Thunder football team earns preseason recognition from USAToday Sports Weekly

Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton football team is ranked 18th according to the USAToday Sports Weekly Division III preseason top-25 that hit newsstands on Monday. Wheaton returns seven starters on each side of the ball, along with its placekicker and punter from a team that posted an 8-2 record last season.

All-American cornerback/return specialist Pete Ittersagen was one of five Division III players singled out in the USAToday Sports Weekly season preview as a “Player to Watch”. Ittersagen is the reigning CCIW “Defensive Player of the Year. Last season he earned All-American accolades from the American Football Coaches Association. He was a double All-American selection by D3Football.com earning recognition as a First Team honoree at cornerback and Second Team honors as a return specialist.

The Thunder will open its 2008 campaign at home against Bethel University (Minn.) on September 13. Bethel is one of two opponents on Wheaton's 2008 schedule that joins the Thunder on the USAToday Sports Weekly Division III preseason top-25. Bethel is ranked 10th in the poll and CCIW rival North Central College is ranked eighth in the poll.

Originally published by Wheaton College Athletics: /news/2008/6/27/foot-usatpoll.aspx