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University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Keyser Helterbrand was named the Kwik Trip Offensive Player, UW-Platteville’s Justin Blazek the Kwik Trip Defensive Player of the Year and UW-Platteville’s Andrew Schweigert and UW-La Crosse’s Michael Stack the Kwik Trip Co-Special Teams Players of the Year to lead the individuals chosen to the 2023 All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Football Team by the league coaches. In addition, UW-Whitewater’s Tyler Vasey received Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year honors and UW-La Crosse’s Matt Janus was tabbed the Kwik Trip George Chryst Coach of the Year.

Helterbrand is the third player in program history to receive the award on offense, joining Cole Spieker (2019) and Joey Stutzman (2022). He leads the WIAC with a 193.2 passing efficiency, while tying for second with 24 passing touchdowns. Helterbrand ranks third with 676 rushing yards and fourth with 2,188 passing yards.

Blazek claimed the defensive honor for the second straight year, becoming the second individual in conference archives to accomplish the feat. UW-Whitewater’s Mackenzie Balanganayi was a two-time winner in 2019 and 2021. Blazek tops the league with 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks. He has added 53 tackles, five pass break-ups, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

This is the second time in WIAC history that the special teams plaque has been shared. UW-Platteville’s Quinn Buschbacher and UW-Stout’s Drew Pearson split the award in 2016. Schweigert leads the conference with 44.1 yards per punt and eight punts of over 50 yards. He had a season-best 66-yard punt against UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 21, and has made 10-of-14 field goals, as well as 33-of-34 extra-point conversions.

Stack has converted 11-of-13 field goal attempts, including a game-winning 51-yard attempt as time expired in a 37-34 victory over UW-Whitewater on Oct. 7. He has been perfect on all 43 extra-point attempts.

Vasey ranks second in the WIAC with 351 kick return yards and third with 25.1 yards per kick return. His 93-yard return for a touchdown against UW-Platteville on Oct. 28, was the first kick return for a touchdown for UW-Whitewater since 2013. A Newcomer of the Year is defined as a student-athlete who used his first season of participation in football this season. Transfers are not eligible unless they didn’t participate in football at their previous institution.

Repeat selections on the first team from a season ago included: UW-La Crosse’s Mike Bertoia and Jack Kelly; UW-Oshkosh’s Carson Raddatz and Trae Tetzlaff; UW-Platteville’s Sam Smith; UW-River Falls’ Alex Klecker; UW-Stout’s Arthur Cox (Special Teams Player of the Year) and Cannon Griner; and UW-Whitewater’s Egon Hein. Bertoia, Cox and Hein were also first team selections during the 2021 campaign.

Janus received the coaching award for the second straight season after leading UW-La Crosse to the 35th conference title in program archives. The Eagles will also make their 13th NCAA appearance this weekend and have posted nine wins for the third consecutive year.

An All-Sportsmanship Team was announced for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school.

2023 All-WIAC Football Team

First Team - Offense

Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School) 

Clayton Schwalbe, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Tight End, Waukesha, Wis. (North)
Jesus Ambriz, Stout, Senior, Offensive Line, Monee, Ill. (Crete-Monee)
Mike Bertoia, La Crosse, Senior, Offensive Line, Lake Zurich, Ill. (Lake Zurich)
Alex Klecker, River Falls, Senior, Offensive Line, River Falls, Wis. (River Falls)
Alex Pethan, Whitewater, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Oak Creek, Wis. (Oak Creek)
John Pekar, Whitewater, Junior, Center, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
Kobe Berghammer, Oshkosh, Senior, Quarterback, Clayton, Wis. (Cumberland)
Keyser Helterbrand, La Crosse, Senior, Quarterback, Hudson, Wis. (Hudson)
Tamir Thomas, Whitewater, Junior, Running Back, Menomonee Falls, Wis. (Menomonee Falls)
Arthur Cox, Stout, Graduate Student, Wide Receiver, Dixon, Ill. (Dixon)
Brandt Stare, Platteville, Junior, Wide Receiver, Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley)
Jack Studer, La Crosse, Senior, Wide Receiver, Eyota, Minn. (Dover-Eyota)
Trae Tetzlaff, Oshkosh, Junior, Wide Receiver, Waukesha, Wis. (West)
Kaleb Blaha, River Falls, Junior, All-Purpose Back, Coon Rapids, Minn. (Fridley)

