Wheaton, Ill. (11/14) – The Wheaton Thunder football team reaped the rewards of its fourth CCIW Championship in five years when the announced its 2006 All-Conference team and award winners on Tuesday. Wheaton had 13 players selected to the All-CCIW team, representing a Thunder squad that finished the regular season with a 9-1 record and a 6-1 mark in conference play. Wheaton is ranked 17th in Division III this week by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and will host College of Mount St. Joseph on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs. Due to the Thunder success this year, head coach Mike Swider was selected as the “Bob Reade Coach of the Year” by his peers. This marks the fourth time that Swider has been recognized as a CCIW Coach of the year, also winning the award in 2000, 2002 and 2003.

Defensive end Andy Studebaker has been named as the “Don Larson Defensive Player of the Year” and earned First Team All-CCIW honors. Studebaker leads the CCIW in quarterback sacks, with 16-1/2 (-128 yards) and is one sack shy of tying the school single-season record of 17-1/2 sacks set by David Hoover in 1995. Studebaker, also a First Team All-CCIW honoree in 2005, has tallied a league-best 22-1/2 tackles for lost yardage (-142 yards) with 17 quarterback hurries. The junior is ranked second in Division III in sacks per game and is seventh in the nation in tackles for loss per game.

Sophomore cornerback Pete Ittersagen and junior linebacker Mike McKinney also join Studebaker on the First Team defense. Ittersagen leads Wheaton with four interceptions this season, including one returned for a touchdown. He has tallied 51 total tackles this year, including a team-high 35 solo tackles. This is the second consecutive First Team All-CCIW recognition for Ittersagen, who also earned the honor last season as a freshman. McKinney totaled 47 tackles this season and was second on the squad with eight tackles for lost yardage (-27 yards).

Senior running back Chaz Black joined receiver Chris Fossum and right guard Geoff Rowson on the First Team offensive unit. Black has rushed for 909 yards this season in eight games. He has tallied 113.6 yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry. The captain rushed for eight touchdowns this season and leads the CCIW in yards per game. Fossum caught 10 passes for 784 yards this season, with seven touchdowns and an average of 19.6 yards per catch. Fossum led Wheaton in catches and receiving yards and was the CCIW leader in yards per catch. Rowson earns All-CCIW honors for the second consecutive season after earning Second Team accolades last season.

Senior cornerback Tim March and junior safety Kirk McKenney each earned Second Team All-CCIW defensive honors, joining senior linebacker Jonathan Toal and senior defensive lineman Dan Hahn. Toal is second on the Thunder defense in total tackles with 54 and has added four tackles for loss (-15 yards), with a quarterback sack. He was second on the team in passes broken-up with nine. McKenney tallied 49 tackles this season, with one interception and three tackles for lost yardage (-16 yards). March made 41 total tackles this season. He recorded three interceptions for 64 return yards, including one INT returned for a touchdown. Hahn has been a valuable contributor on the defensive line with 26 total tackles and three tackles for lost yardage (-7 yards).

Twin brothers Jeremy Chupp, a quarterback, and receiver Joe Chupp were each named to the Second Team offense. Left tackle Thomas Christner also earned Second Team All-CCIW honors. Jeremy Chupp has thrown for 1,744 yards this season, with 21 touchdown tosses. He has completed 116 of his 201 passing attempts, averaging 174.4 yards per game this season. Joe Chupp has made 30 receptions this season for 549 yards, with seven touchdown catches. The senior has averaged 18.3 yards per catch on the year.