11 Pioneers earn WIAC recognition

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. -  The University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team had 11 players receive All-WIAC recognition for their efforts during the 2021 season. The Pioneers finished the year with a 4-6 record.

Senior quarterback Colin Schuetz, sophomore offensive lineman Blake Bury, junior wide receiver Austin Guy and junior defensive lineman Tyler Bacon were second team All-WIAC. 

Schuetz led the WIAC in passing yards and average per game. Schuetz threw for 3,351 yards and 28 touchdowns. He completed 64.4% of his passes. He eclipsed the 300-yard mark in eight of the 10 games. Schuetz threw for a season and WIAC-high 453 yards vs. UW-La Crosse. Schuetz owns the WIAC's top three and five of the top six performances for passing yards in a game. He finished his Pioneer career with three straight games with four touchdown passes. Schuetz had four games in 2021 where he threw for four touchdowns. This is Schuetz's second WIAC honor after being named first team All-WIAC in 2019.

Guy was second in the WIAC in receiving yards with 896. He caught 61 passes and averaged 14.7 yards per catch. Nine of the receptions resulted in touchdowns. Guy had a season-high 12 receptions at UW-Eau Claire and a season-high 190 reception yards vs. UW-La Crosse. He hauled in two touchdown passes in three different games. His 61 catches were tied for second most in the WIAC with teammate Brandt Stare. This is Guy's first WIAC honor. 

Bacon started all 10 games for the Pioneers. He was sixth in the WIAC with 7.5 tackles for loss and fifth in sacks with 4.5. Bacon led the WIAC with two fumble recoveries and was fourth in forced fumbles with two. He had one interception, which he returned 50 yards for a touchdown. Bacon twice recorded eight tackles and had a season-high 4.5 tackles for loss vs. UW-La Crosse. This is Bacon's first WIAC honor.

Playing in his first college season, Bury was a consistent anchor for the Pioneer offensive line. Bury started all eight games he played in. This is Bury's first WIAC honor.

Junior wide receiver Brandt Stare, junior linebacker Sam Smith, junior defensive back Aidan Tyk, senior linebacker Nate Yencer, junior placekicker Andrew Schweigert and senior punter Hunter Grams were named honorable mention All-WIAC.

Stare was sixth in the WIAC in yards per game with 72.5. He hauled in 61 passes, good for second most in the WIAC, sharing the team lead with Guy. Stare caught eight touchdown passes and averaged 11.9 yards per catch. Stare had a season-high 12 receptions vs. UW-Stout and a season-high 173 reception yards vs. East Texas Baptist. Stare hauled in two touchdown passes in two separate games. This is Stare's first WIAC honor.

Smith finished the year with 89 tackles. He was third in the WIAC in solo tackles (48), second in assisted tackles (41), second in total tackles (89) and tackles per game (8.9). Smith had a season-high 15 tackles at Bethel (Minn.) and recorded double digit tackles in four games.

Tyk played in nine games and recorded 33 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and broke up three passes. He had a season-high seven tackles at UW-River Falls. This is Tyk's first WIAC honor.

Yencer was named to the Honorable Mention team for his part played on special teams. He played in all 10 games and registered five tackles while serving on the special teams unit. This is Yencer's first WIAC honor.

Schweigert led the WIAC in touchbacks with 20. He was 5-of-8 on field goal attempts and hit a career-long of 50 yards at Franklin College, third longest in the WIAC in 2021. Schweigert was 40-of-43 on PATs. This is Schweigert's second WIAC honor.

Grams had 31 punts in 2021 with a season-long of 59 yards. He averaged 37.0 yards per punt and put six inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Grams averaged 49.0 yards per punt vs. UW-Stevens Point. He had a season-high six punts at UW-River Falls and averaged 46.7 yards per punt on the day. This is Grams second WIAC Honor.

Senior offensive lineman Brett Burant was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship team. This is Burant's second time being honored on the WIAC All-Sportsmanship team.

2021 All-WIAC Football Team

First Team – Offense 

Ben Beise, River Falls, Senior, Tight End, Loretto, Minn. (West Lutheran) 

Mike Bertoia, La Crosse, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Lake Zurich, Ill. (Lake Zurich) 

Kyle Gannon, Whitewater, Senior, Offensive Line, Waukesha, Wis. (West) 

Douglas Kosch, Whitewater, Senior, Offensive Line, Bridgeview, Ill. (St. Laurence) 

Hunter Schultz, Oshkosh, Senior, Offensive Line, Brooklyn, Wis. (Oregon) 

Mike Olsen, Oshkosh, Grad., Center, Hartland, Wis. (Arrowhead) 

Max Meylor, Whitewater, Senior, Quarterback, Mt. Horeb, Wis. (Mt. Horeb) 

Alex Peete, Whitewater, Senior, Running Back, Ringwood, Ill. (Johnsburg) 

Joey Stutzman, La Crosse, Junior, Running Back, Lake Zurich, Ill. (Lake Zurich) 

Levy Hamer, Stout, Junior, Wide Receiver, Chicago, Ill. (St. Laurence) 

