Men’s Soccer Announces 2025 Team Award Recipients

Smazil and Claybrook secure individual accolades

2/3/2026 10:00:00 AM

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - As the sun sets on the 2025 Illinois Wesleyan University men's soccer season, head coach Kyle Schauls unveiled his team awards, while lettering 26 student-athletes at the program's banquet, Monday Dec. 8.

On its way to setting IWU's all-time wins record with 13, the Green and White captured its second College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tournament championship, earning the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Titans finished with an unbeaten 5-0-3 record on the road and a 7-2-1 mark on the pitch of Neis Field.

Schauls handed out two individual awards, naming senior co-captain, Jerry Smazil (Downers Grove, Ill. - Downers Grove South) the team's Most Valuable Player. Smazil, a four-time letterwinner for the Titans, played an integral role in the midfield, owning first and second balls, while directing the squad through the chaos of the pitch. Smazil tallied one assist on the campaign delivering the game-winning goal in the first matchup against North Park University. To go along with his MVP honor, Smazil's offseason has been glittered with awards and honors. The Titans' co-captain reeled in All-CCIW Second Team honors to go along with his United Soccer Coaches All-Region VIII selection. In the classroom, Smazil was selected to the College Sports Communicators All-District team and the USC Scholar All-Region squad.

Freshman Jonathan Claybrook (New Lenox, Ill.-Lincoln-Way Central) claimed the Most Improved Player award. As a defender, Claybrook ended the season on the right foot starting the final three contests, including the postseason match against Macalester. The New Lenox, Ill. native appeared in 19 matches, logging over 660 minutes.

In his 12th year at the helm for Illinois Wesleyan, Schauls lettered 26 student-athletes with 10 receiving the first of their respective careers. The freshman class saw seven student-athletes receive a letter, the most since the 2022 season. Completing the underclass, five sophomores were awarded with a letter. Schauls granted five juniors with letters, to go along with the entire senior class. The full list of letterwinners can be found here.

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