15 Wheaton gridders named to All-CCIW Teams Mike Swider named "Coach of the Year" and Justin Knapp earns "Defensive Player of the Year"

Wheaton,

Ill. (11/19) - The CCIW Champion Wheaton College football team

placed 15 players on the 2002 All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin

(CCIW) football team. The Thunder posted a 9-1 record this season and a 7-0

mark in conference play to win its second CCIW Championship in three years.

Wheaton won the CCIW's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Playoffs

by winning the conference championship. The Thunder will travel to Alma College

this Saturday for a first round game of the Division III Football Playoffs.

His peers selected thunder head coach Mike Swider (PICTURED

RIGHT) as the "Bob Reade Coach of the Year". Wheaton was picked fourth in

the CCIW preseason coaches poll and went on to post only its second undefeated

conference record in 43 years. Swider is leading his team into it second appearance

in the NCAA Division III Playoffs; the first came in 1995, under coach J.R.

Bishop. Swider is 48-18 in his seven seasons as Wheaton's head coach and his

72.7% winning percentage is second in school history behind only Harve Chrouser's

74% (104-34-8) career percentage.

Senior linebacker Justin Knapp (Ames, Iowa/Ames) was selected as the

"Don Larson Defensive Player of the Year" and earned First Team All-CCIW honors.

Knapp (PICTURED LEFT) made a team-high 87 total tackles this season. The team

tri-captain made 1 quarterback sacks with 4 quarterback sacks, two interceptions,

five passes broken-up, a forced fumble and two recovered fumbles. Knapp finished

the conference season fifth in the league in total tackles with 62 against

league opponents.

Wheaton

placed four players on the All-CCIW First Team Offense. Junior quarterback

Chad Bradley (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) was a first team selection

for his effort at the helm of conference's top offense this season. Bradley

(PICTURED RIGHT) completed 135 of his 210 passing attempts for a 64.3 completion

percentage and 1,776 yards with 13 touchdowns. He averaged 222 passing yards

per game with a 148.14 passing efficiency rating. Sophomore wide receiver

Brad Musso (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central) earned first team honors

for his 50 catches for 1002 yards with 11 touchdowns and is 24th in Division

III in receiving yards per game. He averaged 20 yards per reception and 100.2

receiving yards per game this season. In league games he was second in the

CCIW in receiving yards per game with 94.7 yards per game against conference

foes. Fellow wide receiver Jonathan Wills (Mahomet, Ill./Mahomet-Seymour)

earned his second consecutive first team All-CCIW selection. The senior made

41 receptions for 518 yards this season, averaging 12.6 yards per catch and

51.8 yards per game. Junior offensive lineman James Hoxworth (Bridgeport,

Neb./Bridgeport) was a first team selection for leading an offensive line

that blocked for the top offensive unit in the CCIW and a club that is fourth

in Division III in total offense with 500.8 yards per game. Wheaton is 17th

in Division III in rushing yards with 236.3 yards per game and 26th in passing

offense with 264.5 yards per game.

Four Thunder players made the first team defensive unit including

Knapp at linebacker. Senior defensive tackle Dane Lundgren (Arden Hills,

Minn./Mounds View) earned his fourth All-CCIW selection and his third consecutive

first team pick. The team tri-captain made 47 total tackles this season with

six quarterback sacks (-30 yards) and 8 tackles for lost yardage (-37 yards)

with eight quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery of 15 yards. Fellow defensive

tackle (PICTURED LEFT) John Diggs (San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights)

was also a first team selection for his 46 total tackles with three quarterback

sacks (-16 yards) and 7 tackles for lost yardage (-27 yards). First team

cornerback Michael Drach (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) made 49 total

tackles this season with nine pass break-ups, an interception and a forced

fumble.

Wheaton

placed four players on the offensive second team, including the backfield

combination of fullback Corey Noonan (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista)

and tailback Dan Price (Monument, Colo./Lewis Palmer). Noonan (PICTURED

RIGHT) carried the ball 62 times for 332 yards this season for an average

of 331 yards with eight touchdowns. The senior tri-captain also caught 19

passes for 277 yards, averaging 14.6 yards per reception with three touchdowns.

Price, a junior, carried the ball 144 times for 750 yards for an average of

5.2 yards per carry and 75 yards per game with 13 touchdowns. Junior receiver

Andrew King (Vista, Calif./Rancho Buena Vista) was a second team selection

with 46 catches for 401 yards, averaging 8.7 yards per catch with three touchdowns.

Junior offensive lineman Chris Dubos (Sumner, Wash./Sumner) earned

his selection as the starting right tackle for the top offensive unit in the

CCIW and a club that is fourth in Division III in total offense with 500.8

yards per game.

Senior defensive end Jeff Darnauer (Goodland, Kan./Goodland)

was one of three Thunder players to earn a spot on the second team defensive

unit. Darnauer (PICTURED LEFT) recorded 40 total tackles this season with

2 quarterback sacks (-13 yards) and five tackles for lost yardage (-18 yards).

Senior linebacker Kevin Sellers (Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista) was voted

to the second team with 52 total tackles, three tackles for lost yardage,

four pass deflections, an interception and a forced fumble. Strong safety

Shawn Wildt (Victoria, Texas/Victoria) also was a second team selection.

Wildt recorded 41 total tackles this season and tied for the team lead with

two interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown. Wildt

is 29th in Division III with 16 passes broken up.