The Wheaton Thunder football team heads into the 2010 season with the same expectations the program always has had – a championship. As head coach Mike Swider notes, “At Wheaton, the goal will always be set at winning a conference title – that is where it begins for us and that is not going to change.” He adds, “Because of the success we have experienced over the years, the bar has been set high. Last year we had the same expectations, but did not finish as we would have liked. Our goal for this year is to once again become champions, that is what we are used to. Just because we struggled at the end of 2009, the goal will not change. It will always be to win a conference championship, get in the playoffs and see what happens from there.”

Swider, the head coach of the Thunder since 1996, has posted a career record of 114-35 for a 76.5% winning percentage. He has guided Wheaton to five CCIW Championships and five Division III postseason appearances since 2000, including a NCAA Semifinal appearance in 2008.

Last season, Wheaton started the year with a 6-0 record and was ranked as high as third in Division III, before dropping three games at the end of the year to conclude the season with a 7-3 overall record and a 4-3 mark in conference play.

Swider says of the upcoming season, “One thing we have stressed to each of our players is that what happens this year is up to each of them. We have challenged our players to be responsible for the outcome of the season and to take ownership of it.”

DEFENSE: “On defense it is always important to stay away from allowing big plays. This year we have a defense that runs well and that team speed is critical in preventing those big plays,” mentions Swider. The Thunder will return a solid group of players who played in Wheaton's inaugural season of using a 3-4 defense in 2009. Swider notes, “There are two things that we are looking forward to this year on the defensive side of the ball. The first is that this is now our second year of playing a 3-4 defensive scheme.” He continues, “Last year was a little learning curve for us. As the season progressed we had to learn how to adapt to certain situations as they occurred. The second key is that we have a real strong core of returning players, particularly in the secondary, where I think we will be very good.”

“Our secondary will play a key role in the success of our defense,” mentions Swider. “Because we have experience, speed and some physical players in the defensive backfield, that area of strength will play a key role in eliminating our opponents' big plays and making our own.” He concludes, “We have a solid group of kids that can play in the secondary.”

Junior Jordan Langs will return to safety after moving to linebacker last year. Langs will join returning starter Brian McMullen, a Second Team All-CCIW pick last season as a sophomore. McMullen led Wheaton with 9.5 tackles for lost yardage last season and was second on the team with 52 total tackles. The talented safety also recorded two interceptions and he broke up six passes. Swider notes of McMullen and Langs, “Both of those kids are physical safeties who can make an impact.” Ryan Foster, Jon Sesso, and Garrett Cook all could also figure in at safety.

Cornerbacks Tim Shaw and Bryan McBroom are both returning starters who will be joined by fifth-year senior Tyler Langs, who has two years of experience as a starter. Langs sat out the 2009 season after suffering an injury in pre-season practice. McBroom tallied 43 total tackles last season, with two interceptions and a team-high eight pass deflections. Shaw contributed 40 tackles and seven pass break-ups last year as a junior. In 2008, his last full season with the Thunder, Tyler Langs made 79 tackles, including a team-high 62 solo tackles with five interceptions. Sophomore Micah Markley could also contribute at cornerback for the Thunder.

Swider says of his linebacking corps, “We have some good, solid players at inside linebacker that are going to be very competitive. Jordan Chapman is a returning player who will play a key role. Pat Dansdill, Sam VanHeest and Austin Driggers will be in the mix and Mike Dozeman returns from an injury.” Chapman was a starter for the Thunder last season as a sophomore, with 49 total tackles, including 4-1/2 tackles for lost yardage. Driggers played in every game for the Thunder last season as a sophomore and Dansdill saw valuable time as well.

Swider adds, “At outside linebacker, Cory Hart, Richard Jacobson, John Carnegie and Kyle Notch are the leading candidates to see time.” Jacobson and Hart both saw valuable time last season at linebacker. Jacobson tallied 24 tackles and Hart added 21 to his credit.

Swider continues to the defensive front, “We have some talented players on the defensive line. At defensive end,

is an excellent leader and will be at nose guard for us after he saw considerable time last year.” Eric Anderson moves from tight end to nose guard to add to that position. Mitchell also saw substantial time last year as a junior with 26 total tackles. Senior Grant Tallon and junior David Seamon will both return to the defensive line this season from injuries.

