For the first time in program history, the Northwest Missouri State University football team can boast of three Academic All-America® selections in the same season as senior Shane Fredrickson, senior Clayton Power and sophomore Kaleb McCullough gained the recognition as announced by the College Sports Communicators.
 
It marks the fourth time that the Bearcats have had two first-team selections in the same year with Fredrickson and Power notching first-team status. They join the groups of 2004 (Troy Tysdahl, Josh Lamberson), 2018 (Marqus Andrews, Ryan Spelhaug) and 2024 (Andrew Dumas, Jake Fisher).
 
Fredrickson (Lee's Summit, Mo.) had a 4.0 grade point average with his master's in business analytics. Fredrickson was a first-team all-MIAA pick at defensive back. He gained MIAA Scholar-Athlete honors. He set the NCAA Div. II single-game record for tackles with 31 stops vs. Harding in an NCAA first-round playoff game in Searcy, Ark. Fredrickson posted 83 tackles to rank second on the squad.
 
Power (Stilwell, Kan.) had a 3.89 GPA in business management. Power was a first-team AFCA all-America selection on the defensive line. He gained second-team all-America status from D2Football.com, D2CCA, Associated Press and Don Hansen. He was chosen as the 2025 MIAA Defensive Lineman of the Year and garnered first-team all-MIAA honors. He was an MIAA Scholar-Athlete. He ranked second in the MIAA in quarterback sacks (7.5) and tied for No. 7 in the league in tackles-for-loss (10.0). He started all 12 games on the defensive line and registered 40 total tackles.
 
McCullough (Humboldt, Iowa) had a 3.77 GPA in agricultural business. He was a second-team all-America honoree by D2Football.com, AFCA and Don Hansen. McCullough was a first-team all-MIAA pick on the offensive line. He also notched second-team D2CCA all-region status. He was an MIAA Scholar-Athlete. McCullough started all 12 games at left tackle as a part of a Bearcat offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks (15) in the MIAA. The Bearcats led the MIAA in total touchdowns scored (53), rushing touchdowns (32) and rushing offense (243.1 yards/game).
 
The Division II Academic All-America® program is financially supported by the NCAA Division II national governance structure to assist the College Sports Communicators with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2025-26 Division II Academic All-America® program.
 
Fredrickson, Power and McCullough become the 28th, 29th and 30th Bearcat football student-athletes to be selected as Academic All-America® honorees.

Northwest Football's Academic All-America Selections
Chip Gregory, LB - 1981 (First Team)
Josh Lamberson, QB - 2004 (First Team)
Troy Tysdahl, LB - 2004 (First Team)
Josh Lamberson, QB - 2005 (First Team)
Myles Burnsides, DB - 2008 (Second Team)
Myles Burnsides, DB - 2009 (First Team)
Sean Paddock, DL - 2009 (Second Team)
Jake Soy, WR - 2010 (Second Team)
Trevor Adams, QB - 2011 (Second Team)
Trevor Adams, QB - 2012 (Second Team)
Nate DeJong, DB - 2012 (Second Team)
Trevor Adams, QB - 2013 (First Team)
Eric Reimer, LB - 2013 (Second Team)
Eric Reimer, LB - 2014 (First Team)
Kyle Zimmerman, QB - 2016 (First Team)
Marqus Andrews, TE - 2018 (First Team)
Ryan Spelhaug, OL - 2018 (First Team)
Marqus Andrews, TE - 2019 (Second Team)
Ryan Spelhaug, OL - 2019 (First Team)
Jackson Barnes, LB - 2020-21 (Second Team)
Zach Howard, DT - 2020-21 (Second Team)
Jackson Barnes, LB - 2021 (First Team)
Zach Howard, DT - 2021 (Second Team)
Zach Howard, DT - 2022 (Second Team)
Kobe Clayborne, DL - 2023 (Second Team)
Andrew Dumas, LB - 2024 (First Team)
Jake Fisher, DL - 2024 (First Team)
Shane Fredrickson, DB - 2025 (First Team)
Clayton Power, DL - 2025 (First Team)
Kaleb McCullough, OL - 2025 (Second Team)
 
Overall, Northwest has had 64 all-time Academic All-America® honorees beginning with Chip Gregory in football in 1981.
 
