WHEATON'S ALL-CCIW PHOTO GALLERY

Wheaton, Ill. –The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) announced its All-Conference football team on Tuesday. Wheaton was well represented with 16 All-CCIW selections. Marking the most selections for Wheaton since the 2019 team had 17 All-CCIW performers. Wheaton had nine First Team selections and seven Second Team honorees. Nine members of the Thunder offense earned All-Conference honors, six defensive players and one member of the Thunder special teams unit picked up the award.

Quarterback Mark Forcucci picked up First Team All-CCIW recognition, earning his second career All-Conference award following Second Team honors last year. Forcucci has thrown for 2,274 yards this season, averaging 257.7 passing yards per game. He has a 69.7% (145-208) completion percentage with 28 touchdown passes. In eight CCIW games, Forcucci had 2,001 passing yards, with 26 touchdown passes. In league play he completed 122 of his 166 passes for a league-best 73.5% completion percentage.

Receivers Seth Kortenhoeven and Caleb Titherington each picked up All-CCIW accolades this year. Kortenhoeven is a First Team selection this season and also earned that honor in 2023, while Titherington is a Second Team pick this year for his first career All-Conference award. Kortenhoeven leads the Thunder in receptions (49), receiving yards (777) and touchdown catches (8) in nine total games this year. In eight CCIW games, he made 38 catches for 670 yards with six touchdown catches as he averaged 17.6 yards per catch. Titherington has 33 receptions for 509 yards this season (15.4 YPC) with six touchdown catches. In nine CCIW contests, he had 28 catches for 436 yards (15. YPC) with six TD catches.

Tight ends Ben Juska (First Team) and Riley Howard (Second Team) each picked an All-CCIW award this year. Juska is tied with Titherington for second on the team with 33 receptions this season as he has 448 receiving yards, and six touchdown catches. Juska also has two touchdown runs as he averages 4.1 yards per carry this year. In nine CCIW games he is second on the team with eight touchdowns as he collected six TD catches and ran for two. Juska had 32 receptions in CCIW games, averaging 13.4 yards per catch. In 10 games this season, Howard has 10 catches for 238 yards, and he has one touchdown run. In CCIW play, Howard had nine catches as he averaged 9.8 yards per reception and his touchdown run came in conference play.

Three Thunder offensive linemen earned All-CCIW honors. Aidan Kingsbury earns his third career All-CCIW award with First Team honors this year and in 2024 to go with Second Team accolades in 2023. Aiden Byrne joins Kingsbury on the First Team and David Nussbaum earns his second-consecutive Second Team All-CCIW award. The trio anchor a Thunder offense that averages 459.8 yards per game as Wheaton averages 7.3 yards per play. The Thunder passing game averages 307.5 yards per game and Wheaton has 152.3 yards per game on the ground. In nine CCIW games this year, the Thunder offense averaged 468.3 yards per game, with 311.3 passing yards per game, with 157 yards per game on the ground.

Running back Matt Crider picks up Second Team All-CCIW honors in his debut season with the Thunder. In 10 games this year, Crider has run for 654 yards on 98 carries, averaging 6.7 yards per rush, with a team-high nine touchdown runs. In nine CCIW contests, Crider recorded 93 carries for 616 yards for an average of 6.6 yards per rush with eight touchdown runs. He also had eight receptions for 108 yards with one touchdown catch.

Senior Peter Johanik earns his third-consecutive All-CCIW First Team award and fellow defensive lineman Rex Kroger is a Second Team honoree. In 10 games this season, Johanik has 57 total tackles, including 17.5 tackles for loss (-91 yards) and 9.5 sacks (-70 yards). Johanik also has eight QB hurries and two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Johanik led the CCIW in tackles for loss (16.5 TFL) and sacks (8.5) in conference action this fall. In conference play he recorded 45 total tackles, including 27 solo stops. In 10 games this year, Kroger has 30 total tackles (11 solo), including eight tackles for loss (-34 yards). Kroger leads the Thunder with 12 QB hurries, with three passes broken-up and an interception return for a touchdown. In nine CCIW games, Kroger has 29 total tackles, including eight tackles for loss and 12 QB hurries.

Wheaton linebackers Luca Torti and Zeke Harris each pick up First Team All-CCIW honors. This year's award is Torti's second-consecutive First Team honor and this is Harris' first all-conference selection. In 10 games this season, Torti has 66 total tackles (32 solo), with two sacks and three forced fumbles. In nine CCIW games, he has 61 total tackles (30 solo), including two sacks. Harris leads the Thunder with 89 total tackles (47 solo) this year, including 9.5 tackles for loss (-33 yards) and two sacks (-18 yards). He also has an interception, three passes broken-up, with seven QB hurries. In CCIW contests, he recorded a team-high 79 total tackles (43 solo) with eight tackles for loss (-30 yards).

Defensive backs Collin Moore picks up First Team All-CCIW honors, while teammate Joseph Bracy is a Second Team honoree. Moore leads the CCIW with six interceptions in conference play, his INT total for the season. Moore also has 44 total tackles (27 solo) this season, including four passes broken-up. Moore had 36 tackles (23 solo) in conference play this year. Bracy has 31 total tackles (21 solo) with an interception and 10 passes broken-up. In nine CCIW games, Bracy had 28 total tackles, including 20 solo stops. He also had an interception in CCIW play and eight passes broken-up.

Punter Josiah Smith picks up Second Team All-CCIW honors on special teams. Smith has 1,006 punting yards on 22 punts this season for a school record 45.7 yards per punt. He has nine punts inside the 20-yard line and eight punts for 50 yards or more. In nine CCIW contests, he has 18 punts with a league-best 44.9 yards per punt, with nine punts inside the 20-yard line and six punts over 50 yards. To be ranked in among the NCAA leaders in yards per punt, a punter must average 3.6 punts per game. Smith currently averages 2.2 punts per game and if he qualified his 45.7 yards per punts average would rank second in Division III.

Jaxon Powell was named Wheaton's honoree of the CCIW's RESPECT Award for the second-consecutive season. At the conclusion of every sports season, each varsity program recognizes one student-athlete as their RESPECT Award honoree. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture. Powell receives the award in a season that he had significant health issues and was able to return to the team and join his teammates near the conclusion of the regular season.