Wheaton, Ill. - Wheaton junior defensive end Peter Johaniak has been selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week for Week Eight of the 2024 season. Johanik is the third Wheaton player to earn recognition from the website this season, joining: wide receiver Ben Bonga (October 15), and linebacker Caleb McClung (October 1). 

Johanik was a was a major reason why the Thunder led 27-3 through the first three quarters in last Saturday's victory at WashU. He led all players with 12 total tackles including seven solo stops. He also registered three-and-a-half tackles for loss, with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He made one of the biggest plays of the game on the Bears' second offensive drive of the first half as he registered a 10-yard tackle for loss, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble as his outstanding play gave Wheaton the ball at the Bears' 32-yard line and the Thunder responded one play later with a 32-yard touchdown pass that gave Wheaton a 21-3 lead midway through the third quarter. Johanik made his presence known on WashU's first offensive drive of the game as he had one and a half tackles for loss on the possession. He also had a tackle for loss late in the third quarter to force a WashU three-and-out.

Johanik has registered 41 total tackles this season, including 21 solo stops. He 9.5 tackles for loss (-57 yards) this season, and his average of 1.36 tackles for loss per game ranks second in the CCIW. The junior has four quarterback sacks (-36 yards), with an average of 0.57 sacks per game that ranks third in the conference this season.

Johanik and the Thunder return to action on Saturday at noon against Elmhurst at McCully Stadium.