Northwest's All-Time Academic All-America® Selections
1981 – Chip Gregory, Football (First Team)
1984 – Betty Olson, Women's Basketball (Honorable Mention)
1985 – Marla Sapp, Women's Basketball (Third Team)
1989 – Bob Sundell, Track & Field (First Team)
1989 – Bob Sundell, Men's Basketball (Second Team)
1994 – Bill Bobo, Men's Tennis (Third Team)
1997 – Kathy Kearns, Women's Cross Country (Second Team)
1998 – Robby Lane, Men's Cross Country (Third Team)
1999 – Robby Lane, Men's Track & Field (First Team)
1999 – Robby Lane, Men's Cross Country (Second Team)
2000 – Kendra Smith, Softball (First Team)
2000 – Jill Quast, Volleyball (First Team)
2002 – Tucker Woolsey, Men's Track & Field (First Team)
2003 – Clint Prange, Men's Track & Field (First Team)
2004 – Josh Lamberson, Football (First Team)
2004 – Troy Tysdahl, Football (First Team)
2005 – Josh Lamberson, Football (First Team)
2005 – Clint Prange, Men's Track & Field (First Team)
2005 – Gena Lindsay, Women's Tennis (Second Team)
2006 – Zach Keith, Men's Tennis/Men's At-Large (Third Team)
2006 – Gena Lindsay, Women's Tennis (Second Team)
2008 – Myles Burnsides, Football (Second Team)
2009 – Myles Burnsides, Football (First Team)
2009 – Sean Paddock, Football (Second Team)
2010 – Jake Soy, Football (Second Team)
2011 – Trevor Adams, Football (Second Team)
2012 – Trevor Adams, Football (Second Team)
2012 – Nate DeJong, Football (Second Team)
2013 – Trevor Adams, Football (First Team)
2013 – Eric Reimer, Football (Second Team)
2014 – Eric Reimer, Football (First Team)
2016 – Kyle Zimmerman, Football (First Team)
2016 – Sarah Baldwin, Softball (Third Team)
2018 – Marqus Andrews, Football (Second Team)
2018 – Ryan Spelhaug, Football (First Team)
2019 – Marqus Andrews, Football (Second Team)
2019 – Ryan Spelhaug, Football (First Team)
2020 – Jackson Barnes, Football (Second Team)
2020 – Zach Howard, Football (Second Team)
2020 – Marcus Klein, Men's Track & Field (First Team)
2021 – Jackson Barnes, Football (First Team)
2021 – Zach Howard, Football (Second Team)
2022 – Marcus Klein, Men's Track & Field (Second Team)
2022 – Zach Howard, Football (Second Team)
2022 – Alyssa Rezac, Volleyball (Second Team)
2022 – Payton Kirchhoefer, Volleyball (Third Team)
2023 – Caroline Cunningham, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2023 – Kaylee Harp, Track & Field/Cross Country (Second Team)
2023 – Blake Morgan, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2023 – Reece Smith, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2023 – Dakota Schmidt, Track & Field/Cross Country (Second Team)
2023 – Kobe Clayborne, Football (Second Team)
2024 – Mitch Mascari, Men's Basketball (Second Team)
2024 – Ryan Williams, Baseball (Second Team)
2024 – Kaylee Harp, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2024 – Blake Morgan, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2024 – Reece Smith, Track & Field/Cross Country (First Team)
2024 – Andrew Dumas, Football (First Team)
2024 – Jake Fisher, Football (First Team)
2025 – Jadyn Barnes, Track & Field/Cross Country (Second Team)
2025 – Riley Witt, Track & Field/Cross Country (Second Team)
2025 – Shane Fredrickson, Football (First Team)
2025 – Clayton Power, Football (First Team)
2025 – Kaleb McCullough, Football (Second Team)

For more information regarding the Academic All-America® program, visit https://academicallamerica.com/.