Ceisel, Osburn Chosen as Titan Football MVPs

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Sophomore wide receiver Martin Ceisel and junior defensive back Bo Osburn have been selected as the most valuable offensive player and most valuable defensive player, respectively, for the 2006 Illinois Wesleyan University football team.

Ceisel (Deerfield HS), who also earned the team's "Best Skill" award, led the Titans with 48 catches and 753 receiving yards with nine touchdowns. After two seasons among all IWU players he ranks 11th in receiving touchdowns with 15, 12th in career receiving yards (1,452) and 15th with 82 career receptions.

Osburn (Morton HS), a second team all-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin selection, led IWU with 84 total tackles, including 60 solo. He had six tackles for losses totaling 11 yards.

Other Team Honors

Sophomore quarterback Nick Panno (Wheaton, Wheaton Warrenville South HS) was selected as the "Most Improved Player", senior linebacker Mike Mastro (Sarasota, Fla., Cardinal Mooney HS) earned "Best Big Skill" honors for the second straight year, and punter Sam Vizza (Crestwood, Shepard HS) was named the team's "Most Valuable Freshman."      

Panno completed 50.4 percent of his passes, going 57 of 113 for 755 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also ran for 134 yards and a TD.       

Mastro was second on the team in tackles with 74, including 39 solos. He made 5.5 tackles for losses totaling nine yards, had an interception and forced a fumble.     

Vizza averaged 34.7 yards per punt with a long kick of 51 yards. He managed to put 14 punts inside the opponents' 20 yard line.

For the second straight season, senior defensive end Mike Stephens (Orland Park, Providence Catholic HS) was chosen as the team's "Best Lineman" and senior kicker Mike Berry (Crystal Lake, Prairie Ridge HS) was the "Best Special Teams" player.   

Stephens, a first team all-CCIW selection, made 49 total tackles with five quarterback sacks totaling -33 yards. He also broke up six passes, forced a fumble and blocked two kicks. 

Berry connected on five of six field goals and made 21 of 25 extra point attempts. He ended his career with 14 field goals, which is tied for third all-time at IWU. His 58 career extra points is sixth most at IWU and his career 102 points is tied for No. 22.    

Senior linebacker Steve Groetsema (LaGrange Park, Lyons Township HS) was the winner of the "Doug Schmied Award", voted on by the coaches for loyalty, leadership, citizenship, most sports- and team-minded and attitude. The honor is named for Schmied, the IWU senior offensive lineman who passed away in 2005.    

Freshman quarterback Kraig Ladd (Shelbyville HS) and freshman defensive end Kevin O'Connor (Dunlap, Peoria Notre Dame HS) were the winners of the top offensive and defensive junior varsity player honors, respectively.      

The Titans finished with a 3-7 overall record for the third straight season and placed sixth in the CCIW with a 2-5 mark. Titan head coach Norm Eash, who has a 119-70-1 record in 20 seasons at his alma mater, will return 38 lettermen for next season and graduates 17 seniors.

2006 ILLINOIS WESLEYAN FOOTBALL LETTERMEN

SENIORS - Mike Berry; Brandon Cotter; Carl DavyRomano; Eric Esch; Joe Free; Steve Groetsema ; Brandin Heidbreder; Kevin Hilmers ; Nick Iovino; Brock Klein; Mike Mastro; Tim Murray; Jordan Musselman; Tim Schainker;Mike Stephens ; Bob Uzumecki; Bob Wierema;

JUNIORS - Wesley Butler; Brock Collins; Andrew Dulaney; Marcus Dunlop; Rob Hoyland; Bryan Kelly; Erik McCarrin;  Donnie McGhee ; Chad Olson; Bo Osburn; Josh Rundle; Brian Smith; Eric Van Hise; Charlie Welke; Tim Wilkins

SOPHOMORES - Tom Almanzo; Andrew Boyd; Martin Ceisel; Ben Hammer; Alex Holmberg; Will Long; John Maloney; Jaryee Maples; Josh Monk; John Nelson; Nick Panno; Rick Podkowa; Dan Souder; Dewayne Stallings

FRESHMEN - Mike Ammirati; Travis Boothe; Adam Crouch; Roman Hunter; Mike Kotz; Nick Nikolich; Kevin O'Connor; Jack Scalcucci; Sam Vizza