WIAC announced football All-Conference and awards

The Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) has announced its 2025 All-Conference Football Team that was selected by the conference coaches.

University of Wisconsin-River Falls’ Kaleb Blaha was tabbed the Offensive Player of the Year, while teammate Gage Timm claimed Defensive Player of the Year honors. UW-La Crosse’s Michael Stack was named the Special Teams Player of the Year and UW-River Falls’ Taylor Sussner received Newcomer of the Year distinction. UW-River Falls’ Matt Walker secured George Chryst Coach of the Year recognition.

Blaha is a two-time All-WIAC first team selection (2023) and the first player in program history to claim the offensive award. He leads the conference with 415.6 yards of total offense per game, 28.7 completions per contest, 3,281 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and 875 rushing yards. Blaha broke his own single-game program record with 569 yards of total offense against Coe College (Iowa) on Sept. 13; surpassed the UW-River Falls all-time career passing record against UW-Oshkosh on Oct. 4, climbing to 9,314 career yards - seventh all-time in WIAC history; toppled the school’s all-time scoring record with his 52nd career touchdown against UW-Whitewater on Nov. 1, eventually reaching 55 career rushing touchdowns - fourth in WIAC history; and set a new program single-season passing record with 3,281 yards in the regular season.

Timm claimed first team status for the second straight year and is the second player in program archives to secure the defensive honor, joining Nick Jacobsen (2017). Timm is second in the conference with 13 tackles for loss and five sacks, while placing fifth with 77 tackles. He has accumulated a season-high 12 tackles three times.

Stack received the special teams distinction for the second time (2023) and is the first two-time winner of the award in WIAC history. He is eight-of-11 in field goal attempts this year with a season-long 47-yards against UW-Stout on Nov. 1. Stack converted a 45-yard field goal against UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 11, and 43-yard game-winning field goal on the final play at UW-Whitewater on Oct. 4. He is 35-of-35 in extra points this season and 131-of-131 in his career. Stack ranks second in program history in career extra points made and tied for second in attempts. He is also fourth in career field goals made with 28.

Sussner is third on the team with 44 tackles and tied for third with 7.5 tackles for loss. A newcomer is defined as a student-athlete who used his first season of participation in football this season. Transfers are not eligible unless they didn’t participate in football at their previous institution.

Repeat selections on the first team from a year ago include: UW-La Crosse’s Gabe Lynch and Trent Mullen; UW-Oshkosh’s Kyle Dietzen and Clayton Schwalbe; UW-Platteville’s Benjamin Younker; UW-Whitewater’s Ethan Gallagher and Tyler Vasey (Co-Special Teams Player of the Year). Schwalbe added first team recognition in 2023, and was joined by UW-Whitewater’s Alex Pethan. Vasey was named the Newcomer of the Year in 2023.

Walker has directed the Falcons to a 9-1 overall record and their first conference championship since 1998, and first outright title since the 1985 campaign. UW-River Falls will make its first NCAA appearance since 1996.

An All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each team as selected by that team.

2025 All-WIAC Football Team

First Team - Offense
Name, School, Year, Position, Hometown (High School)

Clayton Schwalbe, Oshkosh, Senior, Tight End, Waukesha, Wis. (Waukesha North)
DJ Fox, River Falls, Junior, Offensive Line, Union Grove, Wis. (Union Grove)
Alex Pethan, Whitewater, Senior, Offensive Line, Oak Creek, Wis. (Oak Creek)
Dain Walter, La Crosse, Senior, Offensive Line, New Glarus, Wis. (New Glarus)
Joshua Zizter, Platteville, Senior, Offensive Line, Sheboygan Falls, Wis. (Sheboygan
Falls)
TJ Scott, Stout, Senior, Center, Dayton, Minn. (Champlin Park)
Kaleb Blaha, River Falls, Senior, Quarterback, Coon Rapids, Minn. (Fridley)
Gabe Lynch, La Crosse, Senior, Running Back, Indian Creek, Ill. (Carmel Catholic)
Zachary Bothun, Platteville, Junior, Running Back, Janesville, Wis. (Milton)
Davonte Evans, Stout, Junior, Wide Receiver, Chicago, Ill. (Argo)
Jack Janke, La Crosse, Junior, Wide Receiver, Ellsworth, Wis. (Ellsworth)
Blake Rohrer, River Falls, Junior, Wide Receiver, Woodbury, Minn. (Woodbury)
Trevor Syse, Platteville, Senior, Wide Receiver, Belleville, Wis. (Belleville)
Brycen Cashin, Stevens Point, Senior, All-Purpose Back, Plover, Wis. (Stevens Point Pacelli)