OFFENSE: Last season, the Thunder offense experienced its first year under the direction of offensive coordinator Joe Davis. Swider mentions, “Our offense has the benefit of a year of work under Coach Davis. That additional year is a huge plus.”

The Thunder mentor continues on the offensive side of the ball, “At quarterback, we have three players that will battle for that position. All three are capable kids who have three years of eligibility, so the future looks good. Griffin Kuhn, Garrett Meador and Jordan Roberts all split time at quarterback during the spring.” He continues, “So when they get to camp this fall, they will continue that battle and the one who emerges will be our quarterback. All three were successful quarterbacks in high school, and they each bring their own set of skills to the position.”

In the backfield, tailback Rocky Gingg, an All-Region performer in 2008, returns after battling through injuries in 2009. Gingg was the team's second-leading rusher in 2009 with 509 yards and four touchdowns in eight games. As a sophomore in the 2008, the workhorse accounted for 1,290 yards and 15 touchdowns. Swider mentions “Rocky is as healthy as he has been in three years, which is huge because we all know what he can do when he is healthy.” He adds, “Brady Wright, Peter Jarrett, Joey Skogen and Drew Johnson will all be competing for the additional time when we need to give Rocky a rest.”

Continuing in the backfield Swider notes, “Brannen Dorman had a huge spring at fullback. Also, JJ Clark has played well there and could contribute, plus he can also play at tight end as well as fullback.” Austin Zoerhof, Seth Skogen, Jesse Peterson and JJ Clark will compete for time at tight end.

Wheaton will field a solid group of returnees at receiver. As Swider mentions, “Freddy Ellis, Charlie Antal, Teddy Watkins and Justin Zeller have all seen significant time at receiver for us and we expect them to contribute there.” Swider adds, “Freddy is a big play guy and he is the leader of that group.”

Ellis earned Second Team All-CCIW accolades in 2009 as the team's leading receiver with 38 receptions for 579 yards and seven touchdowns. Zeller contributed 19 catches as a sophomore last season, Watkins saw regular time with 15 catches and Antal averaged 15.9 yards per catch last season.

Swider mentions of the offensive front, “We have some strong players on the offensive line; however, depth could be a concern.” He concludes, “We will need some players to step up to create greater depth there.”

Center Nick Biggee returns for his senior season, following Second Team All-CCIW accolades as a junior. Swider mentions, “Nick is just a real solid player for us and this year he will be serving as a captain.” Senior Connor Bourne will back up Biggee at center.

Senior Tommy Burggraf is a returning starter at tackle who has seen considerable experience on the Thunder offensive line. Senior Luke Griffith is a likely candidate to take the tackle spot opposite of Burggraf. Sophomores Tyler Friedl and Matt Dumond will also be looked to contribute at tackle for the Thunder. Senior Henk Brands and junior Sean Ramsey are expected to see the bulk of playing time at the respective guard positions.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Junior Scott Roche returns for his second season as Wheaton's placekicker. Roche had a solid effort in his debut year as the Thunder kicker, with nine field goals, including four kicks of 40 yards or longer. Wheaton will have an open competition at punter to replace Sean Norris, who served as the team's punter for the past three seasons.

Several returnees bring a wealth of experience to Wheaton's return game. Teddy Watkins averaged a team-high 25.5 yards per kickoff return on 12 returns last season and Jon Sesso led the squad with 14 kickoff returns, averaging 21.4 yards per return. Justin Zeller led the Thunder with 11 punt returns last season and fellow returnee Micah Markley returned 10 punts on the year.

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Wheaton will open its 2010 season on September 11 at Albion College. The home opener will be September 18 with Wheaton's first-ever meeting with Wisconsin-Platteville and the non-conference portion of the schedule will conclude on September 25 at Olivet College.

The Thunder will open the conference schedule at home on October 2 against 2009 CCIW Co-Champion Illinois Wesleyan. A road game at Elmhurst the next week follows home games against North Park and Carthage. The Thunder will travel to Augustana on October 3 and the 'Orange and Blue' will close out the home portion of its regular season schedule on November 6 against reigning CCIW Co-Champion North Central. The regular season will conclude on November 13 at Millikin University.
Swider says of the CCIW, “One of the greatest advantages of being in our conference is that we play tough opponents every week. It prepares you well for the playoffs and forces you to compete every Saturday.”