Bridgewater Native Tackles Challenges at Carnegie Mellon

There's a strong chance that for any running backs or would-be ball carriers possessing the football for any team on Carnegie Mellon's schedule, Tartans' senior inside linebacker and Bridgewater native Mike Shedlosky is bearing down on them to make the tackle.

Through the Tartans' five games this year, Shedlosky, who played at Bridgewater-Raritan from 2003-06, has tallied 61 tackles, including 20 solo, which places him among the top Division III tacklers.

Carnegie Mellon is 3-2 this year and has four games left on the season, including the last three against University Athletic Association foes.

"Hands down, a conference championship," Shedlosky said when asked about his goals for the season. "We have a young, but motivated team that can do very well if we have our heads on straight."

Shedlosky is setting the tone defensively for the Tartans. He was UAA Football Defensive Athlete of the Week on Sept. 14, following a 19-tackle performance in a 34-27 loss to Alleghany College.

The next highest tackler on the Tartans roster is Ray Johnson, who has 35 tackles.

"It's one of the best feelings in the world," Shedlosky said of making a tackle. "It's a sudden rush of adrenaline and excitement that is then spread to your teammates."

"Also, I've been known to throw a Tiger Woods-esque fist pump from time to time," he added.

Shedlosky's tackle totals have gone up every year with increased playing time at Carnegie Mellon—he had one tackle in 2007, 15 in 2008 and 68 last year.

"I'm averaging around 12 tackles per game, which is nationally ranked in D-III football," Shedlosky said. "I'm very pleased with the way I've been playing."

Shedlosky believes setting the tone on defense starts with what you have on the inside.

"Showing heart and setting an example," Shedlosky said. "A lot of times, a linebacker will get bumps and bruises because that's part of the territory, but that doesn't mean you can take a play off because the defense looks at you for motivation."

In an ironic twist, Shedlosky didn't come to Carnegie Mellon with thoughts of playing football right away. Because of its obvious academic pedigree, Shedlosky was intent on concentrating on his studies—he's majoring in civil engineering, is on target to graduate and is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers—but Tartans head coach Rich Lackner approached the ex-Panthers standout about pursuing a college football career.

"It was my intention to go to college for education first, so I had to make sure that CMU had a good academic standing," Shedlosky said. "When I found that the engineering program is one of the best in the nation and the football team had a tradition, how could I say no?"

As one of the team's two captains, he's also embraced the leadership role on the team, even though, by his own admittance, he's not much of a motivational speaker.

"It's a tough responsibility, but I feel honored that my teammates thought I could lead them," Shedlosky said. "Usually our team has two captains per side, two offense and two defense, but this year we only have a total of two, so the responsibility of two captains has been put on me. Hopefully, I can make my teammates proud."

With his collegiate football career nearly complete, Shedlosky is happy he made the decision to join the Tartans football program.

"Football has taught me a bunch of life lessons," Shedlosky said. "For instance, [one is] the ability to balance my schedule between football and the classroom." 

"Also, there's having to work hard at something in order to perform at a high level," he added. "I'm not going to lie, it also helps me relieve some stress by throwing my body around."

If you're keeping count, he's thrown his body into ball carriers 61 times, with plenty more to go before the season concludes.