First Team - Defense

Riley Christensen, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Line, Darlington, Wis. (Belmont)
Kody Curtis, River Falls, Sophomore, Defensive Line, Buffalo, Minn. (Buffalo)
Noah Moris, Whitewater, Junior, Defensive Line, Union Grove, Wis. (Union Grove)
Christian Powell, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Line, Milwaukee, Wis. (University School of Milwaukee)
Kyle Dietzen, Oshkosh, Senior, Linebacker, Omro, Wis. (Omro)
Ethan Gallagher, Whitewater, Senior, Linebacker, Home Glen, Ill. (Lockport)
Karsten Libby, Whitewater, Junior, Linebacker, Wheaton, Ill. (Wheaton North)
Blaine Seidl, Stout, Senior, Linebacker, Medford, Wis. (Medford)
Gage Timm, River Falls, Senior, Linebacker, Shawano, Wis. (Shawano)
Brooks Brewer, Stout, Junior, Defensive Back, Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie)
Andre Hall, River Falls, Junior, Defensive Back, Cambridge, Minn. (Cambridge-Isanti)
Harrison Meyer, Platteville, Junior, Defensive Back, Orland Park, Ill. (Orland Park Carl Sandburg)
Trent Mullen, La Crosse, Junior, Defensive Back, Appleton, Wis. (Appleton North)

First Team - Special Teams

Justin Scheberl, River Falls, Senior, Placekicker, Fond du Lac, Wis. (Fond du Lac)
Michael Stack, La Crosse, Senior, Placekicker, Oshkosh, Wis. (Oshkosh West)
Ethan Tranel, La Crosse, Sophomore, Punter, Blue Mounds, Wis. (Mount Horeb)
Benjamin Younker, Platteville, Junior, Punter, Genoa, Ill. (Genoa-Kingston)
Tyler Vasey, Whitewater, Junior, Return Specialist, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Prairie Ridge)
Beau Kopp, Platteville, Senior, Special Teams Player, Cuba City, Wis. (Cuba City)

Second Team - Offense
Marko Rajkovic, La Crosse, Senior, Tight End, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin)
Ben Bystol, Stout, Junior, Offensive Line, Menomonie, Wis. (Menomonie)
Troy Dietzler, Whitewater, Junior, Offensive Line, Ashwaubenon, Wis. (Ashwaubenon)
Jonah Larson, Platteville, Junior, Offensive Line, Bangor, Wis. (Bangor)
Hunter McKinney, River Falls, Senior, Offensive Line, Pipestone, Minn. (Pipestone)
Kevin Spahn, River Falls, Senior, Center, Middleton, Wis. (Middleton)
Adam Moen, Stout, Senior, Quarterback, Lake Mills, Wis. (Lake Mills)
Brycen Cashin, Stevens Point, Senior, Running Back, Plover, Wis. (Stevens Point Pacelli)
Brian Stanton, Whitewater, Junior, Running Back, Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield South)
Yaach Chuol, Eau Claire, Senior, Wide Receiver, Coon Rapids, Minn. (Centennial)
Yaach Chuol, Eau Claire, Senior, All-Purpose Back, Coon Rapids, Minn. (Centennial)

Second Team - Defense
Walker Beyerl, Stout, Junior, Defensive Line, Mosinee, Wis. (Mosinee)
Curtis Jaskulke, Oshkosh, Senior, Densive Line, Stoughton, Wis. (Stoughton)
Connor McKenzie, River Falls, Senior, Defensive Line, Sheboygan, Wis. (Sheboygan South)
Lucas Sadler, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Line, Chesterland, Ohio (Chesterland West Geauga)
Ben Wellhoefer, Oshkosh, Senior, Defensive Back, Omro, Wis. (Omro)
Joe Berens, Stevens Point, Senior, Linebacker, Wausau, Wis. (Wausau West)
Elijah Krantz, Platteville, Junior, Linebacker, Cross Plains, Wis. (Mount Horeb)
Paul Kim, Whitewater, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Janesville, Wis. (Janesville Parker)
Deven Magli, Whitewater, Junior, Defensive Back, DeForest, Wis. (DeForest)
Efrein Ramirez, Whitewater, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Minooka, Ill. (Minooka)

Second Team - Special Teams
Jojo James, Stout, Freshman, Return Specialist, Chicago, Ill. (Montini Catholic)
Avron Carter, Stout, Sophomore, Special Teams Player, San Antonio, Texas (Brennan)

Honorable Mention - Offense
Gunnar Hurlburt, Eau Claire, Senior, Offensive Line, Durand, Wis. (Durand-Arkansaw)
Rhett Loken, Stevens Point, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Amherst, Wis. (Amherst)
Evan Oberg, Whitewater, Senior, Offensive Line, DeForest, Wis. (DeForest)
Nicholas Brattleaf, Platteville, Sophomore, Center, Glenview, Ill. (Glenbrook South)
Nathan Uselding, Platteville, Sophomore, Quarterback, Port Washington, Wis. (Port Washington)
Trevor Asher, River Falls, Sophomore, Running Back, Elmwood, Wis. (Elmwood-Plum City)
Tyler Bowman, La Crosse, Senior, Wide Receiver, Spring Valley, Wis. (Spring Valley)
Jon Mathieu, Oshkosh, Senior, Wide Receiver, Sheboygan Falls, Wis. (Sheboygan Falls)
Austin Rush, River Falls, Junior, Wide Receiver, Yuma, Ariz. (Yuma Catholic)
Ben Wesolowski, River Falls, Junior, Wide Receiver, Wittenberg, Wis. (Wittenberg-Birnamwood)
AJ Korth, Oshkosh, Sophomore, All-Purpose Back, Menasha, Wis. (Menasha)
Tyler Vasey, Whitewater, Junior, All-Purpose Back, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Prairie Ridge)

