Posted: Jun 15, 2016

Seven football players earn membership into Hampshire Honor Society

INDIANOLA, Iowa - Simpson senior football players Blake Bergstrom, Corbin Clark, Nate Connealy, Clay Finley, Sam Kline, Corey Meyer, and Michael Pavon earned membership to the 2016 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society, as announced by the National Football & College Hall of Fame (NFF) in April.

Membership to the society is comprised of college football players from all divisions of play who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their entire college career. A record of 882 total players from 280 schools qualified in the society's 10th year.

"The number of colleges and universities who embrace the Hampshire Honor Society continues to increase each year," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "Over the past decade, it has become a powerful vehicle for schools to recognize their college football players who have distinguished themselves both academically and athletically, and we congratulate the schools and each of these young men for their commitment to excellence."

Bergstrom is an offensive lineman from Ankeny, Iowa and graduated with degrees in physics and education with a minor in coaching. He started nine games this year for the Storm. At the end of the 2015 season, he was named to the All-Iowa Conference First Team. He also earned a spot on the CoSIDA All-Academic District first team in both 2014 and 2015, and was a three-time All-Iowa Conference Academic team member. Bergstrom was a four-year letterwinner for the Storm.

Clark is a wide receiver from Carlisle, Iowa and graduated with a degree in exercise science with a minor in coaching. He came back from an early-season injury to appear in six games, catching 10 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns in the 2015 season. He was a three-time All-Iowa Conference Academic team member and a three-year letterwinner for the Storm.

Connealy is a wide receiver from Council Bluffs, Iowa and graduated with degrees in criminal justice and sociology with a minor in Spanish. He started all 10 games for the Storm this season, catching a team-high 38 passes for 389 yards and one touchdown. At the end of the season, he earned honorable mention honors on the All-Iowa Conference team. He was a three-time All-Iowa Conference Academic team member and a three-year letter winner for the Storm.

Finley is a defensive lineman from Muscatine, Iowa and graduated with degrees in physical education and exercise science with a minor in coaching. He appeared in nine games this season, making 43 tackles, with 20 of those being solo. He also recorded 4.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. At the end of the season, he was named to the All-Iowa Conference Second Team. He was a four-time All-Iowa Conference Academic team member and a four-year letterwinner for the Storm. Finley is also a veteran of the U.S. Army.

Kline is an offensive lineman from Omaha, Nebraska and graduated with degrees in accounting and management. He appeared in seven games during the 2015 season, giving him 19 for his career with 12 starts. He is a three-year letterwinner for the Storm.

Meyer is an offensive lineman from Iowa City, Iowa and graduated with a degree in physical education with minors in coaching and exercise science. He started all 10 games for the Storm in 2015, earning first team Preseason All-American honors from USA College Football. After the season, he earned honorable mention honors on the All-Iowa Conference team. Meyer was a four-year letterwinner for the Storm.

Pavon is a linebacker from Pleasant Hill, Iowa and graduated with a degree in athletic training. He started all 10 games for the Storm in 2015. After the season, he was named to the All-Iowa Conference Second Team. He was a two-time All-Iowa Conference Academic team member and a two-year letterwinner for the Storm.

Qualifications for membership are:

Being a starter or a significant contributor in one's last year of eligibility (or a senior who has declared for the NFL Draft) at an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Championship Subdivision, Division II, Division III or an NAIA college or university;
Achieving a 3.2 cumulative grade point average throughout entire course of undergraduate study; and
Meeting all NCAA-mandated progress towards degree requirements.