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WIAC Football Preview

08/25/2021, 8:30pm CDT
By WIAC

From the WIAC -- 

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, winner of 12 of the last 15 titles, is the favorite to secure the 2021 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. 

The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic for all eight WIAC teams. 

The Warhawks, ranked second nationally in a preseason poll by Lindy’s Sports and fourth by both D3football.com and College Football America, have claimed a league-best 37 conference titles. UW-Whitewater brings back nine starters on offense and three starters on defense from the 2019 campaign. The defensive unit will be led by defensive lineman Mackenzie Balanganyi, who was chosen the 2019 WIAC Defensive Player of the Year. 

UW-Oshkosh, which shared the 2019 title with UW-Whitewater, has captured 11 titles in program archives and is slotted for second in the WIAC standings. The Titans are ranked ninth by both D3football.com and Lindy’s Sports, and 16th by College Football America. Quarterback Kobe Berghammer was selected the 2019 WIAC Newcomer of the Year. 

UW-La Crosse is ranked 27th by College Football America. The Eagles are pegged for fourth in this year’s WIAC race behind UW-Platteville. 

The remaining order in the conference predictions features: UW-Stout; UW-Stevens Point; UW-Eau Claire; and UW-River Falls. 

The WIAC recently announced that it will participate in the inaugural Culver’s Isthmus Bowl. The event will be held on Nov. 20, 2021, at the newly constructed, award-winning Verona Area High School Wildcat Stadium. The bowl game will feature one team from the WIAC and College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin – the highest-placing team in each conference’s standings that isn’t selected for the NCAA Division III Championship. 

The 2021 season is set to begin Sept. 2 with UW-Platteville hosting East Texas Baptist University. The remaining seven WIAC teams will start their non-conference schedule Sept. 4. The conference slate will commence Oct. 2. 

2021 Preseason Predictions
Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches and Sports Information Directors
                                                                2019 Record 

1.  UW-Whitewater                        13-2 overall, 6-1 WIAC 
2.  UW-Oshkosh                                8-3, 6-1 
3.  UW-Platteville                             7-3, 4-3 
4.  UW-La Crosse                              7-3, 5-2 
5.  UW-Stout                                      4-6, 3-4 
6.  UW-Stevens Point                     3-7, 2-5 
7.  UW-Eau Claire                             3-7, 1-6 
8.  UW-River Falls                             2-8, 1-6 

Team Capsules 

UW-Eau Claire 

Head Coach:  Wesley Beschorner; 2nd season at UWEC; 3-7
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  35/12
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  32/16
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  7/4
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Austin Belot, Sr., RB (2019-Second); Victor Martinelli, Sr., LB (2017-Honorable, 2018-Honorable, 2019-First); Drew Shrader, Sr., OL (2019-Second) 

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Darius Jones, Sr., WR; Jonathan Malueg, Jr., QB; Seth Mitchell, Jr., OL; Joe Swanson, Sr., TE 

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Alex Mashek, Sr., LB; Trevor Nelson, Sr., DL; Carmello Rosado, Sr., DB 

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Cole Dunbar, So., LS 

UW-La Crosse 

Head Coach:  Matt Janus; 1st season at UWL; 0-0
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  31/25
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  23/26
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  5/6
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  2/9
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Connor Berry, Sr., OL (2018-Second); Alex Bongers, Sr., OL (2019-Honorable); Rusty Murphy, Sr., LB (2018-Honorable, 2019-First); Sean Parker, Jr., P (2017-Honorable, 2018-Second, 2019-Honorable); Jake Simuncak, Sr., WR (2018-Second, 2019-Second); Cameron Sorenson, Jr., WR (2019-Honorable); Joey Stutzman, Jr., RB (2019-Second) 

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Ryan Beirne, Sr., WR; Mike Bertoia, Jr., OL; Will Josten, Jr., TE 

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Max Brower, Sr., DB; Josh Dorschner, Jr., DL; Trevar Helland, Sr., DB; AJ Spychala, Sr., LB 

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Ryan Beirne, Sr., PK 

UW-Oshkosh 

Head Coach:  Pat Cerroni; 14th season at UWO; 103-42
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  16/12
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  21/13
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/2
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  8/3
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Kobe Berghammer, So., QB (2019-Newcomer of the Year); Kollyn Beyer, Sr., DB (2019-Second); Jaydon Haag, Jr., PK (2019-First/Special Teams Player of the Year); Brandon Hughes, Sr., DE (2019-Honorable); Tory Jandrin, Jr., LB (2019-Honorable); Justin Kasuboski, Sr., TE (2019-First); Brandon Kolgen, Jr., DE (2019-Second); Trenton LaCombe, Sr., DL (2019-Second); Nick Noethe, Sr., LB (2019-First); Mike Olsen, Sr., C (2019-First) 

