CCIW Release

NAPERVILLE, Ill. - Three members of the Illinois Wesleyan University football team were named to the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin postseason teams Tuesday, Nov. 15, as the league office announced its end of year awards. Senior Charlie Hamilton (Springfield, Ill.-Sacred Heart-Griffin) was named to the first team, while sophomore Josh Hlavacek (Plainfield, Ill.-Plainfield North) and senior Anthony Wachal Jr. (Elk Grove Village, Ill.-Conant) garnered second team honors. Senior Conor Murphy (Aurora, Ill.-Metea Valley) was named IWU's recipient of the CCIW RESPECT award.

Hamilton, a co-captain for the Titans in 2022, put together a tremendous season for the Green and White. Moving up to the All-CCIW First Team after earning second team status in 2021, Hamilton hauled in 71 catches for 940 yards en route to recording 10 touchdowns. The Springfield, Ill. native finished the year with four 100-yard receiving games. He led the CCIW in receptions, receiving yards, receptions per game, receiving yards per game, and ranked second in receiving TDs. Hamilton posted single-game highs of 12 catches and 153 yards in IWU's win over Carroll, Sept. 24. 

Hlavacek, a two-time CCIW Defensive Player of the Week selection, turned in a breakout season this year. Emerging as one of the top defensive ends in the league, Hlavacek finished the season with 38 tackles, 18 solo, 15.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. He also registered five quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and two blocked kicks. The sophomore concluded the season ranked second in both sacks and sacks per game, while he sits sixth in tackles for loss and seventh in TFLs per game. A D3football.com Team of the Week pick earlier this year, Hlavacek tallied single-game highs of eight tackles and 4.5 sacks in IWU's season finale at Elmhurst, Nov. 12.

Another co-captain for the Titans, Wachal Jr. finished his collegiate career on a high note. The senior, who was hampered by injuries the last three seasons, made the most of his first full season on the gridiron. Wachal Jr. recorded a team-high 84 tackles, 56 solo, and added 1.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, and four pass breakups. His 84 stops were third-most in the league and his 56 solo tackles were second-most. The Elk Grove Village, Ill. product posted double-digit tackles twice, including a historic 20-tackle performance against No. 1 North Central, Nov. 5.

Illinois Wesleyan finished the year with a 6-4 overall record, a three-win improvement from the previous season, to place fourth in the CCIW.

CCIW Bob Reade Coach of the Year
Brad Spencer, North Central
 
CCIW Art Keller Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Ethan Greenfield, North Central
 
CCIW Don Larson Co-Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Alexander Perkins, Millikin
Dan Lester, North Central
 
CCIW Offensive Line Student-Athlete of the Year
Jeske Maples, North Central
 
CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
Will Campbell, Carroll
 
Elite 26 Winner
Bobby Behmer, North Central
JJ Ruff, Wheaton
 
All-CCIW First Team Offense
QB, Will Bowers, Wheaton, Sr., Westlake, Texas, Carroll
RB, Ethan Greenfield, North Central, Sr., Lindenhurst, Ill., Lakes
RB, Giovanni Weeks, Wheaton, Sr., Kent City, Mich., Kent City
WR, Sylvere Campbell, Carthage, So., Milwaukee, Wis., Martin Luther
WR, Charlie Hamilton, Illinois Wesleyan, Sr., Springfield, Ill., Sacred Heart-Griffin
WR, DeAngelo Hardy, North Central, Jr., Lake Villa, Ill., Lakes
WR, Collin Goldberg, WashU, So., Atlanta, Ga., The Lovett School
TE, Ben Juska, Wheaton, So., Westmont, Ill., Westmont
OL, Jeske Maples, North Central, So., Moweaqua, Ill., Central A&M
OL, Sam Pryor, North Central, So., Sugar Grove, Ill., Kaneland
OL, Jarod Thornton, North Central, Jr., Homewood, Ill., Homewood-Flossmoor
OL, Paul Fay, Wheaton, Sr., Roscoe, Ill., Hononegah
OL, Trevor Gabriele, Wheaton, Sr., Wheaton, Ill., Wheaton North
 
All-CCIW First Team Defense
DL, Alexander Perkins, Millikin, Sr., Chicago, Ill., Morgan Park
DL, Quinton Miller, Millikin, Sr., Houston, Texas, Westbury
DL, Dan Lester, North Central, Jr., Indian Creek, Ill., Vernon Hills
DL, Tyler Rich, North Central, Sr., Pontiac, Ill., Pontiac
LB, Bryce Gable, Elmhurst, Sr., Grandville, Mich., Grandville
LB, BJ Adamchik, North Central, So., Raleigh, N.C., Lessville Road
LB, Gus Christensen, WashU, Sr., Frankfort, Ill., Lincoln-Way East
DB, Jeremy Inniss, Elmhurst, Sr., Chicago, Ill., De La Salle Institute
DB, Julian Bell, North Central, Jr., Oswego, Ill., Oswego
DB, Antwain Walker, North Central, Jr., Oswego, Ill., Oswego East
DB, Sam Bell, Wheaton, Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn., Mahtomedi
 
