NAPERVILLE, Ill. — The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin announced today the recipients of the Fall 2021 Dave Wrath & Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference awards. Molly Fank of Augustana women’s soccer and Matt Payton of Augie football were named the Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference recipients, while over 100 student-athletes from Augustana College were recognized as part of the Dave Wrath Academic All-Conference list. Augustana had the third most recipients in the conference.
The Dave Wrath Academic All-Conference list comprises those individuals that achieved an overall grade-point average of 3.30 or above and have served at least one year in residency at their respective school. Over 800 names were recognized during the Fall 2021 season.
The Dave Wrath Academic All-Conference award is named after the former Augustana College athletics administrator. Wrath retired in June as the Associate Director of Athletics for Media and Alumni Relations, serving the Vikings for 40 years. In addition to his duties at Augustana, Wrath served as the CCIW Sports Information Director from 1996 to 2005 and was instrumental in establishing the CCIW’s Academic All-Conference Program in 2005.
The complete list of the Fall 2021 Dave Wrath Academic All-Conference recipients can be found here.
Additionally, the CCIW announced all of the recipients of the Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference award. Each CCIW member institution selects two student-athletes (one men’s athlete & one women’s athlete) from each of the three sport seasons (fall, winter, spring) to be honored as Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference members. To be eligible, an individual must have an overall grade point average of 3.50 or above and have served at least one year in residency at their respective institution.
The Jack Swartz Academic All-Conference award is named after the former Wheaton College Director of Athletics and CCIW Commissioner. Swartz served in the Athletics Director role from 1975-1982 and as CCIW Commissioner from 1987 until his passing on July 11, 1997.
Augustana
Women’s Recipient:Molly Fank
Sport: Soccer
Year: Junior
Major: Spanish/Sociology & Anthropology
GPA: 3.81
Fall 2021 Highlights: 1st Team All-CCIW defender … anchored a defense that posted five shutouts and held opponents to 1.13 goals per match … scored one goal on 11 shots.
Men’s Recipient:Matt Payton
Sport: Football
Year: Senior
Major: Education
GPA: 3.58
Fall 2021 Highlights: Competed in nine games in 2021 … totaled 12 tackles (two solo).
Carroll
Women’s Recipient: Kenzie Blau
Sport: Soccer
Year: Sophomore
Major: Biology/Pre-Physical Therapy
GPA: 3.916
Fall 2021 Highlights: Serves on three-member CCIW Student-Athlete Advisory Committee Executive Board … took part in the NCAA’s Student-Athlete Leadership Forum in November … board member of Carroll’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee … played in 18 games and tallied one goal and two assists from her defender position.
Men’s Recipient: Austin Eichstaedt
Sport: Football
Year: Sophomore
Major: Actuarial Science
GPA: 3.682
Fall 2021 Highlights: Selected to the D3football.com All-Region squad … named 1st Team All-CCIW at wide receiver … led the CCIW with 1,075 yards on 72 receptions … finished the regular season 11th in the nation n receiving yards and 16th with 7.2 catches per game.
Carthage
Women’s Recipient: Sierra Sonnemaker
Sport: Tennis
Year: Junior
Major: Accounting & Finance
GPA: 4.00
Fall 2021 Highlights: Went 7-5 in singles play including 6-2 at the No. 4 spot.
Men’s Recipient: Colin Iverson
Sport: Soccer
Year: Junior
Major: Cross-Categorical Special Education
GPA: 3.974
Fall 2021 Highlights: Selected to the United Soccer Coaches Division III All-Region Team … 1st Team All-CCIW selection … helped lead a Carthage defense that totaled nine shutouts and allowed just 19 goals in 20 matches … scored two goals and two assists.
Elmhurst
Women’s Recipient: Emily Clausen
Sport: Cross Country
Year: Senior
Major: Urban Studies
GPA: 3.98
Fall 2021 Highlights: Helped lead the Bluejays to their first CCIW title since 2003 … earned all-conference honors with a seventh place finish in the 6K (22:52.3) … earned all-region honors with a 29th place finish in a career-best time of 22:47.6 at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional … helped lead the Bluejays to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA Regional.
