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All-WIAC Football Team & postseason awards announced

11/20/2014, 12:15pm CST
By Travis Wilson

From the WIAC:

MADISON, Wis.—University of Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Matt Behrendt, UW-Platteville’s Jacob Zilbar and UW-Oshkosh’s Nate Ray were named the Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year, respectively to headline the individuals selected to the 2014 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Football Team by the league coaches.  In addition, Warhawk head coach Lance Leipold was chosen the George Chryst Coach of the Year.
 
Behrendt tops the conference with a 170.4 passing efficiency, while ranking second with 225.9 passing yards per contest and 228.2 yards of total offense per game.  He has thrown just two interceptions in 263 attempts and has two games of 300-plus passing yards, including a season-high 303 against UW-Stout on Oct. 11.  Behrendt has also thrown at least two touchdown passes in nine games, including four touchdowns on two occasions.
 
Zilbar claimed first team recognition for the second straight year.  He accumulated a team-high 78 total tackles, including 29 solo stops and five tackles for loss.  Zilbar also recorded a team-best four interceptions.  He reached double-digits in tackles in five games, including a season-high 16 against UW-Whitewater on Nov. 1.
 
Ray earned first team accolades for the second consecutive season after making 24-of-28 extra-point attempts and 10-of-16 field goals, including a season-long 41-yard conversion against UW-Stout on Oct. 4.  Ray averaged 43.9 yards per punt and uncorked a conference-best 73-yard boot against UW-River Falls on Oct. 18, and had 16 punts of 50-plus yards.  He also produced 19 punts inside the 20-yard line.
 
Repeat selections on the first team from a season ago included:  UW-Oshkosh’s Joe Sommers; UW-Platteville’s Rob Austin, Jayson Eddy and Andrew Robinson; UW-Stevens Point’s Zach Vallafskey; and UW-Whitewater’s Justin Howard, Jake Kumerow and Marcus McLin.  UW-La Crosse’s Ben Hertrampf was a first team pick in 2011.
 
Leipold secured the coaching honor for the fourth time in his career after directing the Warhawks to a 10-0 regular-season record and their ninth league title in the last 10 seasons.  UW-Whitewater also earned a spot in the NCAA Division III championship for the 12th time in program history.
 
The Coach of the Year trophy is named after George Chryst who coached UW-Platteville from 1979-92 and compiled a 79-60-2 record, including a conference title in 1980.
 
An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season.  It included one member from each school.

Offensive Player of the Year:  Matt Behrendt of Whitewater
Defensive Player of the Year:  Jacob Zilbar of Platteville
Special Teams Player of the Year:  Nate Ray of Oshkosh
George Chryst Coach of the Year:  Lance Leipold of Whitewater
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete:  Jacob Zilbar of Platteville

 
2014 All-WIAC Football Team
First Team - Offense

Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Joe Sommers, Oshkosh, Junior, Tight End, Hortonville, Wis.
Jayson Eddy, Platteville, Senior, Offensive Line, Aurora, Ill. (West)
Conner Peters, Whitewater, Junior, Offensive Line, Springfield, Ill. (Sacred Heart Griffin)
Ryan Ramczyk, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Stevens Point, Wis.
Sam Versnik, Oshkosh, Junior, Offensive Line, West Allis, Wis. (Hale)
Brian Lurquin, Platteville, Senior, Center, Chicago, Ill. (St. Rita)
Matt Behrendt, Whitewater, Senior, Quarterback, Westchester, Ill. (Nazareth Academy)
Ben Hertrampf, La Crosse, Senior, Running Back, Fennimore, Wis.
Andy Puccini, Platteville, Senior, Running Back, Bartlett, Ill.
Justin Howard, Whitewater, Senior, Wide Receiver, West Bend, Wis. (Mequon Homestead)
Jake Kumerow, Whitewater, Senior, Wide Receiver, Bartlett, Ill. (South Elgin)
Russell Martin, Platteville, Junior, Wide Receiver, Carol Stream, Ill. (Bartlett)
Ryan Kusilek, River Falls, Junior, Place Kicker, River Falls, Wis.
Tanner Kuehn, Stout, Senior, All-Purpose Back, Fairchild, Wis. (Osseo-Fairchild)
 
