, Grieves led the Berg with seven sacks for a loss of 39 yards.
Kater anchored the offensive line in 2009 and earned a spot on the D3football.com All-North Region Third Team Offense, along with a spot on the Ohio College Football.com second team offense. His all-region honor joins his nod on the All-OAC First Team Offense. He has started every game he has played in over his three-year career and has been an integral part in Heidelberg quarterback Andrew Miller (Dalton, Ohio / Dalton) setting a new single-season passing touchdown mark in back-to-back seasons. In 2009, Kater help guide the Berg offense to produce four games with multiple 100-yard rushers, along with a 100-yard receiver in five outings.
The D3football.com all-region teams are selected in balloting by North Region sports information director and D3football.com staff. Grieves and Kater are now on the ballot for All-American accolades.
Making an immediate impact in his first season as a starter was Preston. Following the conclusion of the regular season Preston earned his first postseason honor after earning a spot on the All-OAC First Team Offense and now has two postseason accolades following being named to the Ohio College Football.com Second Team Offense. Preston led the team in receiving yards (869) and receptions (47). He was also second on the team with eight touchdowns and with 50 points scored. Preston finished the year with five 100-yard receiving games.
Earning a spot on the Ohio College Football.com Third Team Offense was Lewis. This is his third postseason honor of his career joining his two All-OAC accolades, including a first team nod this fall. He was also a two-time OAC Offensive Player of the Week selection. For the year he led the team in scoring with nine touchdowns, to go along with a team-leading 807 rushing yards in 147 carries. In his final campaign, Lewis eclipsed 100 yards rushing in four games.
Under the guidance of third year head coach Mike Hallett, the Berg finished the regular season with a 4-6 overall record and a 3-6 record in OAC play. The Berg opened the year with a 42-26 victory at Westminster College and closed out the year victors in three of its last four outings. Included in its list of wins was its third-straight win over Baldwin-Wallace College and a road win at Wilmington College. Heidelberg also topped Marietta College for the second year in a row in a game that was played at Mayer Field, on the campus of Heidelberg. The game with the Pioneers marked the first football contest played on campus in 64 years.