Wheaton. Ill. – Twelve members of the Wheaton College football team have been named to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) All-Conference football team for 2007. Wheaton posted a record of 8-2 this year, with a 5-2 mark in CCIW play, finishing second in the league.

Junior Pete Ittersagen was recognized as the 2007 Don Larson Defensive Player of the Year. Ittersagen was tabbed as a First Team All-CCIW selection at both defensive back and as a return specialist. The Thunder cornerback led Wheaton with 72 total tackles this year, including 63 solo stops. Ittersagen recorded three interceptions this year and tallied 18 total passes broken-up, a league best and the second-best total in Division III. He forced two fumbles this season. As a punt returner this season, Ittersagen tied the school single-season record for punt returns for a touchdown with two. Ittersagen had 28 returns this season for 404 yards, averaging 14.4 yards per return.

Junior defensive end Ben Kuenzle (PICTURED RIGHT) joined Ittersagen on the All-CCIW First Team. Kuenzle led Wheaton with nine quarterback sacks (-57 yards) this year. He tied for the team lead in tackles for lost yardage, with 13-1/2 (-71 yards). Kuenzle recorded 34 total tackles this year, with 22 solo tackles. Kuenezle was third in the CCIW in quarterback sacks this year and 24th in Division III in the category.

Two offensive linemen earn All-CCIW honors as senior Geoff Rowson (PICTURED LEFT) and junior Jesse Scott each earned All-Conference honors. Rowson, a guard, was a First Team All-CCIW honoree, his third career All-Conference selection. Scott, a guard, was a Second Team All-Conference selection. Rowson and Scott were starting linemen for a Thunder offense that averaged 400.8 yards per game, rushing for 134.7 yards and passing for 266.1 yards per game.

Senior linebacker Jesse Laizure (PICTURED RIGHT) and junior linebacker Steve Pagh each earned Second Team All-CCIW honors. Laizure was second among Wheaton's defensive players, with 61 total tackles, including 33 solos. Laizure recorded 8-1/2 tackles for lost yardage (-44 yards) and 3-1/2 quarterback sacks (-24 yards) this year. Pagh tallied 47 total tackles in eight games this year. He recorded 8-1/2 tackles for lost yardage (-24 yards), including two quarterback sacks (-14 yards).

Senior safety Kirk McKenney was a Second Team All-CCIW selection at defensive back. McKenney tallied 27 total tackles this year, with 18 solos. He recorded five passes broken-up, with a fumble recovery.

Senior defensive tackle Javier Almanza (PICTURED LEFT) was a Second Team All-CCIW selection. Almanza recorded four tackles for lost yardage (-17 yards) this season, including 3-1/2 quarterback sacks (-16 yards). Almanza had 28 total tackles this year, including 14 solo stops.

Senior receivers Noah Dreyer (PICTURED RIGHT) and Chris Fossum were Second Team All-Conference honorees. Dreyer led the Thunder with 51 catches this year, for 573 yards, with four touchdowns. He averaged 11.2 yards per catch. In earning his second All-Conference selection Fossum had a team-high 682 receiving yards this year. He recorded 40 catches this year, with six touchdown, averaging 17.0 yards per catch.

Junior tailback Andrew Hershey was a Second Team All-CCIW selection. Hershey led the Thunder with 595 rushing yards, on 129 carries, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. Hershey reached the end zone with five touchdowns this year.

Senior tight end Kirk Sundberg (PICTURED LEFT) was a Second Team All-CCIW selection for the Thunder. Sundberg was an integral part of the Thunder offense this season, both as a blocker and as a receiver. He caught 12 passes for 115 yards, with five touchdown catches this year.


LINK TO THE COMPLETE ALL-CCIW TEAM