Wheaton, Ill. -- With the 2026 regular season concluding this week, the CCIW announced its annual All-Conference men's soccer teams on Friday. Three Wheaton players were named to the All-CCIW First and Second Teams. Luke Vander Kolk picked up First Team All-CCIW honors, while Cooper Falling (PICTURED LEFT) and Craig Rusin earned Second Team recognition. 

Vander Kolk repeats as a First Team All-Conference selection this season. Vander Kolk leads Wheaton with eight goals this season and also has a team-high 19 points. His three assists for Wheaton is tied for second. In eight CCIW matches this fall, Vander Kolk scored six matches and recorded three assists against league foes. His six goals in CCIW matches ranked second in the conference this fall. The Thunder senior scored twice in Wheaton's 3-1 win at home against Millikin in September as he was named the CCIW's Offensive Player of the Week following that outing. He scored a goal in three-consecutive Thunder matches to close out the regular season as he put the ball into the net against Elmhurst, North Central and Illinois Wesleyan. 

Cooper Falling, a midfielder, earned Second Team All-CCIW accolades for his work this season. Falling ranks second on the Thunder squad with six goals this season and is tied for second with three assists as he has scored 15 points. A starter in all eight CCIW matches for Wheaton this season, Falling has three assists and two goals in conference play. He scored twice in Wheaton's match up at Augustana on October 7. He also registered assists in home wins against Millikin and Carthage and a road contest at North Park. Thunder this fall, scoring once. He scored a goal for the Thunder on October 14 in Wheaton's 3-2 victory at Carroll.

Junior midfielder Craig Rusin (PICTURED RIGHT) earns his second-consecutive All-CCIW award in 2026. He is a Second Team honoree this season after earning First Team honors in 2025. Rusin has started 16 matches for the Thunder this season with one goal and three assists overall. He started all eight of Wheaton's CCIW matches this fall, with one goal in league play. He tallied a goal for Wheaton in a 3-2 Thunder victory at Carroll on October 14.

As part of this year's All-Conference announcement, senior defender Jonny Michael has been named Wheaton's CCIW RESPECT Award winner for the 2025 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.

The Thunder men's soccer team will turn its attention to postseason play tomorrow with the start of the 2026 CCIW Men's Soccer Championship. The fourth-seeded Thunder hosts fifth-seeded Carroll tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.