Official CoSIDA Release

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Sixteen College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) student-athletes were selected to the 2021 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District Football team on Thursday.

Carthage, Millikin, North Central, WashU, and Wheaton were all represented on the 25-man team with WashU and Wheaton each earning six selections.

Second Team All-CCIW defensive back Garrett Warner was one of four defensive backs selected to the Division 6 team. Warner led the Firebirds this season 86 tackles including four tackles for loss. He also chipped in two pass break-ups, one interception, and one fumble recovery.

Millikin's Chris Vogt was one of four defensive lineman selected. Vogt had 35 tackles on the season including six tackles for a loss. He had one sack and one fumble recovery for the Big Blue.

North Central's Ben Wong and Jake Beesley each earned repeat Academic All-District selections. Wong is an Academic All-District honoree for the third straight season and has earned Academic All-America accolades the last two years. He is the Cardinals' leading tackler (50) this season and currently ranks 10th in North Central history in career tackles (223)

An Academic All-American during the 2020-21 academic year, Beesley ranks second all-time at North Central in pass breakups (33) and 12th in passes defended (41). He ranks second in the CCIW and 13th in the nation in passes defended (15) this season. Both Wong and Beesley were First Team All-CCIW honorees this season.

Wheaton's six selections were split evenly between offense and defense. Luke Anthony started all 10 games for the Thunder at quarterback this season, throwing for 2,068 yards with 18 touchdown passes. Anthony has completed 142 of his 235 passing attempts for a 60.4 completion percentage this season.

Giovanni Weeks was one of two selections at running back and is among the leading rushers in Division III this season, running for a league-best 1,191 yards. He is averaging 132.3 rushing yards per game, tying a school record with 19 touchdowns. His 8.3 yards per carry average for the season is ranked second in Division III.

Graham Wall was one of five offensive linemen selected and is part of a Thunder offensive line that has helped Wheaton to 15th in Division III in total offense this season at 483.9 yards per game. The Thunder offense is 16th in the nation in rushing offense with 248.3 rushing yards per game and sixth in scoring offense at 48.8 points per game.

Senior linebacker Ryan Schwartz was a semifinalist for the 2021 National Football Foundation "Scholar-Athlete" award earlier this fall. Schwartz leads the highly ranked Wheaton defense in total tackles with 76, including 55 solo stops. He has 9-1/2 tackles for loss (-17 yards), and two interceptions.

Caleb Egbert has made 31 total tackles this season, including 25 solo stops. He leads the Thunder defense with four interceptions, tying for the CCIW lead in the category. He returned three of his picks this season for a touchdown. Josh Shafley was one of four defensive backs selected. The senior cornerback has played in all 10 games for Wheaton this season, making 21 total tackles (18 solo). He has one interception and a blocked kick in the 2021 campaign for the Thunder. 

Weeks, Schwartz, and Egbert each earned First Team All-CCIW honors earlier this fall.

Wide receiver Cole Okmin was the lone offensive selection for the Bears. A Second Team All-CCIW selection, Okmin tallied 47 catches for 560 yards and eight touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories. 

Chris Vartainian was the CCIW's lone special teams selection. The Bears' kicker converted 39-of-40 extra-point attempts and also made eight-of 14 field goal attempts including a season-long of 42 yards.

Zane Ahlfinger and John Christensen earned two of the four linebacker selections in District 5. Ahlfinger tallied 36 tackles including one tackle for loss and one pass break-up. Christensen has made 18 stops on the season including two tackles for loss. He also recorded a fumble and has a pass break-up.

The Bears also claimed two of the five District 5 defensive back selections. A Second Team All-CCIW selection this fall, JT Streepy leads the Bears into the inaugural Culver's Isthmus Bowl ranking second on the team with 44 tackles and leading the Bears with eight pass break-ups. Andrew Whitaker is tied for the team lead with three interceptions and has 37 tackles on the season. He earned First Team All-CCIW honors this fall.