Whitewater Has Eighteen on WIAC All-Time Team

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Time Football Team includes eighteen players representing the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.  The team honors standout athletes from the history of football in the league as part of the WIAC's centennial celebration.

The honorees from UW-Whitewater include (in alphabetical order):  Brent Allen, Bill Barwick, Justin Beaver, Levell Coppage, Al Equi, Justin Jacobs, Spencer Johnson, Ryan Kleppe, Derrick LeVake, Mike Miller, A.J. Raebel, Jace Rindahl, Aaron Rusch, Max Sakellaris, Jeff Schebler, Derek Stanley, Jim Walters, and Matt Weber.  Their career highlights follow, with playing years and hometown and high school in parentheses.

Brent Allen (2004-2007, Mukwonago) earned the Rimington Trophy as the top center in Division III of the NCAA in 2007.  He was also a D3football.com Second Team All-America pick that season, and an All-WIAC First Team selection in 2006 and 2007.

Bill Barwick (1972-75, Beloit/Memorial) earned National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics First Team All-America honors as an offensive lineman in both his junior and senior season.  He was also named All-WIAC First Team twice and NAIA District 14 First Team twice.

Justin Beaver (2004-2007, Palmyra) was a first team All-America pick in 2005, 2006 and 2007 on multiple teams.  Beaver was the leading rusher in WIAC history when he graduated with 6,584 yards.  Beaver earned the Gagliardi Trophy, often called the Division III Heisman, in 2007.  A three-time First Team All-WIAC selection, he was named the league's MVP in 2007.

Levell Coppage (2008-2011, Oak Park, IL) wrapped his career with 7,803 rushing yards, best ever in the WIAC and the second highest total in NCAA (any level) history.  He earned All-America honors all four years, with first team honors from more than one source his final three years.  Coppage was the WIAC Player of the Year for 2010 and 2011, and capped his career with D3football.com Player of the Year honors for the 2011 season.

Al Equi (1967-68, Lombard, IL/Glenbard East), a linebacker, was the 1967 WIAC MVP.  Twice all-conference, he was a first team All-American his junior year and duplicated the feat in 1967. 

Justin Jacobs  (2003-2006, Sun Prairie) was named the WIAC Most Valuable Player for 2005 and 2006, when he was also first team all-league.  He was an honorable mention pick at quarterback on two All-America squads for 2005.

Spencer Johnson (1992-94, Madison/Memorial) was second on UW-W's career rushing list with 3,739 yards when he graduated.  His season of 1,697 yards in 1994 earned him second team All-America recognition from two organizations and the WIAC's Most Valuable Player Award.

Ryan Kleppe (2003-2006, Mount Horeb) was named 2006 D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year after earning All-America honors his junior and senior year as a defensive tackle.  A Gagliardi finalist in 2006, Kleppe was also the WIAC's Max Sparger Scholar Athlete for Football that year.

Derrick LeVake (1995-97, West Allis/Central) was named the WIAC MVP in 1997, and he is still the only offensive lineman ever to earn that distinction.  LeVake was twice a first team All-American, and in 1997 he was a finalist for the Melberger Award (top Division III player, since discontinued) and Gagliardi Trophy, where he was the first offensive lineman to reach that point in both national awards.

Mike Miller (1982-84, Madison/Memorial) was a First Team All-WIAC pick three consecutive years, capping it off with league MVP honors in 1984 when he also earned All-America recognition.  At the time of his graduation Miller held UW-Whitewater career records for rushing yards and touchdowns. 

A.J. Raebel (2003-2006, Cary Grove, IL) was a three-time First Team All-WIAC selection at linebacker and two-time All-American.  He is UW-W's career leader in solo tackles and total tackles, also ranking fourth in the WIAC record book in the later category. 

Jace Rindahl (2005-2008, Cambridge) was accorded All-America honors at linebacker from two organizations in 2008 when he was also named D3football.com Defensive Player of the Year.

Aaron Rusch (2008-2010, Hartford) is the all-time WIAC leader in both receptions and receiving yards.  First Team All-WIAC in 2009 and 2010, he was recognized by two All-America organizations in 2010 when he was also a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy.

Max Sakellaris (2003-2006, Oak Park, IL) was a three-time All-WIAC First Team pick in the offensive line, where he added All-America awards in 2005 and 2006.  He was named the Division III Offensive Lineman of the Year by Don Hansen's Football Gazette in 2006.

Jeff Schebler (2006-2009) graduated with the WIAC career records for points, field goals and extra points.  Four times First Team All-WIAC, he also earned All-America honors all four years.  Schebler was a Gagliardi finalist in 2009 when he also received the Fred Mitchell Award as the top placekicker in Division II or Division III of the NCAA.

Derek Stanley  (2003-2006, Verona) earned All-America recognition as both a kick returner and wide receiver.  He graduated with the school record for career receiving yards in hand, and he still holds the school record with 35 touchdowns receiving, as well as school season bests for yards (1,328 in 2005) and touchdowns (17 in 2006).

Jim Walters (1970-73, Pottsville, PA) owned the UW-W career record for tackles when he graduated.  Three times First Team All-WIAC as a defensive lineman, he was a NAIA First Team All-American in 1973. 

Matt Weber (2008-2010, Oregon) was First Team All-WIAC choice in 2009 and 2010.  He was a D3football.com First Team All-American in 2009, and piled up All-America honors from three more organizations for the 2010 season.

For additional information contact Matt Stanek, WIAC assistant commissioner for media relations, mstanek@uwsa.edu or 608-265-6406