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From the WIAC --

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, the defending conference co-champion, and winner of 14 of the last 17 titles, has been picked to secure the 2023 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) football championship, according to a preseason poll conducted by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors.

The Warhawks, who have posted 39 first-place finishes in program history, enter the 2023 campaign ranked ninth in the Lindy’s Sports NCAA Division III Preseason Poll and No. 11 by D3football.com. UW-Whitewater has secured four consecutive NCAA postseason bids. Jace Rindahl takes over the head coaching duties after serving as an assistant coach with the program for the last eight seasons. He played for the Warhawks from 2005-08, helping the program to its first NCAA Division III title in 2007.

UW-La Crosse, ranked fifth by Lindy’s Sports and No. 12 by D3football.com, is pegged for second in the conference standings. The Eagles shared the WIAC title with UW-Whitewater a season ago and appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament for the second straight season - and 13th time in program archives. UW-La Crosse has compiled 18 wins in the last two seasons, matching its best two-year stretch since 1996-97.

UW-Oshkosh begins the 2023 season ranked No. 21 by D3football.com and is predicted to finish third in the WIAC. The Titans have secured 11 conference titles, with the most recent in 2019.

UW-River Falls, selected fourth in the conference race, has represented the WIAC in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl the past two seasons. The Falcons have totaled 16 victories in 2021 and 2022, for their best two-year stint since 1995-96 (17 wins). UW-River Falls is ranked No. 23 by D3football.com.

The remaining order in the conference predictions feature: UW-Platteville; UW-Stout; UW-Eau Claire; and UW-Stevens Point.

Rob Erickson is the new head coach at UW-Eau Claire. A UW-Platteville alum (1996-99), he most recently served as an assistant coach at South Dakota State University since 2020. Erickson has also been an assistant coach at UW-Whitewater, UW-Platteville, UW-Stevens Point and Aurora University (Ill.).

The 2023 season is set to begin Aug. 31, with the conference slate kicking-off Sept. 30.

The WIAC will be represented in the Culver’s Isthmus Bowl for the third consecutive season against an opponent from the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin – the highest-placing team in each conference’s standings that isn’t selected for the NCAA Division III Championship. This year’s event will be held at Bank of Sun Prairie Stadium in Sun Prairie, Wis., Nov. 18.

2023 Preseason Predictions
Voted on by WIAC Head Coaches & Sports Information Directors

                                                                2022 Record

1.  UW-Whitewater                         (8-3 overall, 6-1 WIAC)
2.  UW-La Crosse                              (9-2, 6-1)
3.  UW-Oshkosh                                (6-4, 4-3)
4.  UW-River Falls                              (7-4, 4-3)
5.  UW-Platteville                              (5-5, 4-3)
6.  UW-Stout                                      (5-5, 3-4)
7.  UW-Eau Claire                              (2-8, 1-6)
8.  UW-Stevens Point                      (1-9, 0-7)

Team Capsules

UW-Eau Claire

Head Coach:  Rob Erickson; 1st season at UWEC
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  20/9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  31/9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  8/3
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Ryan Kuechle, Jr., S (2022-Honorable); Ivan Ruble, Jr., RB (2022-Second)

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Isaac Garside, Jr., WR; Ty Kauppinen, Jr., OL; Harry Roubidoux, Jr., QB; Jake Thompson, Jr., OL

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Malik Johnson, Sr., DL; Thomas Kroymann, Sr., DL; Brady Underwood, Sr., S; JP Wolterstoff, Jr., S

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Dan Zueli, Jr., K

UW-La Crosse

Head Coach:  Matt Janus; 3rd season at UWL; 18-5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  38/17
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  40/13

Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  3/8
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Mike Bertoia, Sr., OL (2021-First, 2022-First); Noah Coleman, Jr., OL (2022-Honorable); Ryan Daines, Sr., LB (2022-Second); Keyser Helterbrand, Jr., QB (2022-First); Jack Kelly, Sr., DL (2021-Honorable, 2022-First)

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Brant Bohman, Sr., RB; Marko Rajkovic, So., TE; Jack Studer, Sr., WR

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Marik Dickson, Jr., DL; Adam Quam, Jr., LB; Aaron Schmitz, Jr., DB

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Tyler Stubbendick, Jr., WR

UW-Oshkosh

Head Coach:  Peter Jennings; 2nd season at UWO; 6-4
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  26/13
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  25/10
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  10/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  5/6
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Kobe Berghammer, Sr., QB (2021-Honorable, 2022-Second); Carson Raddatz, Jr., DB (2021-Honorable, 2022-First); Jared Saad, Sr., DB (2022-Second); John Schirger, Jr., OL (2022-Second); Tony Steger, Sr., WR (2021-Honorable, 2022-Second); DJ Stewart, Sr., Ret. Spec., (2022-Second); Trae Tetzlaff, Jr., WR (2022-First)

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Londyn Little, Jr., WR; Clayton Schwalbe, So., TE; Nate Smith, Jr., RB

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Mitchell Borkovec, Jr., LB; Bryce Edwards, Jr., LB; Bryce Hinn, Jr., LB; Tijs Santiago, Sr., CB

