GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Seven Grove City College football players earned D3football.com All-Region 2 honors Wednesday afternoon in recognition of their respective performances during the Wolverines' historic 2023 season.

Senior guard Vinny LePre (Pine Grove, Pa./Pine Grove) and sophomore linebacker Ben Bladel (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon) both earned First Team All-Region 2. Junior running back Nico Flati (Aliquippa, Pa./West Allegheny) and senior long snapper C.J. Otwell (Laurel, Del./Laurel) each captured Second Team All-Region distinction.

Senior Gabe Dunlap (Harrison City, Pa./Penn Trafford) earned Third Team All-Region at both cornerback and kick returner. Junior center Brady Brungard (New Middletown, Ohio/Springfield Local) and junior defensive end Bryce Spolnik (McDonald, Pa./South Fayette) each merited Third Team All-Region honors.

LePre helped lead a veteran offensive line that allowed only four sacks in 12 games this season. His efforts on the offensive line helped Grove City average 5.8 yards per offensive play, including 4.6 yards per carry. The Wolverines also converted a Presidents' Athletic Conference-best 50.0 percent of their third down opportunities this season.

LePre earned his fourth First Team All-PAC citation this fall. He earned D3football.com All-Region distinction last year, along with American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America honors. 

Bladel led NCAA Division III with 17 quarterback sacks this year, including 15 in the regular season. His 24.5 tackles for loss are second-most in Division III this year. Bladel set Grove City single-season records in both statistical categories this year.

The Presidents' Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Bladel recorded 56 total tackles, forced four fumbles, broke up seven passes and blocked two kicks this season. He capped the season with two sacks November 25 at Cortland in the second round of the NCAA playoffs.

Flati led the conference with 1,234 rushing yards this season. He averaged 4.7 yards per carry and scored eight touchdowns while securing First Team All-PAC status. Flati posted eight 100-yard outing this year, including 116 yards at Cortland.

Flati's 1,234 rushing yards are No. 9 on Grove City's single-season list. He has moved into third place in program history with 2,756 career rushing yards.

Otwell has handled Grove City's snapping for punts and place kicks since his freshman season in 2019. This year, he handled all 97 snapping assignments flawlessly. His efforts in punt coverage helped Grove City limit opposing returners to 43 total return yards all season.

Dunlap shared the team lead with three interceptions this season. He also broke up four passes and recorded 61 total tackles. Dunlap earned First Team All-PAC at cornerback.

Dunlap led the conference in kickoff returns, averaging 27.7 yards per return. That figure ranks 10th in NCAA Division III and is the second-highest average in program history.

Dunlap also averaged 16.0 yards on his eight punt returns this year. He returned a punt 40 yards for a touchdown October 21 against Saint Vincent. The conference recognized him as Second Team All-PAC kick returner.

Brungard joined LePre on the interior of Grove City's offensive line this year. A First Team All-PAC honoree, Brungard started 11 games this year at center. His work helped the Wolverines lead the conference in average time of possession (32:52), rushing first downs (128) and total first downs (258).

Spolnik highlighted his third year as a starter on Grove City's three-man defensive line by recording five sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. He ranked second on the team in both categories. Spolnik, who earned First Team All-PAC recognition, posted 45 total tackles and three forced fumbles. 

Grove City finished the season 11-1 overall. The Wolverines won their first outright conference title since 1997 and recorded their first-ever 10-0 regular season.

Grove City also earned its first NCAA playoff berth and defeated Susquehanna in the first round November 18, 21-20, in Selinsgrove, Pa. Current national semifinalist Cortland edged Grove City in the second round, 25-24.

NCAA Division III realigned Division III football into six regions in 2021. Region 2 includes the Centennial Conference, Empire 8, Landmark Conference, Liberty League, New Jersey Athletic Conference and Presidents' Athletic Conference.