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WIAC announces football Player of the Year and All-Conference Awards

11/18/2015, 4:15pm CST
By WIAC

University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh’s Brett Kasper, UW-Platteville’s Andrew Robinson and UW-Stevens Point’s Jesse VerVelde were named the Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year, respectively, to lead the individuals selected to the 2015 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Football Team by the league coaches. In addition, Titans head coach Pat Cerroni was chosen the George Chryst Coach of the Year.

Kasper is second in the league with a 174.6 passing efficiency and third with 244.3 passing yards per game and 250.0 total offense yards per contest. He has completed 148-of-223 passes for 2,199 yards, 19 touchdowns and only three interceptions. Kasper has thrown multiple touchdown passes in six games, including a season-high four against UW-Platteville on Oct. 24. He added 448 passing yards against the Pioneers – the third-highest mark in program history.
 
Robinson secured first team recognition for the third consecutive season and becomes the second Pioneer in as many years to win the defensive honor. He leads the conference with 19 tackles for loss, while placing third with 7.5 quarterback sacks. Robinson was credited with 40 tackles and had two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick. He had a season-best seven tackles against University of Dubuque (Iowa) on Sept. 12 and UW-Whitewater on Oct. 3.
 
VerVelde leads the WIAC with 12 field goals made, while ranking third with 79 points scored. He converted all 43 of his extra-point attempts and had a season-long 42-yard field goal against Albion College (Mich.) on Sept. 5, and UW-Stout on Nov. 7. VerVelde sent 14 of his kickoffs for a touchback.
His 79 points and 43 extra-points rank second in program history, while his 35 career field goals made top the Pointers’ all-time chart.

Repeat selections on the first team from a season ago included: UW-Oshkosh’s Joe Sommers and Sam Versnik; UW-Stevens Point’s Aaron Karlen; and UW-Whitewater’s Justin Dischler. Sommers was also a first team pick in 2013, along with teammate Zach Kasuboski, who added first team laurels in 2012.
 
Cerroni secured the coaching honor for the second time in his career (2012) after directing the Titans to the second WIAC championship in the last four seasons and ninth in program history. UW-Oshkosh also earned a spot in the NCAA Division III championship for the second time in school archives. 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.
 
2015 All-WIAC Football Team
First Team - Offense
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)
Joe Sommers, Oshkosh, Senior, Tight End, Hortonville, Wis.
Kane’ala Atchison-Keolanui, Stout, Junior, Offensive Line, Lodi, Wis.
Brett Jerdee, Platteville, Junior, Offensive Line, Mount Horeb, Wis.
Tony Koepnick, Whitewater, Junior, Offensive Line, Sussex, Wis. (Hamilton)
Sam Versnik, Oshkosh, Senior, Offensive Line, West Allis, Wis. (Hale)
Spencer Shier, Whitewater, Junior, Center, Pardeeville, Wis. (Portage)
Brett Kasper, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Quarterback, Two Rivers, Wis.
Dylan Hecker, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Running Back, Winneconne, Wis.
Jordan Ratliffe, Whitewater, Senior, Running Back, Milwaukee, Wis. (Vincent)
Dan Arnold, Platteville, Junior, Wide Receiver, Fargo, N.D. (Shanley)
Marcus Hudson, Whitewater, Junior, Wide Receiver, Delavan, Wis. (Delavan-Darien)
Matt Sosinsky, Stevens Point, Senior, Wide Receiver, Princeton, Wis.
Zach Kasuboski, Oshkosh, Senior, All-Purpose Back, Wautoma, Wis.
 
First Team - Defense
Trevor Fiegel, Oshkosh, Senior, Defensive Line, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Lincoln)
Aaron Karlen, Stevens Point, Senior, Defensive Line, Edgar, Wis.
Andrew Robinson, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Line, Arcadia, Wis.
Brandon Tamsett, Whitewater, Junior, Defensive Line, Waterford, Wis. (Union)
Andrew Belken, Platteville, Senior, Linebacker, East Dubuque, Ill.
Justin Dischler, Whitewater, Senior, Linebacker, Milwaukee, Wis. (Pius XI)
Reese Dziedzic, Oshkosh, Junior, Linebacker, Crystal Lake, Ill. (South)
Branden Lloyd, Oshkosh, Junior, Linebacker, Mukwonago, Wis.
Johnny Eagan, Oshkosh, Junior, Defensive Back, Wautoma, Wis.
Deion Jones, Stevens Point, Junior, Defensive Back, Racine, Wis. (Horlick)
Kyle Narges, River Falls, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Cumberland, Wis.
Ryan Weber, La Crosse, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Holmen, Wis.
Ryan Winske, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Back, Omro, Wis.
 