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Nolan Mobley, So., K

UW-Platteville

Head Coach:  Ryan Munz; 2nd season at UWP; 5-5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  21/8
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  22/8
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  8/3
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  10/1
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Tyler Bacon, Sr., DL (2021-Second, 2022-Second); Justin Blazek, Sr., DE (2022-First/Defensive Player of the Year); Blake Bury, Sr., OL (2021-Second); Colton Ingram, Sr., LB (2022-Second); Andrew Schweigert, Sr., K (2019-Second, 2021-Honorable, 2022-Second); Sam Smith, Sr., LB (2021-Honorable, 2022-First); Aidan Sproule, Sr., DL (2022-Honorable); Brandt Stare, Sr., WR (2021-Honorable); Samuel Tausz, Sr., DB (2022-Honorable); Aidan Tyk, Sr., DB (2021-Honorable, 2022-Second)

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  John Goomey, Jr., TE; Lucas Petersen, Sr., WR; Michael Priami, Jr., QB; Garrett Stare, So., WR

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Nick Alberico, Sr., DB; Nick Allen, Sr., DB; Jack Dietzen, Sr., DL; Sean McMillan, Sr., DB

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Beau Kopp, So., LS; Jared Scheberl, Sr., P

UW-River Falls

Head Coach:  Matt Walker; 15th season (12th at UWRF); 61-81 (overall) / 39-73 (UWRF)
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  28/2
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  27/3
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  3/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  9/2
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  8/3
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  3/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Aaron Borgerding, Jr., DB (2022-Second); Dylan Brown, Jr., DB (2021-Honorable, 2022-Honorable); Michael Brown, Jr., DB (2021-Second, 2022-First); Kaleb Blaha, Jr., QB (2022-Second/All-Purp., 2022-Honorable/QB); Drew Hahn, Sr., DL (2021-Honorable, 2022-Honorable); Jake Halsey, Sr., DL (2022-Second); Alex Klecker, Sr., OL (2021-Second, 2022-First); Luke Kush, Jr., WR (2022-Honorable); Mason Van Zeeland, Jr., WR (2022-Second)

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Austin Fox, So., OL; Charlie Korbein, Sr., OL; Brody McKnight, Jr., TE; Jager Reissmann, Sr., WR

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Isaiah Karels, Jr., LB; Jake McCortney, Sr., DL; Andrew Schumacher, Jr., LB; Carson Steen, Jr., DL

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Dawson Kriske, So., K; Justin Scheberl, So., K

UW-Stevens Point

Head Coach:  Luke Venne; 2nd season at UWSP; 1-9
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  11/6
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  16/6
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/1
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  1/1

Returning All-WIAC:  Harley Jones, Sr., OL (2022-Honorable); Carter Unger, Sr., P (2021-Second, 2022-First); Tysen White, Sr., DB (2022-Honorable)

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Devin Baldridge, Sr., TE; Seth Forbes, Sr., WR; Zach Riemer, Sr., OL; Jeffery Williams, Sr., WR

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Marshal Bukowski, Sr., LB; Dakota Carriveau, Sr., DL; Gavino Lopez, Sr., DB; Cody Trowbridge, Sr., LB

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Brycen Cashin, So., KR/PR

UW-Stout

Head Coach:  Clayt Birmingham; 13th season at UWST; 50-69
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  24/10
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  22/11
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  6/5
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  5/6
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Arthur Cox, Sr., WR (2021-First/All-Purp., 2021-Second/WR, 2022-First/WR, 2022-First/Ret. Spec.-Special Teams Player of the Year, 2022-Honorable/All-Purp.); Cannon Griner, Sr., DB (2021-Second, 2022-First); Jacob Foss, Sr., OL (2021-Second, 2022-Second); Gervase Thompson, Sr., LB (2022-Honorable)

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Matt Pomietlo, Sr., RB; John Smozynski, Sr., TE; Ben Tolkinen, So., RB; Mitch Waechter, Jr., QB

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Mack Klafter, Sr., LB; Mason Priebe, Sr., S; Nate Rewald, Jr., LB; Carson Strong, Sr., CB

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Luke Cool, Jr., K; Ben Karls, So., P

UW-Whitewater

Head Coach:  Jace Rindahl; 1st season at UWW
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Offense:  31/20
Letterwinners Returning/Lost on Defense:  32/18
Letterwinners Returning/Lost at Kicker:  3/0
Starters Returning/Lost on Offense:  4/7
Starters Returning/Lost on Defense:  7/4
Starters Returning/Lost at Kicker:  2/0

Returning All-WIAC:  Reed Farrington, Jr., DL (2021-Honorable, 2022-Second); Egon Hein, Sr., DB (2021-First, 2022-First); Jeffery Isotalo-McGuire, So., K (2022-Honorable/Newcomer of the Year); Drake Martin, Jr., RB (2022-First); Zach Sherman, Sr., TE (2022-Second); Tamir Thomas, Jr., RB (2022-Second)

Notable Returning Offensive Players:  Tommy Coates, Jr., WR; Addison DeShambo, Jr., OL; Steven Hein, Jr., WR; John Pekar, Jr., OL

Notable Returning Defensive Players:  Parker Breunig, Jr., DB; Matt Burba, Jr., DL; Hawk Heffner, Sr., LB; Kyle Koelblinger, Jr., DB

Notable Returning Special Teams Players:  Nate Custer, Sr., K/P