First Team - Defense
Zach Franz, Whitewater, Junior, Defensive Line, DeForest, Wis.
Cody Huemmer, Oshkosh, Senior, Defensive Line/Linebacker, Sun Prairie, Wis.
Aaron Karlen, Stevens Point, Junior, Defensive Line, Edgar, Wis.
Andrew Robinson, Platteville, Junior, Defensive Line, Arcadia, Wis.
Alex Smith, Oshkosh, Senior, Defensive Line, Oakfield, Wis.
Justin Dischler, Whitewater, Junior, Linebacker, Milwaukee, Wis. (Pius XI)
Jake Luedtke, Stevens Point, Senior, Linebacker, Sussex, Wis. (Hamilton)
Beau Steffens, Oshkosh, Senior, Linebacker, Waterford, Wis. (Union)
Jacob Zilbar, Platteville, Senior, Linebacker, Tampa, Fla. (Armwood)
Rob Austin, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Back, Calumet City, Ill. (Thornton Fractional North)
Brady Grayvold, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Back, Norway, Mich.
Marcus McLin, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Back, Delavan, Wis. (Delavan-Darien)
Mitch Schultz, Oshkosh, Senior, Defensive Back, Oconomowoc, Wis. (Waukesha Catholic Memorial)
Zach Vallafskey, Stevens Point, Senior, Defensive Back, Hortonville, Wis.
Nate Ray, Oshkosh, Senior, Punter, Verona, Wis.
 
First Team - Special Teams
CJ Blackburn, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Special Teams Player, Waukesha, Wis. (North)
Marcus McLin, Whitewater, Senior, Return Specialist, Delavan, Wis. (Delavan-Darien)
 
Second Team - Offense
Derric Junakin, Whitewater, Senior, Tight End, Cudahy, Wis.
Kane’ala Atchison-Keolanui, Stout, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Lodi, Wis.
Isiah Cage, Eau Claire, Junior, Offensive Line, Chicago, Ill. (Percy L. Julian)
Brian Johnson, Platteville, Senior, Offensive Line, Springfield, Ill. (Sacred Heart Griffin)
Tony Koepnick, Whitewater, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Sussex, Wis. (Hamilton)
Spencer Shier, Whitewater, Sophomore, Center, Pardeeville, Wis.
Bryce Corrigan, Platteville, Senior, Quarterback, Plainfield, Ill. (North)
Dylan Hecker, Oshkosh, Freshman, Running Back, Winneconne, Wis.
Jordan Ratliffe, Whitewater, Junior, Running Back, Milwaukee, Wis. (Vincent)
Tony Bilderback, La Crosse, Senior, Wide Receiver, Whitewater, Wis.
Matt Sosinsky, Stevens Point, Junior, Wide Receiver, Princeton, Wis.
Trevor Whitehead, Platteville, Senior, Wide Receiver, Elgin, Ill. (Larkin)
Will Meyer, Whitewater, Freshman, Place Kicker, Sheboygan Falls, Wis.
Rance Ashley, River Falls, Sophomore, All-Purpose Back, North Branch, Minn.
 
Second Team - Defense
Mykaell Bratchett, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Line, Milwaukee, Wis. (Hope School)
Levi Epley, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Line, Plainfield, Iowa (Waverly Shell Rock)
Jamie Rohrig, Stout, Senior, Defensive Line, Owatonna, Minn.
Roger Steen, Eau Claire, Senior, Defensive Line, Luck, Wis.
Luke Bakkum, Stout, Senior, Linebacker, Oconomowoc, Wis.
Reese Dziedzic, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Linebacker, Crystal Lake, Ill. (South)
Paul Foster, Whitewater, Sophomore, Linebacker, Janesville, Wis. (Craig)
Shane Rockweiler, La Crosse, Senior, Linebacker, Reedsburg, Wis.
Jacob Flegner, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Back, Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Sussex)
Robbie Flom, River Falls, Junior, Defensive Back, Somerset, Wis.
Deion Jones, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Racine, Wis. (Horlick)
Lake Bachar, Whitewater, Sophomore, Punter, Wheaton, Ill. (North)
 
Second Team - Special Teams
Dylan Morang, Whitewater, Junior, Special Teams Player, Saint John, Ind. (Lake Central)
Jacob Flegner, La Crosse, Senior, Return Specialist, Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Sussex)
 
Honorable Mention - Offense
Austin Haase, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Sussex, Wis. (Hartland Arrowhead)
Ellis Johnson, La Crosse, Junior, Center, River Falls, Wis.
Reggie Larson, River Falls, Sophomore, Center, Somerset, Wis.
Ryan Kusilek, River Falls, Junior, Quarterback, River Falls, Wis.
Jordan Christianson, River Falls, Senior, Wide Receiver, Medford, Wis.
Matt Knapp, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Wide Receiver, Eau Claire, Wis. (Memorial)
Joe Worth, Whitewater, Junior, Wide Receiver, Hartford, Wis. (Union)
Pat Frio, Platteville, Freshman, Place Kicker, St. Charles, Ill. (East)
Nate Ray, Oshkosh, Senior, Place Kicker, Verona, Wis.
Andy Puccini, Platteville, Senior, All-Purpose Back, Bartlett, Ill.
 
