Danish tight end/linebacker/wide receiver Gangelhoff, who first played football with the Odense Swans in his native Denmark, and German tight end/defensive end Edebali, from Hamburg, Germany, were both named to the All-Evergreen League and All-New England All-Star teams. They were also named the Wildcats' Most Valuable Players at the school's award ceremony.
The pair closed out their senior season at KUA as second-year members of the USA Football International Student Program, which enabled 12 student-athletes from three continents to live their dream of playing American football and study at U.S. prep schools. Each student applied online at usafootball.com and having proved themselves suitable candidates, became eligible for financial aid from both USA Football and the host schools that they selected. The ISP will welcome its fourth class of overseas student-athletes in 2009.
Gangelhoff and Edebali helped KUA to a 7-1 regular season record, earning a spot in a NEPSAC (New England Prep School Athletic Conference) bowl game for the second consecutive year. Kimball Union was unable to add a second championship to the NEPSAC title won in 2007 as the Wildcats lost 21-12 to Trinity-Pawling in the Eaton-Estey Bowl.
In addition to impressing at middle linebacker and as a receiving option, Gangelhoff proved a reliable kicker, completing 40 of 49 extra point attempts on the season. He also scored four touchdowns for the Wildcats.
"When we came here two seasons ago, we were just thinking about how to learn subjects in a foreign language and become better football players and now we are on the all-star team, which is fantastic," Gangelhoff said. "I have really enjoyed playing football here."
The Dane will now turn his attention to graduating from Kimball Union Academy and participating in a spring sport, such as baseball, which he experienced for the first time earlier this year. Gangelhoff has verbally committed to play football at the nearby University of New Hampshire in 2009.
Edebali developed into an inspirational team leader for KUA and was named the Evergreen League Most Valuable Lineman in addition to his All-Evergreen and All-New England honors. He scored four touchdowns for the Wildcats, including a second quarter score in the Eaton-Estey Bowl. Defensively, he helped KUA limit opponents to six points or less in five of their eight games while outscoring the opposition 313 points to 93.
The German impressed scouts at the Boston College summer football camp earlier this year and was highly recruited by the Eagles. He has since committed to play football at BC in 2009.
Gangelhoff and Edebali join Mexican kicker Danny Agee as members of the USA Football International Student Program receiving honors this season.
Agee, who hails from Puerto Vallarta, was recognized by the first team Carolina Piedmont All-Conference and NCISAA (North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association) All-State honors for his performances at Christ School in Arden, N.C., for the second straight year.