The Wheaton Thunder football team will open the 2013 season in September coming off of a 2012 season that saw the program win a share of its first CCIW Championship since 2006. Wheaton posted an 8-2 overall record on the year; however, despite the conference title the Thunder did not earn one of the six at-large bids to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

Veteran head coach Mike Swider says of 2012, "Last year was a great season for two reasons. First, goal every year is to win a conference championship, and then whatever happens from there is a bonus. We were able to do that last year, with a share of the conference title. The other exciting opportunity for us last year was to get the Little Brass Bell trophy back by winning our annual game with North Central. Historically, that rivalry used to be really big. Then for a while it sort lost some enthusiasm. However, in the last ten years its significance has really picked back up. There is no question that a rivalry game with a trophy is something that college football is all about. Winning that game was huge for us last year." He concludes, "Winning the conference and winning the Little Brass Bell made 2012 a great year. Obviously we would have liked to made it into the playoffs; we were hot at the end of the year. But the success of last year was a tremendous springboard into the offseason. We had a tremendous offseason with a lot of energy and enthusiasm to set up this season."

OFFENSE: In 2012 Wheaton was ranked 11th in Division III in scoring average with an average of 40 points per game and the Thunder offense ranked 15th in the nation in total offense with 478.2 yards per game. 

Swider says of All-CCIW quarterback Jordan Roberts, "Anytime you have a fifth-year senior who has started for you at quarterback the chances of you having a good offense are good. Jordan Roberts (PICTURED LEFT) has a lot of experience and he is playing with a lot of confidence right now. He is obviously a key guy for us and we are excited for what he can do this season." Roberts, a First Team All-CCIW honoree, ranked fifth in Division III in 2012 in passing efficiency. As a junior last season he set a school single-season record with a 70.3% completion percentage, completing 201 of his 296 passing attempts, with 29 touchdown passes.

Swider notes of Wheaton's backfield, "We have some depth at tailback with Charlie Velling and Justin Swider both coming back. They are both seniors with experience." He continued, "At fullback we have Stephen Sietz and Jesse Geary returning."

Velling (PICTURED RIGHT) played in seven games last season, averaging a team-best 6.1 yards per carry. He totaled 459 yards for the year on just 75 carries, with four touchdown runs. Justin Swider attempted 54 carries last season, averaging 5.8 yards per rush, with 312 yards and two touchdowns. Seitz and Geary both saw considerable playing time at fullback last season for the Thunder.

Swider says of the receiver position, "At receiver we have several returnees and are in a good position there. Mark Hiben (PICTURED LEFT) has struggled with injuries his entire career, including last year in his All-American season. We are hoping that he can return to the team this year and provide the kind of plays that he has given us throughout his career." Swider adds, "We have several young men that are going to be good receivers for us. Jordan [Roberts'] brother Grayson [Roberts] is going to be a good player, along with Luke Thorson, Austin Langemeier, James Houck, David Washko, Matt Mitchell, Nathan Smothers and Lucas Devick who can all play."

Hiben played in eight games for the Thunder last season, earning All-CCIW and All-American recognition. He caught 64 passes for 961 yards, with 11 touchdowns and his 120.1 receiving yards per game average ranked 10th in Division III. Washko averaged 11.6 yards per catch on his 29 receptions in 10 games of action in 2012. Houck averaged 9.8 yards per catch on 14 receptions last season. 

Center Spencer Clark (PICTURED RIGHT) earned First Team All-CCIW recognition as a sophomore last season and returns this year to key the offensive line. Swider says, "On the offensive line we don't have the depth we have at some of the other offensive positions. But our first five can really play. The line will be anchored by Nolan Randall (PICTURED LEFT) at left tackle and Spencer Clark at center. Those two guys have played a lot of football games and Bradley Hahn is our left guard and has played a lot of football, as has Carson Gray who is our right tackle. Right now Dan Barnhart is our right guard. He has never started at the position, but he is the strongest kid on our football team. Those five guys are going to be good players for us. Behind them we need some younger players to step up and provide us with some depth there."

"At tight end, Hunter Thorson comes back after being hurt last year. He is a big kid with potential and he could provide us with a weapon as both a blocker and receiver that could create some problems for the opponents," says Swider.

DEFENSE: Swider says of his defense, "On the defensive side of the ball, the strength will be the defensive line with several returnees. Last year that was supposed to be our question mark heading into the season. Obviously our All-American nose guard, Brandon Dykstra (PICTURED RIGHT) is the man for us. He has had a couple of surgeries in the offseason and we need him to come back healthy. If he is healthy he is a difference maker. He can run, he is big and strong and really makes an impact. He is backed up by Sam Weatherred, a senior that really gives us depth at the position."

Dykstra earned All-American recognition from D3football.com in a junior campaign that saw him make 8-1/2 tackles for lost yardage, with four quarterback sacks. He caused havoc for opposing offenses, with 36 total tackles, including 21 solos.

Swider continues, "Something that is exciting is our defensive end position, which we were really concerned about last year at this time because there were no returnees. David Suominen (PICTURED LEFT) and Jared Todd (PICTURED RIGHT) came in last year and played well. They are both back this season. We also have some young kids behind them, including Chad Reitz, that can play and make it a deep position."

Todd led the Thunder with 10-1/2 tackles for lost yardage of -41 yards, including a team-best 5-1/2 quarterback sacks (-30 yards). Todd tallied 36 total tackles and forced three fumbles on year. Suominen recorded 16 total tackles, with 2-1/2 tackles for loss.

Swider notes of inside linebacker, "Without a doubt, Brett Anderson (#41 PICTURED AT LEFT) is as good a linebacker as there is in the conference. He is a captain and can flat out play; we are expecting great things from him." Ben Benton and Derek Simpson will be competing for the spot that was played by Pat Dansdill last year." Anderson finished third on the team in 2012 with 60 total tackles, including nine tackles for lost yardage (-56 yards).

Swider continues, "At outside linebacker we have Jordan Higgins (#53 PICTURED AT LEFT) returning. We also have Austin Brooks and Adam Dansdill competing for the open spot left by Sam VanHeest's graduation." Higgins played in every game last season with 35 tackles, including 5-1/2 tackles for lost yardage.

"We have three corner backs that are as good as any three that we have here in a long time. Jackson Edwards, Oskar Cadena and CJ Nightingale are all upper classmen and can really play," notes Swider. Edwards (PICTURED RIGHT) recorded 25 total tackles in 2012, with five passes broken up. Swider mentions, "If Jackson Edwards can stay healthy he is going to be a tremendous player."  Nightingale tallied 21 total tackles, with three interceptions on the year. 

"Tony Vargyas (PICTURED LEFT) is as physical a safety that we have had here. He has been a starter for a year and can really run and hit. We are expecting big things out of Tony," notes the Thunder mentor. Vargyas made 44 tackles, including five tackles for lost yardage and an interception in 2012.  Swider continues, "There will be some competition to earn the free safety position. Mitch Warren, Ryan Callahan and Wes Cannonier are three guys that will be competing to play the position."

Justin Swider (PICTURED LEFT) earned All-CCIW and All-Region recognition in 2012 for his role as Wheaton's kickoff returner. Swider ranked 13th in Division III last season in kickoff returns with an average of 26.9 yards per return. Mike Swider notes, "Justin comes back as an All-Conference player at returner and he will be our leading returner this season."