Football Receives 11 All-WIAC Honors

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Posted: Wednesday, November 19, 2008

MADISON, Wis. - Eleven UW-Eau Claire football players have been selected to this year's All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) teams, conference sports information director Matt Stanek announced today.

Running back Cory Sartorelli (Jr.-Appleton, Wis./North) highlighted this year's honors as a unanimous first team selection on offense. Wide receiver Brett Schreiner (Jr.-Somerset, Wis.) and offensive lineman Dan Puls (Sr.-Onalaska, Wis.) also received first team honors.

Sartorelli led the Blugolds and the WIAC for the regular season with 1,288 total yards for an average of 128.8 yards per game. His 1,288 yards for the season ranks as third most in program history. During the course of the season Sartorelli had five 100+ yard rushing performances, including a career-high 285 yards against Hope College on Sept. 20, the third most rushing yards for a single player for a game in program history. He also had two long rushing touchdowns, one of 91 yards, the longest rushing touchdown in school history, and one of 85 yards. Sartorelli scored almost half of the Blugolds' points this season, accumulating 100 of the team's 208 points. He scored 16 touchdowns and added four extra points while handling kicking duties in a couple games this year. Last season Sartorelli was an All-WIAC honorable mention selection.

Schreiner led Eau Claire this season in receiving with 393 yards on 41 catches for an average of 39.3 yards per game, which ranked ninth in the WIAC for the regular season. He also caught three touchdown passes this year, two against La Crosse and one against Oshkosh.

Puls started every game this season at right tackle. Last season he also played in all 12 games for Eau Claire. As part of the line, Puls helped clear the way for All-Conference runner Sartorelli and allowed opponents only nine sacks the entire season, tied for best in the WIAC.

Blugold kicker and punter Craig Kolb (Jr.-Marshfield, Wis.) was named to the second team, while quarterback Kyle Paulson (Jr.-Amery, Wis.) made it as an honorable mention recipient.

Kolb led the conference during the regular season, averaging 39.6 yards per punt. He punted 34 times but missed two games due to an injury. Kolb was also fourth in the conference averaging 3.8 points per game kicking on 18 PATs and four field goals. He missed only one PAT the entire season.

Paulson led the Blugolds and was fourth in the WIAC with 168.1 passing yards per game and 191.6 yards of total offense per game. He accumulated 1,681 yards of passing, completing 157 of 277 passes and threw 12 touchdowns.

On the defensive side, linebacker Tom Dohr (Sr.-Neenah, Wis.) and cornerback Craig Polifka (Sr.-Kewaunee, Wis.) were selected to the first team.

Dohr, who earned second team All-WIAC honors a season ago, led the Blugolds as a team captain this year. He recorded 25 tackles from 17 solos and eight assists. Dohr also had 3.0 tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks, two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble.

Polifka was fourth on the team this season with 40 tackles, including 35 solos and five assists. He led Eau Claire with four interceptions, which tied for fourth in the conference. Polifka also forced one fumble and broke up seven passes. He handled the return duties as well, accumulating 499 kick return yards with 24 returns and 113 yards with 17 punt returns. Last season he was a second team All-WIAC selection as a return specialist.

Defensive back Dave Wicklund (Sr.-Kewaskum, Wis.) and lineman Matt Ebner (Sr.-Mindoro, Wis./Melrose-Mindoro) were honored on the second team, while Ryan Leis (Jr.-Alma Center, Wis./Lincoln) was an honorable mention selection.

Wicklund led the Blugolds with 51 solo tackles and 17 assists for a total of 68 tackles, which was ninth in the WIAC. He also picked off a pass, had one forced fumble and broke up two passes. Last season Wicklund was a first team All-WIAC selection.

Ebner led the Blugolds with 5.5 sacks this season, tying WIAC Player of Year Brad Vickroy of Stevens Point for fifth place in the conference with an average of 0.55 sacks per game. Ebner recorded 21 solo tackles and 15 assists, including a team-high nine tackles for loss. Ebner forced a fumble and had one quarterback hurry.

Leis ranked second on the team with 48 tackles (37 solos and 11 assists) and six tackles for loss. He also added 2.5 sacks and one quarterback hurry, starting in all but one game this season.

Offensive lineman Matt Day (Sr.-Austin, Minn.) was also named to the All-Sportsmanship team this season. The All-Sportsmanship Team was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school as selected by that school.

Official All-WIAC Release

- KM -