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Bethany’s Daniel Gibson Taking on the World at International Football Championships

Bisons defender competing for USA at U-19 championships

GIBSON

HARBIN, China — Bethany College football sophomore defensive tackle Daniel Gibson has been selected to take part in the 2016 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Under-19 World Championships. Gibson will play as a member of the USA Football U-19 team.

USA Football, a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, manages U.S. national teams for international competitions. Approximately 70 countries across five continental federations possess a national federation dedicated to the sport.

“Being chosen to compete for your country is the greatest honor that an athlete can receive, and I know that Daniel is really humbled by the opportunity,” Bison defensive coordinator Joe Battaglia said.

Gibson is one of 44 players, aged 19 or under, representing 20 states, that will compete in the seven-nation tournament. The tournament was set to be held June 30-July 11 in Harbin, China. Gibson, a defensive tackle for the Bison football program, is the only NCAA Division-III athlete on the roster, which is also comprised of two other college players (both from the National Junior College Athletic Association) and 41 high school players from across the country.

Following last week’s training camp that took place in Union, N.J., on the campus of Kean University, the National team traveled to China, where it will compete in an eight-day tournament against teams from Canada, Mexico, Austria, Japan, Australia and China.

Gibson, a 2015 graduate of Woodland Hills High School, burst onto the scene in his first year with the Bison, playing in all 10 games at defensive tackle. Last season, as a freshman, Gibson ranked second on the team in forced fumbles (three), third in sacks (4.5) and fourth in tackles for loss (10.5). He finished the year with 49 tackles, including a season-high nine in an Oct. 24 victory against Geneva.

“Daniel has been everything and more that the U.S. National Team represents,” said Aaron Ingram, who serves as the head coach of the U-19 team. “He makes everyone around him play better, and I believe that he is going to have an excellent tournament.”

Gibson and the U.S. U-19 National Team opened the tournament Thursday as the No. 1 seed, facing fourth-ranked Austria. The team will be attempting to capture its second straight title, coming on the heels of a 40-17 victory against Canada in the gold medal game in 2014.

“We couldn’t be more proud to have Daniel represent Bethany College and USA Football on the world stage,” Battaglia said.

Coming from an elite high-school program like Woodland Hills, Gibson made an immediate impact on the field as an all-conference performer in his freshman season.

“Not only is he a very talented and productive student-athlete, he is also a positive leader and a great teammate. We want to wish him the best of luck in China and look forward to watching USA Football bring home a gold medal,” Battaglia said.

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