First Team - Special Teams
Lake Bachar, Whitewater, Junior, Punter, Wheaton, Ill. (North)
Jesse VerVelde, Stevens Point, Senior, Place Kicker, Oostburg, Wis.
Christian Almonte, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Return Specialist, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Jake Betthauser, River Falls, Junior, Special Teams Player, Ellsworth, Wis. (Prescott)
 
Second Team – Offense
Tony Gumina, Whitewater, Sophomore, Tight End, Sussex, Wis. (Hamilton)
Vincent Basile, Oshkosh, Junior, Offensive Line, Racine, Wis. (Union Grove)
Austin Jones, Whitewater, Junior, Offensive Line, Madison, Wis. (Edgewood)
Connor Selvey, Stevens Point, Senior, Offensive Line, Elkhorn, Wis.
Isaac Unger, River Falls, Senior, Offensive Line, Madison, Wis. (East)
Reggie Larson, River Falls, Junior, Center, Somerset, Wis.
Tyler Jenkins, La Crosse, Junior, Running Back, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Central)
De’Juan Wright, Stevens Point, Senior, Running Back, St. Petersburg, Fla. (Keswick Christian)
Brian Alvarez, Stout, Senior, Wide Receiver, Atwater, Calif. (Livingston)
Quinn Buschbacher, Platteville, Junior, Wide Receiver, Sugar Grove, Ill. (Kaneland)
Joel Oxton, La Crosse, Junior, Wide Receiver, Lakeville, Minn. (North)
Tom Kelly, Platteville, Junior, Quarterback, Chicago, Ill. (Guerin College Prep)
Rance Ashley, River Falls, Junior, All-Purpose Back, North Branch, Minn.
 
Second Team - Defense
Dan Brown, Stevens Point, Senior, Defensive Line, Pewaukee, Wis.
Zach Franz, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Line, DeForest, Wis.
Nick Jacobsen, River Falls, Sophomore, Defensive Line, Prescott, Wis.
Marcus Senn, Oshkosh, Junior, Defensive Line, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Lincoln)
John Kontowicz, Stevens Point, Junior, Linebacker, Menomonee Falls, Wis.
Kevin MacCudden, Oshkosh, Senior, Linebacker, Waukesha, Wis. (West)
Noah Risch, La Crosse, Sophomore, Linebacker, Holmen, Wis.
Matt Seitz, Whitewater, Sophomore, Linebacker, Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead)
Cameron Brown, Oshkosh, Junior, Defensive Back, Milwaukee, Wis. (Riverside)
Logan Emendorfer, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Back, Platteville, Wis.
Collin Laursen, Stout, Senior, Defensive Back, Mondovi, Wis.
Devon Vance, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Back, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Prairie Ridge)
 
Second Team – Special Teams
Turner Geisthardt, Oshkosh, Freshman, Punter, Omro, Wis. (Oshkosh North)
Greg Rand, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Place Kicker, Franklin, Wis.
Dom Todarello, Oshkosh, Freshman, Return Specialist, Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead)
Ryan Fish, Platteville, Senior, Special Teams Player, Madison, Ind. (Consolidated)
Cam Wright, La Crosse, Senior, Special Teams Player, Janesville, Wis. (Craig)
 
Honorable Mention – Offense
Reggie Kujak, Stout, Senior, Tight End, Blair, Wis. (Blair-Taylor)
Isaac Bowe, River Falls, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Kasson, Minn. (Kasson-Mantorville)
Isiah Cage, Eau Claire, Senior, Offensive Line, Chicago, Ill. (Percy L. Julian)
Donnie Rydzewski, Platteville, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Tinley Park, Ill. (Lincoln Way North)
Ellis Johnson, La Crosse, Junior, Center, River Falls, Wis.
Ty Summers, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Center, Lake Villa, Ill. (Lakes Community)
Hank Kujak, Stout, Senior, Quarterback, Blair, Wis. (Blair-Taylor)
Kyle Larson, Stevens Point, Junior, Quarterback, Clayton, Wis.
Michael Diggins, River Falls, Sophomore, Running Back, Andover, Minn. (Centennial)
Devon Linzenmeyer, Oshkosh, Junior, Running Back, Fredonia, Wis. (Ozaukee)
Sam Mentkowski, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Wide Receiver, Greenfield, Wis. (Whitnall)
Jared Pankow, Stevens Point, Junior, Wide Receiver, Mosinee, Wis. (D.C. Everest)
Joe Worth, Whitewater, Senior, Wide Receiver, Hartford, Wis. (Union)
Quinn Buschbacher, Platteville, Junior, All-Purpose Back, Sugar Grove, Ill. (Kaneland)
Tommy Young, La Crosse, Senior, All-Purpose Back, Springfield, Mo. (Glendale)
 