First Team - Defense

Tyler Bacon, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Line, Johnston, Iowa (Johnston)
Justin Blazek, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Line, Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley)
Matt Burba, Whitewater, Junior, Defensive Line, Lake in the Hills, Ill. (Huntley)
Jack Kelly, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Line, Plover, Wis. (SPASH)
Joey Antonietti, Whitewater, Sophomore, Linebacker, La Grange, Ill. (Lyons Township)
Colton Ingram, Platteville, Senior, Linebacker, Byron, Ill. (Byron)
Tanner Newlin, La Crosse, Junior, Linebacker, Savage, Minn. (Prior Lake)
Sam Smith, Platteville, Senior, Linebacker, Pewaukee, Wis. (Anoka, Ill.)
Cannon Griner, Stout, Senior, Defensive Back, Mesa, Ariz. (Red Mountain)
Egon Hein, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Back, St. Charles, Ill. (North)
Carson Raddatz, Oshkosh, Junior, Defensive Back, Fond du Lac, Wis. (Fond du Lac)
Aidan Tyk, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Back, Manhattan, Ill. (Lincoln Way West)

First Team - Special Teams

Michael Stack, La Crosse, Sophomore, Placekicker, Oshkosh, Wis. (West)
Andrew Schweigert, Platteville, Senior, Punter, Sussex, Wis. (Hamilton)
Patrick Corcoran, Stout, Junior, Return Specialist, Mindoro, Wis. (Melrose-Mindoro)
Isaac Runstrom, Eau Claire, Freshman, Special Teams Player, Cumberland, Wis. (Cumberland)

Second Team - Offense

Drake Martin, Whitewater, Junior, Tight End, Rhinelander, Wis. (Rhinelander)
Levi Liedke, La Crosse, Junior, Offensive Line, Fond du Lac, Wis. (Fond du Lac)
John Schirger, Oshkosh, Junior, Offensive Line, Grafton, Wis. (Living Word Lutheran)
Noah Coleman, La Crosse, Senior, Center, Wilmot, Wis. (Wilmot)
Brian White, Oshkosh, Senior, Center, Manhattan, Ill. (Lincoln-Way West)
Kaleb Blaha, River Falls, Junior, Quarterback, Coon Rapids, Minn. (Fridley)
Ivan Ruble, Eau Claire, Junior, Running Back, Clear Lake, Wis. (Clear Lake)
Steven Hein, Whitewater, Junior, Wide Receiver, St. Charles, Ill. (North)
Mason Van Zeeland, River Falls, Senior, Wide Receiver, Kaukauna, Wis. (Kaukauna)
Trey Fitzgerald, Eau Claire, Junior, All-Purpose Back, Mosinee, Wis. (Mosinee)

Second Team - Defense

Drew Hahn, River Falls, Senior, Defensive Line, Elburn, Ill. (Kaneland)
Nehemiah Lomax, Whitewater, Junior, Defensive Line, Park Forest, Ill. (Crete-Monee)
Kyle Dietzen, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Linebacker, Omro, Wis. (Omro)
Hawk Heffner, Whitewater, Senior, Linebacker, Grafton, Wis. (Grafton)
Cade Schmidt, River Falls, Junior, Linebacker, Motley, Minn. (Staples-Motley)
Gervase Thompson, Stout, Senior, Linebacker, Brule, Wis. (Northwestern)
Dylan Brown, River Falls, Junior, Defensive Back, Mequon, Wis. (Homestead)
Kyle Koelblinger, Whitewater, Junior, Defensive Back, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Prairie Ridge)
Tate Pitcher, La Crosse, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Somerset, Wis. (Somerset)
Andrew Schumacher, River Falls, Junior, Defensive Back, Andover, Minn. (Andover)
Samuel Tausz, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Back, New Berlin, Wis. (Eisenhower)

Second Team - Special Teams

Luke Cool, Stout, Junior, Placekicker, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
Walleye Ratliff, Oshkosh, Freshman, Punter, Cincinnati, Ohio (Archbishop Moeller)
Tyler Vasey, Whitewater, Freshman, Return Specialist, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Prairie Ridge)
William Hammen, Stout, Junior, Special Teams Player, Combined Locks, Wis. (Kimberly)
Mason Stepanski, Whitewater, Sophomore, Special Teams Player, Appleton, Wis. (Kimberly)

Honorable Mention – Offense

Matt Getgen, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Tight End, Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (Wisconsin Dells)
Brody McKnight, River Falls, Junior, Tight End, Inver Grove Heights, Minn. (Simley)
Zach Sherman, Whitewater, Senior, Tight End, Oconto, Wis. (Oconto)
Marko Rajkovic, La Crosse, Sophomore, Tight End, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
Addison DeShambo, Whitewater, Junior, Offensive Line, Neenah, Wis. (St. Mary Catholic)
Jacob Foss, Stout, Senior, Offensive Line, Eden Prairie, Wis. (Eden Prairie)
Ryan Pearson, Platteville, Junior, Offensive Line, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Prairie Ridge)
Eli Sergott, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Green Bay, Wis. (East)
Michael Krueger, River Falls, Junior, Running Back, River Falls, Wis. (River Falls)
Ryan Bartol, La Crosse, Senior, Wide Receiver, Berlin, Wis. (Berlin)
Isaac Garside, Eau Claire, Junior, Wide Receiver, Bonduel, Wis. (Bonduel)
Arthur Cox, Stout, Graduate Student, All-Purpose Back, Dixon, Ill. (Dixon)
Keyser Helterbrand, La Crosse, Senior, All-Purpose Back, Hudson, Wis. (Hudson)

