Illinois Wesleyan senior co-captain Artie Checchin (Arlington Heights, Ill., Rolling Meadows HS) heads into his final season No. 3 in the IWU record books with 988 kickoff return yards and tied for No. 4 with 42 kickoff returns. He ranks No. 15 with 104 pass receptions and with 2,489 career all-purpose yards and No. 18 with 1,383 receiving yards.
A two-time all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection, he was named to second team of 2015 preseason Division III All-American squad chosen by USA College Football and American Football Networks.
Against Franklin in 2014, he has a 100-yard kickoff return, the longest in IWU history, topping mark of 99 set in 1942 by Bill Alkire, and the first kickoff return for TD at IWU since 1990.
Checchin, a business (finance) at Illinois Wesleyan, is the son of Art and Dawn Checchin.
Why you chose Illinois Wesleyan: Top tier academics and strong Titan Football Tradition.
IWU class you’re most qualified to teach: Seminar in Marketing and Entrepreneurship with Professor Bussone.
The hardest challenge about being a Division III student-athlete is: Buying most if not all of your equipment.
Worst grade in a class you ever got – what and when? 11% on a Micro Economics Exam sophomore year, dropped the class a few seconds after receiving the exam.
I’m deathly afraid of ... : Horror films
Worst habit: Daily caffeine intake
Most expensive traffic ticket: Speeding ticket - $250
Language I’d like to learn: Mandarin Chinese
The longest I could survive without my cell phone: Couple years
One word your mother or father would use to describe you: Charismatic
Favorite sports figures: Patrick Kane, Wes Welker, Kyle Korver, Kris Bryant, Jordan Spieth, Jay Cutler, Nick Saban.
My greatest moment in sports was: When I played on the Arlington Heights Cowboys and we beat the heavily favored Palatine Panthers in the 2005 NWYFL Championship game.
The best player I ever faced was: Keante Minor, wide receiver for East St. Louis High School
Worst dresser on my team: Jack Warner
Thing that’s been in my fridge the longest: Mac Zabriskie’s eggs
Person I’m dying to have dinner with: Katy Perry
Favorite food: Double Stuffed Oreos
Vegetable I won’t eat: Cauliflower
Pepsi or Coke? Coke
Favorite TV show: "Entourage"
Favorite musical group: N.W.A
Favorite movie: "Forrest Gump"
If a movie were made of my life, I would like the following person to play me: Burt Reynolds
If my life were on TV as a reality show, I’d call it: "True Life: I Drink Too Much Caffeine"
The person in history I would most like to meet is: Jesus
My dream job would be: Host of "The Bachelor"
Place I’d most like to live: The homeland - Lucca, Italy
Two things that are tops on my “bucket list”: Run with the bulls in Spain and play a round of golf with Jordan Spieth.
My possession that would fetch the most on eBay: Cheetah Print Body Pillow
Who is the luckiest person in the world? Kim Kardashian
What I miss most about being in the third grade: Wiffle Ball