Honorable Mention – Defense
Reese Felton, La Crosse, Junior, Defensive Line, Middleton, Wis.
Adam Wachowiak, Stevens Point, Junior, Defensive Line, Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH)
Austin Young, Platteville, Junior, Defensive Line, Shannon, Ill. (Eastland)
Geno DeMike, River Falls, Sophomore, Linebacker, Woodbury, Minn.
Kyle Hoefft, Stout, Senior, Linebacker, Morton, Ill.
Kaeleb Stangler, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Linebacker, Rochester, Minn. (John Marshall)
Jon Becker, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Back, Monroe, Wis.
Vince Mason, Whitewater, Junior, Defensive Back, Green Bay, Wis. (Southwest)
Dylan Morang, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Back, Saint John, Ind. (Lake Central)
 
Honorable Mention – Special Teams
Connor Foley, Platteville, Freshman, Punter, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Xavier)
Clark Riedel, Stout, Sophomore, Punter, Waukesha, Wis. (West)
Michael Santucci, La Crosse, Sophomore, Return Specialist, Woodstock, Ill.
Dom Todarello, Oshkosh, Freshman, Special Teams Player, Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead)
Nick Wirsching, Oshkosh, Senior, Special Teams Player, Waterford, Wis. (Union)
 
All-Sportsmanship Team
Jon Becker, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Back, Monroe, Wis.
JT Denhartog, Eau Claire, Freshman, Quarterback, Hopkins, Minn.
Matt Gaffney, Stevens Point, Senior, Defensive Back, Menasha, Wis.
Alex Johnson, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Line, Milan, Ill. (Rockridge)
David Koronkiewicz, Stout, Senior, Offensive Line, Peshtigo, Wis.
Phil Martola, River Falls, Junior, Linebacker, West Bend, Wis. (Slinger)
Craig Schommer, Oshkosh, Senior, Wide Receiver, Freedom, Wis.
Lucas Skibba, Whitewater, Senior, Offensive Line, Plover, Wis. (SPASH)
 
Offensive Player of the Year:  Brett Kasper of Oshkosh
Defensive Player of the Year:  Andrew Robinson of Platteville
Special Teams Player of the Year:  Jesse VerVelde of Stevens Point
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete (sponsored by Badgerland Financial):  Ryan Kusilek of River Falls
George Chryst Coach of the Year:  Pat Cerroni of Oshkosh

UW-River Falls’ Kusilek Selected Football Scholar-Athlete

University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ Ryan Kusilek has been selected the recipient of the 2015 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Football Scholar-Athlete Award. The award is sponsored by Badgerland Financial.
 
A senior from River Falls, Wis., Kusilek is majoring in biochemistry with a minor in biology and carries a 3.93 grade point average. He was selected to the 2015 Academic All-District® Football First Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. A three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll, Kusilek was voted UW-River Falls’ Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2014-15 and has appeared on the Dean’s List numerous times. He has earned academic scholarships and was named Freshman Chemistry Student of the Year in 2012-13.
 
A three-year team captain, Kusilek secured All-WIAC first team recognition a season ago as a kicker and honorable mention accolades as a quarterback. He was named to the conference’s All-Sportsmanship Team in 2013, and owns the league’s single-game record with 74 pass attempts against University of St. Thomas (Minn.) on Sept. 8, 2012. Kusilek holds school career records for total offense, passing yards, pass completions and pass attempts, as well as season marks for total offense, pass completions and pass attempts.
 
He has been a four-year member of UW-River Falls’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, serving as co-chair a year ago. Kusilek has volunteered for Relay for Life, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, Special Olympics Polar Plunge, Bridge – On Campus and Trick or Treat for Canned Goods.
 
Other nominees for this year’s scholar-athlete award included:  UW-Eau Claire’s Daniel Brennan (Sr., Prairie du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie); UW-La Crosse’s Jon Becker (Sr., Monroe, Wis.); UW-Oshkosh’s Craig Schommer (Sr., Freedom, Wis.); UW-Platteville’s Connor Skoumal (Sr., Oregon, Ill.); UW-Stevens Point’s Taylor Lucas (Sr., Brookfield, Wis./East); UW-Stout’s Collin Laursen (Sr., Mondovi, Wis.); and UW-Whitewater’s Ryan Winske (Sr., Omro, 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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