Nov 18, 2014

Wheaton places 12 on the All-CCIW football team; Mike Swider and Adam Dansdill win special awards

Wheaton, Ill. –The CCIW announced its All-Conference football team on Tuesday, with 12 members of the Wheaton College football team earning selections. Wheaton players earned seven First Team honors with five Thunder honorees on the Second Team. Additionally, head coach Mike Swider was named the Bob Reade Coach of the Year and Adam Dansdill was honored as the Don Larson Defensive Player of the Year.

Swider (PICTURED LEFT) earns the Bob Reade Coach of the Year award for the fifth time in his career, also winning the honor in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2006. The veteran head coach guided Wheaton to a 10-0 regular season this fall and a 7-0 CCIW record to win sole possession of the CCIW Championship for the first time since 2003. Swider becomes only the third coach in CCIW history to win the award five times since it was established in 1978. He is tied with longtime Illinois Wesleyan head coach Norm Eash for the second-most selections at five. Former Augustana head coach Bob Reade won the award eight times in his career. Swider is in his 19th season at Wheaton with a 158-43 at the helm of the program.

Dansdill (PICTURED RIGHT), a junior linebacker for the Thunder, is the ninth player from Wheaton to earn the league's Defensive Player of the Year award since it began in 1977. However, he is the first Wheaton student-athlete to win the award since Pete Ittersagen earned it 2007. Dansdill leads Wheaton with 115 total tackles this season, including 54 solo stops. His 115 tackles are the most by a Wheaton player since Justin Knapp made 115 stops in the 2001 season. Dansdill led the CCIW in total tackles this season with 71 stops in conference play. He is ranked 19th in Division III in total tackles per game with 11.5 per game.

Junior linebacker Mikey Swider (PICTURED LEFT) also earned First Team All-CCIW recognition alongside Dansdill. Swider was second on the Thunder this season with 91 total tackles, including 43 solo tackles. In conference play he made 62 tackles, with 32 solos. Swider added 6.0 tackles for loss (-13 yards).

Three Thunder players earned All-CCIW recognition on the defensive line as Logan McRae earned First Team accolades and Josh Aldrin and Jared Todd picked up Second Team honors. McRae (PICTURED RIGHT) led the Thunder with eight sacks (-43 yards) as part of a team-best 12.5 tackles for lost yardage (-59 yards). McRae tallied 58 total tackles this season. In conference play he has accumulated 52 tackles, with 11.5 tackles for lost yardage (-52 yards), including 7.0 sacks (-36 yards).

Aldrin has 52 total tackles this fall, including 6.0 tackles for loss (-31 yards) with 4.0 sacks (-30 yards). In CCIW play he has registered 37 total tackles, including 2.5 tackles for lost yardage. Jared Todd is an All-CCIW selection for the second consecutive season. He has 39 total tackles this fall, including 28 in conference play. Todd has registered 11.5 tackles for loss (-54 yards) this season, including 7.0 QB sacks (-41 yards). In CCIW contests he recorded 8.0 tackles for loss (-39 yards), including 4.5 sacks (-27 yards).

A pair of Wheaton defensive backs earned All-CCIW accolades as senior Michael Risher (PICTURED LEFT) picked up First Team recognition and junior Alex Mendez was a Second Team honoree. Risher has a team-high three interceptions for the Thunder. He has also tallied 28 total tackles, including 5.0 for loss (-10 yards). Risher picked off two passes in CCIW play this fall with 21 total tackles. Mendez has 31 tackles this season, with three interceptions – all in CCIW play.

Center Spencer Clark (PICTURED RIGHT) earned All-CCIW recognition for the third time in his career. He is joined by fellow Thunder offensive linemen Matt Snebold (PICTURED LEFT), a First Team honoree, and Second Team selection Dan Barnhart. The trio led an offensive line that has been an integral part of Wheaton's success in 2014. The Thunder line has only allowed 10 quarterback sacks this season, ranking 23rd in Division III in the category. The offensive line sparks a Wheaton offense that averages 413.7 yards per game.

Wide receiver Luke Thorson (PICTURED RIGHT) picked up First Team All-CCIW accolades and running back Danny Puknaitis was a Second Team selection. Thorson leads Wheaton with 56 receptions and 716 receiving yards. He is averaging 12.8 yards per catch and has a team-high 12 touchdowns this year. Thorson's 12 touchdown receptions are the most by a Thunder receiver since Alex Pokorny snatched 19 in 2008. In conference play Thorson has made 40 catches versus league foes with six touchdown receptions. Puknaitis has run for 430 yards this season, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. In CCIW play he racked up 337 rushing yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry with two touchdown runs.Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#41

Brett Anderson

ILB

6' 3"

Senior

#77

Brandon Dykstra

6' 3"

Senior

#27

Jackson Edwards

5' 11"

Senior

#53

Jordan Higgins

OLB

6' 0"

Senior

#92

Josh Aldrin

5' 8"

Sophomore

#64

Dan Barnhart

6' 0"

Senior

#55

Spencer Clark

6' 0"

Senior

#44

Adam Dansdill

6' 0"

Junior

#56

Logan McRae

6' 2"

Junior

#23

Alex Mendez

6' 0"

Junior

Players Mentioned

#41

Brett Anderson

6' 3"

Senior

ILB

#77

Brandon Dykstra

6' 3"

Senior

#27

Jackson Edwards

5' 11"

Senior

#53

Jordan Higgins

6' 0"

Senior

OLB

#92

Josh Aldrin

5' 8"

Sophomore

#64

Dan Barnhart

6' 0"

Senior

#55

Spencer Clark

6' 0"

Senior

#44

Adam Dansdill

6' 0"

Junior

#56

Logan McRae

6' 2"

Junior

#23

Alex Mendez

6' 0"

Junior