Jake Simuncak, La Crosse, Senior, Wide Receiver, South Milwaukee, Wis. (South Milwaukee)  

Ryan Wisniewski, Whitewater, Senior, Wide Receiver, Sparta, Wis. (Sparta) 

Arthur Cox, Stout, Sophomore, All-Purpose Back, Dixon, Ill. (Dixon) 

First Team – Defense 

Ted Androli, River Falls, Senior, Defensive Line, Kenyon, Minn. (Kenyon-Wanamingo) 

Mackenzie Balanganayi, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Line, Palatine, Ill. (Palatine) 

Kyle Gallagher, Whitewater, Junior, Defensive Line, Niles, Ill. (Notre Dame College Prep) 

Ryan Gengler, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Line, Delavan, Wis. (Delavan-Darien) 

Tory Jardin, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Linebacker, Forestville, Wis. (Southern Door) 

Kameron Kryzanski, Stevens Point, Senior, Linebacker, Thorp, Wis. (Thorp) 

Ryan Liska, Whitewater, Junior, Linebacker, Naperville, Ill. (Benet Academy)  

Rusty Murphy, La Crosse, Senior, Linebacker, Cudahy, Wis. (Cudahy) 

Eli Alt, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Back, Lone Rock, Wis. (River Valley) 

Egon Hein, Whitewater, Sophomore, Defensive Back, St. Charles, Ill. (North) 

Mark McGrath, Whitewater, Senior, Defensive Back, Lisle, Ill. (Lisle) 

Kyle Scharenbroch, Oshkosh, Junior, Defensive Back, Appleton, Wis. (East) 

First Team – Special Teams 

Brady Frantal, Eau Claire, Freshman, Placekicker, Appleton, Wis. (North)  

Sean Parker, La Crosse, Senior, Punter, Portland, Ore. (Westview) 

Jake Simuncak, La Crosse, Senior, Return Specialist, South Milwaukee, Wis. (South Milwaukee) 

Ryan Ponick, Whitewater, Junior, Special Teams Player, Stanley, Wis. (Stanley-Boyd) 

Second Team – Offense 

Justin Kasuboski, Oshkosh, Senior, Tight End, Omro, Wis. (Omro) 

Blake Bury, Platteville, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Davis, Ill. (Durand) 

Jacob Foss, Stout, Sophomore, Offensive Line, Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie) 

Alex Klecker, River Falls, Sophomore, Offensive Line, River Falls, Wis. (River Falls) 

Seth Mitchell, Eau Claire, Junior, Offensive Line, De Pere, Wis. (De Pere) 

Ian Carter, River Falls, Senior, Center, Platteville, Wis. (Platteville) 

Colin Schuetz, Platteville, Senior, Quarterback, Aviston, Ill. (Breese Mater Dei Catholic) 

Austin Belot, Eau Claire, Senior, Running Back, Neenah, Wis. (Neenah) 

Luke Fugate, River Falls, Senior, Running Back, Platteville, Wis. (Platteville) 

Arthur Cox, Stout, Sophomore, Wide Receiver, Dixon, Ill. (Dixon) 

Austin Guy, Platteville, Junior, Wide Receiver, Orangeville, Ill. (Orangeville) 

Darius Jones, Eau Claire, Senior, Wide Receiver, Ramsey, Minn. (Anoka) 

Ben Beise, River Falls, Senior, All-Purpose Back, Loretto, Minn. (West Lutheran) 

Second Team – Defense 

Tyler Bacon, Platteville, Junior, Defensive Line, Johnston, Iowa (Johnston) 

Brandon Kolgen, Oshkosh, Junior, Defensive Line, Appleton, Wis. (North) 

Trenton LaCombe, Oshkosh, Senior, Defensive Line, Seymour, Wis. (Seymour) 

Trevor Nelson, Eau Claire, Senior, Defensive Line, Hammond, Wis. (St. Croix Central) 

Ben Ertz, River Falls, Senior, Linebacker, Glen Haven, Wis. (River Ridge) 

Shane McGrail, Whitewater, Junior, Linebacker, Plainfield, Ill. (North) 

Andy Metcalf, River Falls, Senior, Linebacker, La Crosse, Wis. (Logan)  

AJ Spychala, La Crosse, Senior, Linebacker, Muskego, Wis. (Muskego) 

Max Brower, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Back, The Woodlands, Texas (St. Thomas) 

Michael Brown, River Falls, Freshman, Defensive Back, Victoria, Minn. (Chaska) 

Cannon Griner, Stout, Sophomore, Defensive Back, Mesa, Ariz. (Red Mountain) 

Kyle Koelblinger, Whitewater, Freshman, Defensive Back, Crystal Lake, Ill. (Prairie Ridge) 

Second Team – Special Teams 

Matt Maldonado, Whitewater, Freshman, Placekicker, Montgomery, Ill. (Yorkville) 

Carter Unger, Stevens Point, Junior, Punter, Waukesha, Wis. (South) 

Dain Hudson, Whitewater, Junior, Return Specialist, Waukesha, Wis. (West) 

