WICHITA FALLS, Texas – For the first time in 12 years, Western State Colorado University football has two All-America selections. On Tuesday, Western's running back Austin Ekeler (Jr., Eaton, Colorado) and punter Dakota Swinehart (Sr., Taos, New Mexico) were both named to the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-America Second Team.
 
It is also the first time since 1996 Mountaineer football earned two selections to D2CCA, formerly Daktronics, All-America teams. In 1996, Shane Carwin earned second team honors and Ben Kern was a first team selection.
 
Ekeler led Division II and the RMAC in all-purpose yards per game with 203.9 and ran for the second most yards with 1,637. Ekeler has ran for more than 1,600 yards in two seasons and ran for over 1,000 yards as a freshman. On Nov. 7, 2015 Ekeler became Western's all-time career leader in rushing yards, surpassing Bill Rhodes' 59-year record of 4,297 yards. Nationally, Ekeler finished the season third in rushing yards per game (163.7), third in total yards rushing (1,637), and currently leads Division II in scoring, averaging 12.6 points per game. In addition, Ekeler was a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which goes to the top Division II player.
 
Swinehart, the RMAC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year, was second in the conference in punting average at 42.7 yards per punt. Swinehart averaged 42.7 yards per punt over his career at Western, recording 10,213 total punting yards. During the 2015 season, Swinehart landed 40.7 percent (22-of-54) of his punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line. Along with kicking a career long 69-yard punt, Swinehart recorded his first touchdown in 2015 on a 69-yard run on a fake punt.
 
From the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, only Colorado State University – Pueblo had more players selected to D2CCA All-America Teams. The ThunderWolves had three selections, while Colorado School of Mines, Western New Mexico University and Colorado Mesa University each had one.
 
A total of 21 schools were represented on the D2CCA All-America Second Teams. Only Midwestern State University finished with more second team selections with three.
 
Ferris State University quarterback Jason Vander Laan was named the Ron Lenz Offensive Player of the Year, and Grand Valley State University defensive lineman Matt Judon was named the Ron Lenz Defensive Player of the Year. Vander Laan is the defending Harlon Hill Trophy recipient, while Judon just won the Gene Upshaw Award as the best lineman in Division II.
 
The D2CCA encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.