CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – College Sport Communicators (CSC) announced its 2024 Football Academic All-America teams this afternoon. The American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) is represented by three student-athletes from three institutions.
Gavin Smith of Central and Ben Bryant of Wartburg earned first-team honors while Alex Aitchison of Coe earned second-team accolades.
Smith, a junior, carries a 3.92 cumulative grade point average while studying accounting. This is his first CSC Academic All-America honor. The Dutch finished the 2024 season with an overall record of 8-2.
Bryant, a senior, is majoring in business administration and maintains a 3.62 grade point average. This is his first CSC Academic All-America honor. Wartburg finished the season in the third round of the NCAA Playoffs with a 10-2 overall record after claiming the A-R-C title.
Aitchison, a senior, is studying kinesiology while holding a 3.89 cumulative grade point average. This is his second career CSC Academic All-America accolade. The Kohawks earned its second consecutive at-large bid to the NCAA Playoffs and finished the season with a 9-2 record.
About the American Rivers Conference
The Conference dates back to December 8, 1922, when representatives from 12 colleges got together and formed the "Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Association." Honoring its heritage in Iowa and its expansion outside the state, the American Rivers Conference brand was established on August 9, 2018, to build on the academic and athletic success provided by its legacy, the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The A-R-C has nine full-time members: Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, University of Dubuque, Loras College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Simpson College, and Wartburg College.
