Wheaton, Ill. – Thunder wide receiver Ben Bonga has been named to the 2024 Associated Press (AP) Division III All-America Team. The award is Bonga' second Division III All-America following the conclusion of Wheaton's 2024 campaign. He was named a Second Team All-American today by Associated Press and named a Second Team All-American earlier this month by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

Bonga earns Second Team Division III All-America honors at wide receiver from the AP. Last month he picked up his second-consecutive All-CCIW First Team award. He had a record-setting season as he tied Wheaton's single-season touchdown reception record this year with 19 touchdown catches. He caught 74 passes this season for 1,294 yards, averaging 117.6 receiving yards per game. Bonga is the CCIW leader in receiving yards, receiving yards per game, touchdown receptions, receptions per game, scoring (10.4 PPG), and touchdowns. 

Bonga's 19 touchdown receptions ranks fourth in Division III, his 1,294 receiving yards is seventh, he is ninth in the country in receiving yards per game (117.6 YPG), and is 18th in D3 in scoring (10.4 PPG). Bonga became just the fourth Wheaton wide receiver to record 3,000 or more receiving yards in a career with his outstanding 2024 campaign, ending the season with 3,008 career receiving yards as he moved into fourth on the program's all-time receiving yards list.

He was twice recognized as the CCIW's Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week this season, earning the award on September 30, and October 14, following CCIW wins against Carroll and Illinois Wesleyan, respectively. Bonga had seven games of 100 receiving yards or more this season, and had at least one touchdown catch in 10 games this season, including five multi-TD games. He set career highs with 10 catches and 174 yards in a road win at Carroll. In a homefield victory against Illinois Wesleyan, he had eight catches for 160 yards and was one touchdown shy of Wheaton's single-game touchdown reception record with four.

The 2024 season marks the seventh season that the Associated Press has named student athletes to a Division III All-America Team. Previously Division III football players were named to the Associated Press "Little All-America Team" that also consisted of NCAA Division II players and NAIA standouts.

Since the Associated Press Division III All-America Team began in 2017, Wheaton has produced 13 All-America selections. Tight end Zach  Lindquist and defensive end Chase Greenlee were named to the inaugural Associated Press Division III All-America Team in 2017. In 2018, linebacker Eric Stevenson picked up First Team recognition. Defensive end Dallas McRae and cornerback Spencer Rowland represented the Wheaton defense on the 2019 AP All-America Team. Four Wheaton players earned selection to the 2021 AP All-America Team as McRae joined center Jake Hibben and tight end Spencer Peterson on the First Team, while linebacker Ryan Schwartz was a Second Team honoree. In 2022, offensive lineman Trevor Gabriele and tight end Ben Juska were Second Team honorees. Giovanni Weeks was a First Team AP All-American at running back at the conclusion of the 2023 season.