Vance earns All-MIAA honors at Pittsburg State

Pittsburg State center Anders Vance recently earned All-MIAA recognition following his performance with the Gorillas this past season.

In his first year starting for the
Pittsburg State football team on a full-time basis, Anders Vance certainly made
his mark on the Gorilla offensive line.

Vance, a 2016 Louisburg High
School graduate, was named to the All-MIAA honorable mention team as he was one
of 17 Gorillas to be given postseason honors when the list was released late
last month.

“It was an incredible to earn that
honor,” Vance said. “I would not have been able to receive that honor without
the amazing athletes that were playing at my side this season.”   

Vance, who played center for the
Gorillas, helped Pitt State accumulate 466 total yards a contest as it averaged
nearly 41 points a game. Pitt State finished the season with a 6-5 record.

It has been a long road for the Pitt State junior, but it all seems to be paying off. After redshirting his freshman year, Vance saw action in five games in a reserve role last season, before taking the starting job in 2019 and he never let it go.

“It
was awesome to be able represent Pitt State this season as a starter, and it
wouldn’t have happened without my coaches and teammates pushing and believing
me,” Vance said. “On the season, I played to the best of my ability and tried
to do my job every play. That was the mindset the whole o-line had. We trusted
each other to do our jobs every play and it was smooth running for the most
part up front.”

Vance was a fixture on the offensive line for Louisburg as well as he was an all-league and all-state selection his senior season. He was also named to the 2016 Kansas Shrine Bowl.

There
will be some changes within the Gorilla program next season as they look for a
new head coach, but Vance is looking forward to one more final year no matter
who is leading the team.

“This
upcoming season is going to be exciting,” Vance said. “I look forward to
getting into off-season training with my team and seeing us all grow in strength
and speed, and to see what we can put on the field next year and what damage we
can do.”