A-W football alum Oetken receives GPAC Defensive Player of the Week Honors

SIOUX CITY, Iowa--Morningside College's Ryan Oetken, a 6-0, 180 lb. senior defensive back from Akron, Iowa, has been named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Mustangs' 31-7 victory against Dakota Wesleyan on September 6.

Oetken intercepted three passes in the contest to tie a Morningside single-game record. Oetken returned the interceptions for 43 yards and also had three solo tackles and two assisted tackles in the game. He intercepted three passes in a game for the second time in his career. Oetken also had three interceptions against Hastings College during the 2006 season.

Oetken, who set a school record with 17 pass breakups last season, has 16 career interceptions to put him four shy of the Morningside record of 20 career interceptions, held by Mike Winklepleck, who played for the Mustangs from 2002-2005.

Morningside is ranked seventh in the nation in the NAIA and will travel to Orange City, Iowa, on Saturday for a 7 p.m. game against No. 13 Northwestern College.