Wheaton, Ill. – Wheaton College defensive end Peter Johanik, linebacker Luca Torti and offensive tackle Aidan Kingsbury have been named to the 2025 D3football.com Preseason All-America Team as announced by the website on Monday afternoon.Three members on the Preseason All-America Team for the Thunder is the most for Wheaton since 2021.
Wheaton has had 42 total D3football.com Preseason All-America selections in the 26 years that the website has produced preseason All-America squads. The selection of Johanik, Torti and Kingsbury marks the 14th-consecutive season that the Thunder football program has produced at least one Preseason All-America selection on the website's list. Wheaton has produced at least one preseason All-American in 19 of the 26 seasons that the website has produced its list of the top Division III players ahead of each season.
Johanik earns his 2025 First Team Preseason All-America selection following a 2024 campaign where he earned a Second Team All-America award from D3football.com in 2024. Johanik is the seventh Wheaton defensive lineman to be named a preseason All-American by D3football.com, joining: Dallas McRae (2021 and 2020); Jake Holaday (2020); Patrick O'Connell (2018); Chase Greenlee (2017); and Andy Studebaker (2007).
The 2024 CCIW Co-Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year, Johanik led the CCIW in tackles for loss with 23 (-139 yards) and sacks with 11 (-95 yards). His average of 2.1 tackles for loss per game ranked fourth in Division III and his sacks per game average was 12th in Division III. Johanik ranked sixth in the CCIW in total tackles per game (6.7 TPG), as his 74 total tackles ranked second on the Thunder defense this season. Johanik had several outstanding performances in a consisten 2024 season. He was named the CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Week and selected to the D3football.com Team following a performance at Millikin where he recorded six tackles for loss. He made a game-high 12 total tackles, including 3.5 TFL (-14 yards) and forced a fumble in a victory at WashU as he earned a spot on the D3football.com Team of the Week. Johanik made 3.5 TFL (-35 yards), including two sacks (-33 yards) in Wheaton's Isthmus Bowl victory against UW-Stout to conclude the 2024 season.
Torti picks up his 2025 First Team Preseason All-America selection following a 2024 campaign where he was named a First Team All-Region 5 selection by D3football.com. Torti is the fifth Wheaton linebacker to be named a preseason All-American by D3football.com, joining: Ryan Schwartz (2021); Eric Stevenson (2018); Adam Dansdill (2015); and Justin Knapp (2002).
A 2024 All-CCIW First Team pick, Torti, led the 2024 Wheaton defense with 75 total tackles. He made four or more total tackles in every game last season, including six games of seven tackles or more. Torti recorded a season-high 11 tackles in a victory at Carthage. He registered nine tackles against top-ranked North Central and also recorded nine tackles in a win against Augustana.
Kingsbury earns a Third Team All-America selection to the 2025 D3football.com Preseason All-America Team. He is the 12th Wheaton offensive lineman to be named a D3football.com Preseason All-American, joining: Trevor Gabriele (2023); Jake Hibben (2021 and 2020); Gabriel McGill (2021 and 2020); Clay Wagner (2019); Kyler Kregel (2017); Peter Gibson (2016); Matt Snebold (2015); Spencer Clark (2013 and 2014); and James Hoxworth (2003).
In 2024 Kingsbury earned his second-consecutive All-CCIW awards and he was a Third Team All-Region 5 selection at offensive tackle by D3football.com. Kingsbury, a starter at tackle in every game last season for the Thunder, was the top blocker for a Thunder offense that impressed in 2024. Wheaton averaged 447.9 yards of total offense per game this season, with 4,927 yards in 11 games. Wheaton averaged 301.9 passing yards per game with 3,321 passing yards and just 13 sacks allowed, with only one allowed by Kingsbury. Wheaton ran for 1,606 yards behind Kingsbury and the Thunder offensive line as the Thunder averaged 146.0 rushing yards per game.