All-CCIW First Team Specialists
K, Tanner Rains, North Central, So., Plainfield, Ill., Plainfield Central
P, Carson Blatchford, North Park, So., Belvidere, Ill., Belvidere North
RS, Juan Nieves, North Park, So., Carrollton, Ga., Carrollton
 
All-CCIW Second Team Offense
QB, Luke Lehnen, North Central, So., Chatham, Ill., Glenwood
QB, Matt Rush, WashU, Sr., Hinsdale, Ill., Hinsdale Central
RB, Terrence Hill, North Central, Sr., Effingham, Ill., Effingham
RB, Kenneth Hamilton, WashU, So., High Ridge, Mo., Christian Brothers College High School
WR, Bobby Inserra, Augustana, Sr., Park Ridge, Ill., Maine South
WR, Austin Eichstaedt, Carroll, Jr., Cudahy, Wis., Cudahy
WR, Alex Jarvis, Carthage, Sr., Kenosha, Wis., Indian Trail
WR, Tyler Gautier, Wheaton, Sr., Sebastian, Fla., Sebastian River
TE, Reed Breckheimer, Carroll, Fr., Hilbert, Wis., Hilbert
TE, Matt Robinson, North Central, Jr., Effingham, Ill., Effingham
OL, Cain Johnson, Augustana, Jr., Galesburg, Ill., Galesburg
OL, Trevor Pye, Carroll, So., Waterford, Wis., Waterford
OL, Will Ebert, North Central, Sr., Arlington Heights, Ill., Hersey
OL, Mark Charnot, WashU, Jr., Raleigh, N.C., Cardinal Gibbons
OL, Graham Wall, Wheaton, Winfield, Ill., Wheaton Academy
 
All-CCIW Second Team Defense
DL, Cole Romano, Augustana, Sr., Johnsburg, Ill., Johnsburg
DL, Chase Tatum, Augustana, Sr., Princeton, Ill., Princeton
DL, Josh Hlavacek, Illinois Wesleyan, So., Plainfield, Ill., Plainfield North
DL, Christopher Montgomery, Millikin, Sr., Chicago, Ill., Gary Comer Prep
DL, Dan Gilroy, North Central, Sr., Cary, Ill., Cary-Grove
DL, Brandon Greifelt, North Central, Sr., Mount Prospect, Ill., Notre Dame Prep
DL, Brayden Anthony, Wheaton, Sr., Wheaton, Ill., Wheaton North
LB, Damon Loker, Carroll, So., Kimberly, Wis., Kimberly
LB, Chris DiVito, Carthage, Jr., Arlington Heights, Ill., Rolling Meadows
LB, Sam Taviani, North Central, Sr., Downers Grove, Ill., Downers Grove North
LB, Jaydin Miller, North Park, So., South Bend, Ind., Sound Bend Adams
LB, Matthew Schmal, WashU, Sr., Atlanta, Ga., The Westminster Schools
LB, Jalen Shaffer, Wheaton, Grand Rapids, Mich., Northpointe Christian
DB, Jake Binkowski, Carroll, So., Pulaski, Wis., Pulaski
DB, Anthony Wachal, Jr., Illinois Wesleyan, Sr., Elk Grove Village, Ill., Conant
DB, Nickolas Burks, Millikin, So., Memphis, Tenn., Fairley
DB, Zack Orr, North Central, So., Mokena, Ill., Lincoln-Way Central
DB, Juan Nieves, North Park, So., Carrollton, Ga., Carrollton
DB, Brad Hamilton, WashU, Sr. High Ridge, Mo., Rockwood Summit
DB, Max Wilson, Wheaton, So., Wheaton, Ill., Wheaton-Warrenville South
 
CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Daniel Skold, Augustana, Sr., Plainfield, Ill., St. Francis
Jonathan Rau, Carroll, Sr., West Allis, Wis., Nathan Hale
Jake Tomczak, Carthage, Sr., Mokena, Ill., Lincoln Way East
Colton Kraus, Elmhurst, Sr., Racine, Wis., Racine Lutheran
Conor Murphy, Illinois Wesleyan, Sr., Aurora, Ill., Metea Valley
Kendall Dehority, Millikin, Sr., Decatur, Ill., Eisenhower
Alec Wolff, North Central, Sr., Lombard, Ill., Glenbard East
Benjamin Urchell, North Park, Sr., Crown Point, Ind., Andrean
Cole Okmin, WashU, Sr., Lincolnshire, Ill., Adlai E. Stevenson