Honorable Mention - Defense

Dakota Carriveau, Stevens Point, Senior, Defensive Line, Oconto Falls, Wis. (Oconto Falls)
Jack Dietzen, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Line, Omro, Wis. (Omro)
Nate Hietpas, La Crosse, Junior, Defensive Line, Little Chute, Wis. (Little Chute)
Wyatt Beyerl, Stout, Senior, Linebacker, Mosinee, Wis. (Mosinee)
Ethan Gallagher, Whitewater, Sophomore, Linebacker, Homer Glen, Ill. (Lockport Township)
Gyanni Kanellakis, Eau Claire, Junior, Linebacker, Cary, Ill. (Cary Grove)
Gage Timm, River Falls, Sophomore, Linebacker, Shawano, Minn. (Shawano)
Aaron Borgerding, River Falls, Junior, Defensive Back, Spring Valley, Wis. (Spring Valley)
Ryan Kuechle, Eau Claire, Senior, Defensive Back, Mankato, Minn. (East)
Jared Saad, Oshkosh, Senior, Defensive Back, Naperville, Ill. (North)
Aaron Schmitz, La Crosse, Junior, Defensive Back, Mukwonago, Wis. (Mukwonago)

Honorable Mention - Special Teams

Kaio Harn, Oshkosh, Senior, Return Specialist, New London, Wis. (New London)
Ryan Krueger, La Crosse, Senior, Punter, Marshfield, Wis. (Marshfield)
Kyle Dietzen, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Special Teams Player, Omro, Wis. (Omro)
Ben Hollister, River Falls, Junior, Special Teams Player, Shoreview, Minn. (Mounds View)

All-Sportsmanship Team

Malik Johnson, Eau Claire, Senior, Defensive Line, Lomira, Wis. (Lomira)
Alec Ogden, Whitewater, Senior, Quarterback, Marshall, Wis. (Monona Grove)
Matt Patri, River Falls, Senior, Offensive Line, St. Paul, Minn. (Roseville)
Gerrit Schomacker, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Line, Freedom, Wis. (Freedom)
Tyler Stoltenburg, La Crosse, Senior, Wide Receiver, New Berlin, Wis. (West)
Justin Tenpas, Oshkosh, Junior, Defensive Back, Sheboygan Falls, Wis. (Sheboygan Falls)
Mitch Waechter, Stout, Junior, Quarterback, Campbellsport, Wis. (Fond du Lac St. Mary’s Springs)
Jeffery Williams, Stevens Point, Senior, Wide Receiver, Brodhead, Wis. (Brodhead)

Kwik Trip Offensive Player of the Year: Keyser Helterbrand of La Crosse
Kwik Trip Defensive Player of the Year: Justin Blazek of Platteville
Kwik Trip Co-Special Teams Players of the Year: Andrew Schweigert of Platteville and Michael Stack of La Crosse
Kwik Trip Newcomer of the Year: Tyler Vasey of Whitewater
Kwik Trip George Chryst Coach of the Year: Matt Janus of La Crosse
Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete: Gervase Thompson of Stout

University of Wisconsin-Stout’s Gervase Thompson has been named the recipient of the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Max Sparger Football Scholar-Athlete Award.

A senior from Brule, Wis. (Northwestern), Thompson boasts a 4.00 grade point average and is double-majoring in mechanical engineering and applied physics with a double-minor in mathematics and materials science. He is a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy®, which includes Division I, II and III football student-athletes. Thompson is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and secured a spot on UW-Stout’s Dean’s List numerous semesters. He is a three-time Blue Devil Academic Top Scholar.

Thompson received All-WIAC Second Team recognition this season after earning honorable mention status a year ago. In 2023, he shared the lead with 4.5 sacks and finished second with 60 tackles.

He is a member of UW-Stout’s Honors College and the Multicultural Student Organization. Thompson has served as proctor for the UW-Stout Youth Skills USA Tournament, as well as volunteer church sanitizer and usher, confirmation group team leader and spelling bee judge.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were: UW-La Crosse’s Ryan Bartol (Sr., Berlin, Wis./Berlin); UW-Platteville’s Gerrit Schomaker (Sr., Freedom, Wis./Freedom); UW-Stevens Point’s Marshal Bukowski (Sr., Green Bay, Wis./North East Lutheran); and UW-Whitewater’s Zach Sherman (Sr., Oconto, Wis./Oconto).

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. The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.