Wheaton, Ill. – The Wheaton football team is ranked 18th in the 2018 Division III preseason poll released by D3football.com on Thursday afternoon. The Thunder earns the recognition following a 2017 season in which the program posted an 8-2 record.

This marks the 13th time that the Wheaton football program has been ranked in the website's preseason top-25 since D3football.com began its preseason poll in 2004. This year's selection marks the eighth-consecutive year that head coach Mike Swider's program has been included in the preseason poll - the current streak dates back to the 2011 poll.

Wheaton is among three CCIW programs rated in this year's top-25 poll. North Central College is ranked seventh in the poll, with Wheaton in 18th place and Illinois Wesleyan University is ranked 21st in the poll. The Thunder are in Bloomington on September 15 for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff against th Titans. Wheaton travels to Naperville on September 29 to face the Cardinals in a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.

The Thunder open the 2018 season at home on September 1 against Monmouth College.

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