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Joe Blitstein, Sr., OL; Mitchell Gerend, Sr., WR; Peter MacCudden, So., RB; Hunter Schultz, Sr., OL 

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Brody Milz, So., LB; Jared Saad, So., DB; Kyle Scharenbroch, Jr., DB; Tyler Staerkel, Jr., LB 

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Alec Elkin, So, RS; Tony Steger, So., RS 

UW-Platteville 

Head Coach:  Mike Emendorfer; 22nd season at UWP; 108-104
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  12/16
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  16/17
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  3/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  7/4 
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  2/9
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  3/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Donald Allender, Sr., WR (2019-Second); Carter Brehm, Sr., OL (2019-Second); Hunter Grams, Sr., PK (2019-Second); Colin Schuetz, Sr., QB (2019-First); Andrew Schweigert, Jr., K (2019-Second) 

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Brett Burant, Sr., OL; Brandt Stare, Jr., WR 

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Logan Ketelhut, Sr., DL; Aiden Tyk, Jr., DB 

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Jared Scheberl, Jr., PK 

UW-River Falls 

Head Coach:  Matt Walker; 13th season (10th at UWRF); 23-67 (overall) / 23-67 (UWRF)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  19/12
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  18/12
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  5/6
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  5/6
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0
Returning All-WIAC:  Andy Metcalf, Sr., LB (2019-Honorable); Alex Traxler, Sr., WR (2019-Honorable) 

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Ben Beise, Sr., TE; Luke Fugate, Sr., RB; Kole Hinrichsen, Sr., QB; Jager Reissman, So., WR 

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Dominique Turner, Sr., DB; Drew Hahn, Jr., DL; Cal Rosen, So., DB; Ben Ertz, Sr., LB 

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Bobby Patterson, SR., P/K 

UW-Stevens Point 

Head Coach:  Greg Breitbach; 8thseason (3rd at UWSP); 17-58 (overall) / 7-13 (UWSP)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  11/6
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  14/8
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  4/7 
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  3/8 
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Berkley Corvino, Sr., DL (2019-HM); Kameron Kryzanski, Sr., LB (2019-Second); Victor Ponterio, Sr., K (2018-Second) 

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Devin Baldridge, Sr., TE; Joe Hare, Sr., WR; Max Herro, Sr., QB; Jahi Stigall, Sr., RB  

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Michael Stephenson, Sr., LB; Gavin Tachick, Jr., DB; Tyler Van Ess, Sr., DB; Reese Wiggins, Sr., DB 

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  None 

UW-Stout 

Head Coach:  Clayt Birmingham; 11th season at UWST; 40-59
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  12/17
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  19/18
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  0/1 
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  5/6
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  3/8 
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  0/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Sean Borgerding, Jr., QB (2018-Honorable, 2019-Honorable); Rayshawn Graham, Sr., RB (2017-Second, 2018-Honorable); Levy Hamer, Jr., WR (2018-Second/WR, 2018-Honorable/All-Purp., 2019-Second); Tyler Seymour, Sr., WR (2018-Second) 

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Jesus Ambriz, So., OL; Parker Fossum, Jr., WR; Josh Nitek, Jr., RB; Justin Schlangen, Jr., OL 

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Canon Griner, So., DB; Scott Gustafson, Jr., DL; Haydon Miller, Sr., LB; Mason Priebe, Jr., DB 

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  None 

UW-Whitewater 

Head Coach:  Kevin Bullis; 6th season at UWW; 56-9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  27/28
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  19/32
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/2
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  9/2
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  3/8
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  0/2

Returning All-WIAC:  Mackenzie Balanganayi, Sr., DL (2019-First/Defensive Player of the Year); Kyle Gannon, Sr., OL (2018-Second, 2019-Second); Derek Kumerow, Sr., WR (2019-Honorable); Mark McGrath, Sr., DB (2019-First); Alex Peete, Sr., RB (2018-First, 2019-First); Ryan Wisniewski, Sr., WR/Ret. Spec. (2018-Second, 2019-First/WR, 2019-Honorable/All-Purp.); Jared Zausch, Sr., TE (2019-Honorable) 

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Tyler Holte, Jr., WR; Ethan Kee, Sr., OL; Douglas Kosch, Sr., OL; Max Meylor, Sr., QB 

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Egon Hein, So., DB; Niko Lemke, So., DL; Ryan Liszka, Jr., LB; Tommy Matoska, Sr., DB 

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Sam DeLany, So., Ret. Spec. 

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