Scott Gustafson, Stout, Junior, Special Teams Player, Victoria, Minn. (Chanhassen) 

Honorable Mention – Offense 

Will Josten, La Crosse, Sophomore, Tight End, Onalaska, Wis. (Holmen) 

Joe Swanson, Eau Claire, Senior, Tight End, Osceola, Wis. (Osceola) 

Jared Zausch, Whitewater, Senior, Tight End, Saukville, Wis. (Ozaukee) 

Nick Retterath, Stevens Point, Junior, Offensive Line, Medford, Wis. (Medford) 

Alex Bongers, La Crosse, Junior, Center, Nerstrand, Minn. (Bethlehem Academy) 

Ethan Kee, Whitewater, Senior, Center, Plano, Ill. (Plano) 

Justin Schlangen, Stout, Junior, Center, Ham Lake, Minn. (Blaine) 

Kobe Berghammer, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Quarterback, Cumberland, Wis. (Cumberland) 

Sean Borgerding, Stout, Junior, Quarterback, Spring Valley, Wis. (Spring Valley)  

Kole Hinrichsen, River Falls, Senior, Quarterback, Farmington, Minn. (Farmington) 

Peter MacCudden, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Running Back, Waukesha, Wis. (West) 

Tyler Holte, Whitewater, Junior, Wide Receiver, Elgin, Ill. (St. Edward Central Catholic) 

Brandt Stare, Platteville, Junior, Wide Receiver, Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley) 

Tony Steger, Oshkosh, Sophomore, Wide Receiver, Kewaskum, Wis. (Kewaskum) 

Brad Tobin, La Crosse, Senior, All-Purpose Back, Franklin, Wis. (Franklin) 

Honorable Mention – Defense 

Berkley Corvino, Stevens Point, Senior, Defensive Line, Weston, Wis. (DC Everest) 

Reed Farrington, Whitewater, Freshman, Defensive Line, Edgerton, Wis. (Edgerton) 

Drew Hahn, River Falls, Sophomore, Defensive Line, Elburn, Ill. (Kaneland) 

Brandon Hughes, Oshkosh, Senior, Defensive Line, West Allis, Wis. (Brookfield Central) 

Jack Kelly, La Crosse, Sophomore, Defensive Line, Plover, Wis. (SPASH) 

Alex Mashak, Eau Claire, Senior, Linebacker, Lodi, Wis. (Lodi) 

Sam Smith, Platteville, Junior, Linebacker, Pewaukee, Wis. (Anoka) 

Dylan Brown, River Falls, Freshman, Defensive Back, Mequon, Wis. (Homestead) 

Bailey Germain, River Falls, Senior, Defensive Back, New Richmond, Wis. (New Richmond) 

Trevar Helland, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Back, Lindenhurst, Ill. (Stoughton) 

Carson Raddatz, Oshkosh, Freshman, Defensive Back, Fond du Lac, Wis. (Fond du Lac) 

Aidan Tyk, Platteville, Junior, Defensive Back, Manhattan, Ill. (Lincoln Way West) 

Honorable Mention – Special Teams 

Cade Henry, River Falls, Sophomore, Placekicker, Yorkville, Ill. (Yorkville)  

Jack Meyer, Stout, Freshman, Placekicker, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Chi-Hi)   

Andrew Schweigert, Platteville, Junior, Placekicker, Sussex, Wis. (Hamilton)  

Hunter Grams, Platteville, Senior, Punter, Dane, Wis. (Lodi) 

Cole Dunbar, Eau Claire, Junior, Special Teams Player, Kirkland, Ill. (Hiawatha)  

Nate Yencer, Platteville, Senior, Special Teams Player, West Des Moines, Iowa (Valley) 

All-Sportsmanship Team 

Carmelo Rosado, Eau Claire, Senior, Defensive Back, Beaver Dam, Wis. (Beaver Dam) 

Gurtej Grewal, La Crosse, Senior, Defensive Line, Milwaukee, Wis. (Riverside) 

Mike Kremer, Oshkosh, Senior, Linebacker, Eagle, Wis. (Whitnall) 

Brett Burant, Platteville, Senior, Offensive Line, Stevens Point, Wis. (Pacelli) 

Justin Patrisot, River Falls, Junior, Offensive Line, Hiawatha, Ill. (Kirkland) 

Tyler Van Ess, Stevens Point, Senior, Defensive Back, Two Rivers, Wis. (Two Rivers) 

Rex Meikle, Stout, Sophomore, Defensive Line, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. (Sturgeon Bay) 

Aaron Sturtevant, Whitewater, Junior, Linebacker, Burlington, Wis. (Burlington)  

Offensive Player of the Year:  Max Meylor of Whitewater 

Defensive Player of the Year:  Mackenzie Balanganayi of Whitewater 

Special Teams Player of the Year:  Jake Simuncak of La Crosse 

Newcomer of the Year:  Kyle Koelblinger of Whitewater 

George Chryst Co-Coaches of the Year:  Kevin Bullis of Whitewater and Matt Walker of River Falls 

Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete:  Kyle Gannon of Whitewater