Ashland's Gregg Berkshire Named To USA Football Team

Release courtesy of Al King, Assistant Athletic Director, Media Relations, Ashland University

ASHLAND, Ohio - Ashland University kicker-punter Gregg Berkshire (Ashland, Ohio) has been named to the Team USA football team that will compete at the 2011 International Federation of America Football (IFAF) tournament. That event will be played July 8-16 in Vienna, Austria.

Berkshire is part of the 45-man roster that will represent the United States.  The U.S. team is one of eight teams in the tournament.  The United States is in Group A along with Mexico, Germany and Australia. On July 8, the U.S. will play Australia.  The United States will then meet Germany on July 10 and Mexico on July 12.  That will conclude pool play.

This is the second time the United States has competed in this event. In 2007, the United States defeated Japan, 23-20 in double overtime in the championship game.

The United State head coach is Mel Tjeerdsma.  The offensive coordinator is Mount Union head coach Larry Kehres and the defensive coordinator is former Illinois head coach Lou Tepper.

Berkshire has been AU’s starting kicker for the last three years. In 2010, he was also the Eagles’ punter.  This past season, Berkshire connected on 16-of-23 field goal tries and on 48-of-50 extra point attempts. He averaged a school record 43.5 ypp., and earned first team All-GLIAC laurels and was a second team all-region choice.

Berkshire enters his senior season second in career kick scoring (248 points) and career scoring (248) and third in career field goals (40).  He is tied for first in career extra points (118). Berkshire owns school single-season records for extra points (48) and kick scoring points (96).