Men’s Recipient: Danny Jones
Sport: Football
Year: Senior
Major: Finance
GPA: 4.00
Fall 2021 Highlights: Played in seven of the Bluejays’ 10 games in 2021 … caught one pass for eight yards against Millikin on October 9.
Illinois Wesleyan
Women’s Recipient: Jessica McCall
Sport: Women’s Volleyball
Year: Senior (5th Year)
Major: Undecided
GPA: 3.86
Fall 2021 Highlights: CoSIDA Academic All-District selection … helped lead the Titans to CCIW regular season and tournament titles … finished the season second on the team with 235 kills and 301 digs … 1st Team All-CCIW performer … American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III “Player of the Week” on November 9 … voted the Titans’ “Most Valuable Player”.
Men’s Recipient: Trevor Martin
Sport: Soccer
Year: Senior
Major: Accounting
GPA: 3.87
Fall 2021 Highlights: CoSIDA Academic All-District selection … started 14 of 16 matches … scored a career-high three goals and a career-high three assists.
Millikin
Women’s Recipient: Maddy Wood
Sport: Soccer
Year: Senior
Major: Psychology
GPA: 3.97
Fall 2021 Highlights: 2nd Team All-CCIW selection … started all 16 games in 2021 with eight goals and two assists … named the Big Blue’s Co-Captain as a junior and senior.
Men’s Recipient: Ben Kuxmann
Sport: Cross Country
Year: Senior
Major: English (Secondary Education)
GPA: 3.96
Fall 2021 Highlights: Placed 21st in the 8K at the 2021 CCIW Championship (26:21.5) … helped lead the Big Blue to a third place finish at the CCIW meet.
North Central
Women’s Recipient: Kily Egan
Sport: Soccer
Year: Junior
Major: Marketing
GPA: 4.0
Fall 2021 Highlights: CoSIDA Academic All-District selection … 2nd Team All-CCIW … started 19 of 20 matches … tallied eight goals and two assists.
Men’s Recipient: Ben Wong
Sport: Football
Year: Senior
Major: Neuroscience/MBA
GPA: 4.0
Fall 2021 Highlights: Earned his third-straight CoSIDA Academic All-America honor … D3football.com All-America selection … 1st Team All-CCIW … D3football.com All-Region NCAA Elite 90 recipient … totaled 58 tackles (38 solo).
North Park
Women’s Recipient: Pati Miazek
Sport: Cross Country
Year: Junior
Major: Finance
GPA: 4.0
Fall 2021 Highlights: Earned all-conference honors with a fifth place finish in the 6K at the CCIW Championship (22:46) … first North Park women’s cross country athlete to place in top 10 at the conference meet since 2006 … awarded the CCIW’s Elite 25 Award with the top GPA of the all-conference finishers.
Men’s Recipient: Peder Olsen
Sport: Soccer
Year: Senior
Major: MBA
GPA: 3.97
Fall 2021 Highlights: United Soccer Coaches All-American and All-Region selection … scored 20 goals and nine assists and became the program’s all-time leader in goals scored (58) and assists (34) … CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year … 1st Team All-CCIW performer.
Wheaton
Women’s Recipient: Lauren Ketchum
Sport: Soccer
Year: Senior
Major: Applied Health Science
GPA: 3.59
Fall 2021 Highlights: CoSIDA Academic All-American … United Soccer Coaches All-American and All-Region honoree … CCIW Defensive Student-Athlete of the Year … 1st Team All-CCIW … registered a team high 1,933 minutes played … totaled four shutouts while helping lead the Thunder to a share of the CCIW regular season title and an NCAA appearance.
Men’s Recipient: Ryan Schwartz
Sport: Football
Year: Senior
Major: Business/Economics
GPA: 3.80
Fall 2021 Highlights: CoSIDA Academic All-American … Associated Press All-American … D3football.com All-American and All-Region honoree … 1st Team All-CCIW recipient … led Wheaton with 82 tackles (59 solo) … second on the team with three interceptions … also totaled 9.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack.