BISMARCK, ND – Eight University of Mary scholar-athletes earned a spot on the 2024 Academic All-District® Football Team, as selected by College Sports Communicators. Earning Academic All-District honors for the Marauders are Eli Heinrich, Brayden Iverson, Adam Knowles, Dominic Mazzulla, Mason Phillips, Ryan Piepgras, Kevin Powell and Mujeeb Rufai.
 
Heinrich, Phillips and Powell are repeat selections from 2023.
 
The CSC Academic All-District® teams recognize the nation's top scholar-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. Team members are selected by the College Sports Communicators (formerly College Sports Information Directors of America / CoSIDA). To be nominated, a scholar-athlete must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically and starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at her current institution.
 
Heinrich is a junior from Kindred, ND. The Biomechanics major plays linebacker for the Marauders and appeared in all 11 games in 2024. Heinrich made 15 tackles (12 solo), including one for loss.
 
A sophomore wide receiver from Las Vegas, NV, Iverson is pursuing a degree in physical education. He played 11 games for the Marauders and was a key special teams performer, making eight tackles and forcing a fumble.
 
Mazulla, a Business Administration/Sport and Leisure Management major, is a sophomore from Thornton, CO. The tight end played all 11 games for UMary.
 
Majoring in Business Administration/Financial Services and Banking, Knowles is a sophomore from Gilbert, AZ. The defensive lineman played all 11 games for the Marauders and made nine tackles, including 0.5 for loss.
 
A junior from Gilbert, AZ, Phillips owns a bachelor's degree in Financial Services and Banking from UMary and is working on a Master's degree in Business Administration. The linebacker earned 2^nd team All-Northern Sun honors in 2024 after leading the Marauders with 5.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss.   
 
Piepgras is a sophomore linebacker from Foreston, MN, majoring in Business Administration/Financial Services and Banking. He played 11 games and made a tackle while serving on the Marauders special teams unit.
 
Powell is a senior from Bremerton, WA, who earned a bachelor's degree from UMary in Financial Services and Banking last spring and is working on his Master's degree in Business Administration. The Marauders kicker and punter the last four seasons, Powell averaged 36.6 yards per punt, made 9-of-14 field goals and converted all 15 extra point kicks to score a team-leading 42 points.  
 
A graduate student from Portland, OR, Rufai is earning his Master's degree in Business Administration at UMary. The wide receiver earned 2^nd team All-Northern Sun honors after leading the Marauders in catches (53), receiving yards (513) and touchdowns (3).
 
The Division II and III CSC Academic All-America® programs are partially financially supported by the NCAA Division II and III national governance structures to assist CSC with handling the awards fulfillment aspects for the 2024-25 Divisions II and III Academic All-America® programs.
 
For more information about CSC Academic All-District® and Academic All-America® Teams program, visit AcademicAllAmerica.com.
 
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