Honorable Mention - Defense
Logan Drone, Platteville, Senior, Defensive Line, Bloomington, Wis. (River Ridge)
Tanner Mrotek, Stevens Point, Senior, Defensive Line, Manitowoc, Wis. (Manitowoc Lincoln)
Brodie Overbeck, Stevens Point, Senior, Defensive Line, Brussels, Wis. (Southern Door)
Brady Puls, Eau Claire, Sophomore, Defensive Line, Lodi, Wis. (Lodi)
Bodie Schanhofer, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Line, Greenville, Wis. (Hortonville)
Keagan Christy, Eau Claire, Junior, Linebacker, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. (Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln)
Gabe Kramer, Stout, Senior, Linebacker, Ironton, Minn. (Crosby-Ironton)
Trevor Bahrs, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Evansville, Wis. (Evansville)
Jesse Ellis, Stout, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Homewood, Ill. (Homewood-Flossmoor)
Kaden Sleets, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Back, Oak Park, Ill. (Oak Park River Forest)
Taylor Sussner, River Falls, Freshman, Defensive Back, Chaska, Minn. (Chaska)

Honorable Mention - Special Teams
Brycen Cashin, Stevens Point, Senior, Return Specialist, Plover, Wis. (Stevens Point Pacelli)
Grant Kirsch, Stevens Point, Senior, Special Teams Player, Germantown, Wis. (Germantown
Ben Walsh, La Crosse, Senior, Special Teams Player, Manitowoc, Wis. (Manitowoc Lincoln)

All-Sportsmanship Team
Braeden Barrett, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Line, Mokena, Ill. (Lincoln-Way Central)
Andrew Brandmeier, La Crosse, Senior, Offensive Line, Brown Deer, Wis. (Kettle Moraine)
Doug Burson, Oshkosh, Senior, Running Back, Yorkville, Ill. (Yorkville)
Abe Helsell, Stout, Senior, Defensive Line, Theresa, Wis. (Lomira)
Brady Hoffner, Eau Claire, Senior, Linebacker, Mankato, Minn. (Mankato East)
Carter Quam, River Falls, Senior, Defensive Line, Zumbrota, Minn. (Kenyon-Wanamingo)
Cormac Sammons, Platteville, Junior, Defensive Line, Oshkosh, Wis. (Oshkosh North)
Reed Smith, Stevens Point, Senior, Running Back, Powell, Wyo. (Powell)

Offensive Player of the Year: Kaleb Blaha - River Falls

Defensive Player of the Year: Gage Timm - River Falls

Special Teams Player of the Year: Michael Stack - La Crosse

Newcomer of the Year: Taylor Sussner - River Falls

George Chryst Coach of the Year: Matt Walker - River Falls

Max Sparger Scholar Athlete: Tyler Bowman - La Crosse

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse’s Tyler Bowman has been named the recipient of the 2025 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Football Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award.

A senior from Spring Valley, Wis. (Spring Valley), Bowman is majoring in computer science with a minor in mathematics and sustains a 3.73 grade point average. He is a two-time member of NCAA Division III Academic All-District® Football First Team, selected by the College Sports Communicators, receiving the honor in 2023 and 2024. Bowman is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and been named to UW-La Crosse’s Dean’s List numerous semesters.

Bowman has been a team captain this season and secured a spot on the All-WIAC honorable mention squad. He is second on team with 31 receptions, 377 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Bowman recorded a season-high six catches three times. He helped UW-La Crosse win the 2022 and 2023 WIAC championships. During the offseason this year, Bowman was a team huddle captain.

Bowman is co-founder of the UW-La Crosse Football Team Bible Study and has led a weekly Christian discipleship group. He is a software developer intern at Seeweed Underwater Game Cameras.

Also nominated for this year’s scholar-athlete award were: UW-Platteville’s Trevor Syse (Sr., Belleville, Wis./Belleville); UW-Stout’s Drew Schneider (Sr., St. Cloud, Minn./Rocori); and UW-Whitewater’s Noah Moris (Jr., Union Grove, Wis./Union Grove).

The WIAC Scholar-Athlete Award is named after Max Sparger, who served as commissioner of the Wisconsin State University Conference for 22 years from 1971-93. He oversaw the transition of the conference from NAIA to full NCAA membership. Sparger arrived at UW-Stout in 1959 and served the institution in a variety of capacities, including as an assistant football and basketball coach, head wrestling coach and head football coach. He served as UW-Stout's athletics director from 1969-71.

In order to be nominated for the scholar-athlete award, a student-athlete must have a minimum 3.50 grade point average. In addition, he must be in his last year of competition, or on schedule to graduate this academic year, and have competed for a minimum of two years. The award is based on academic achievements, athletics accomplishments and involvement in other campus activities, organizations and community service projects.