Honorable Mention - Defense
Dan Brown, Stevens Point, Junior, Defensive Line, Pewaukee, Wis.
Jordon Denfeld, Stevens Point, Senior, Defensive Line, Two Rivers, Wis.
Brandon Jackson, Oshkosh, Senior, Defensive Line, Racine, Wis. (Park)
Nick Jacobsen, River Falls, Freshman, Defensive Line, Prescott, Wis.
Zach Kleven, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Line, Harvard, Ill. (Alden-Hebron)
Alec Zoern, Stout, Senior, Defensive Line, Germantown, Wis.
Mitch Hawkins, La Crosse, Senior, Linebacker, Owatonna, Minn.
Brandon Luedtke, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Linebacker, Wausau, Wis. (East)
Bo Seibel, Stevens Point, Senior, Linebacker, Kewaskum, Wis.
Jon Becker, La Crosse, Junior, Defensive Back, Monroe, Wis.
Andy Lundgren, River Falls, Senior, Defensive Back, Mound, Minn. (Mound-Westonka)
Tyler Naatz, Stout, Senior, Defensive Back, Menomonie, Wis.
Zach Nellis, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Back, Waupaca, Wis.
Devon Vance, Platteville, Junior, Defensive Back, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Prairie Ridge)
 
All-Sportsmanship Team
Mike Bond, Stout, Senior, Defensive Back, Milwaukee, Wis. (Bradley Tech)
Evan Constant, Platteville, Senior, Linebacker, Solon, Iowa
Ryan Givens, Whitewater, Senior, Running Back, Milwaukee, Wis. (Riverside)
Mitch Hawkins, La Crosse, Senior, Linebacker, Owatonna, Minn.
Phil Martola, River Falls, Sophomore, Linebacker, West Bend, Wis. (Slinger)
Jake Menzel, Stevens Point, Senior, Running Back, Oostburg, Wis.
Kyle Newhouse, Oshkosh, Senior, Wide Receiver, Waunakee, Wis.
Jon Van Geffen, Eau Claire, Senior, Running Back, Shiocton, Wis.
 
UW-Platteville’s Zilbar Selected Football Scholar-Athlete
 
MADISON, Wis.--University of Wisconsin-Platteville’s Jacob Zilbar has been selected the recipient of the 2014 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Football Scholar-Athlete Award.
 
A senior from Tampa, Fla. (Armwood), Zilbar is majoring in biology with a minor in pre-health and carries a 3.84 grade point average.  He has been selected to the Capital One Academic All-District® squads the past two years and is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll.  Zilbar has also earned a spot on UW-Platteville’s Chancellor’s List numerous semesters.
 
A two-time team captain, Zilbar was selected the WIAC Defensive Player of the Year this season and claimed All-WIAC first team recognition for the second straight year.  In 2012, he claimed All-WIAC second team laurels after receiving honorable mention in 2011.  Zilbar was selected his squad’s Defensive Team a season ago when the Pioneers won their first-ever NCAA championship game.
 
Zilbar has volunteered at St. Jude Hospice, Community Connections and Manor Care. Additionally, he is a member of UW-Platteville’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council and an advisor in the Pre-Health Society.  Zilbar also serves as a campus tutor for anatomy, physiology, physics and chemistry.
 
Other nominees for this year’s scholar-athlete award were:  UW-La Crosse’s Christopher Stackhouse (Sr., Houston, Minn.); UW-Oshkosh’s Kyle Newhouse (Sr., Waunakee, Wis.); UW-Stevens Point’s Jacob Luedtke(Sr., Sussex, Wis./Hamilton); and UW-Stout’s Tyler Naatz (Sr., Menomonie, Wis.).
 
The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference for 22 years from 1971-93.  He oversaw the transition of the conference from NAIA to full NCAA membership.  Sparger arrived at UW-Stout in 1959 and served the institution in a variety of capacities, including as an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach.  He served as UW-Stout's athletics director from 1969-71.
 
In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average.  In addition, he must be in his last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years.

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