21 December 2000
CONTACT: Stew Salowitz, 309-556-3206
IWU's Jeff Heinzl Named to All-American Teams;
Andrekus Honorable Mention on Hewlett-Packard Squad
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- Illinois Wesleyan University senior Jeff Heinzl has been named to the first team of two Division III football All-American squads and the third team of another.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound defensive tackle from Palatine (Fremd HS) was named to the first team defense on both the Hewlett-Packard team and the D3football.com All-American team. He was chosen to the third team of The Associated Press' Little All-America squad, which is chosen from players in Divisions II and III and the NAIA.
The last IWU player to make the AP Little All-America team was record-setting wide receiver Chris Bisaillon, who was also a third team selection in 1991 as a junior.
"It's a great honor for him. Anytime you combine the different divisions of football and you make the team, it's a great compliment to Jeff and his outstanding season and our program. He deserves it," said IWU coach Norm Eash.
Heinzl, who was IWU's "Most Valuable Defensive Player" this fall, shared the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin "Defensive Player of the Year" award as he was instrumental in a helping IWU to a 9-1 record and a share of the league title with Millikin and Wheaton.
Heinzl made 16 1/2 sacks and had 66 total tackles this season. His finest day came in the regular-season finale, when he registered 4 1/2 sacks and 19 total tackles as the Titans upset previously unbeaten Millikin 10-8.
Andrekus, Hewlett-Packard Team
Junior defensive back Brad Andrekus (Carol Stream, Glenbard North HS) earned honorable mention on the Hewlett-Packard team. A first team all-CCIW selection, Andrekus made 75 total tackles, including 42 solos. He had five interceptions and 10 pass break-ups, while also recovering three fumbles.
The 23rd annual Hewlett-Packard team was selected by a panel of 30 sports information directors, representing the four playoff regions in NCAA Division III football. The ballot included 357 players representing 150 of the 227 Division III football-playing institutions. Teams with two or fewer losses were allowed five nominations, teams .500 or better could nominate up to three players, while schools finishing below .500 were allotted two nominations.
Football Gazette North Region Teams
Heinzl was named to the first team Football Gazette North region squad and Andrekus was named to the second team while two other Titans were chosen for the third team.
Sophomore linebacker Joel Dodson (Pontiac HS) and sophomore defensive back Kevin Kaplan (Cary, Cary-Grove HS) were both honored as third team all-North region players.
Dodson, a first team all-CCIW player and one-time CCIW "Player of the Week", was IWU's team leader with 78 total tackles, including 46 solos. He forced four fumbles and had six tackles for losses totaling 17 yards.
Kaplan was also a first team all-CCIW player. He made 22 solo tackles and assisted on 12 more while intercepting four passes. He returned a punt for an 80-yard touchdown and returned a fumble 85 yards for another touchdown.
Heinzl in Aztec Bowl
Heinzl played his final college football game last Saturday and blocked a conversion kick with about a minute left to preserve the USA's 27-26 victory over Mexico in the Aztec Bowl before an Alvarado Stadium sellout crowd of 8,000 in Merida, Mexico. The game is the culmination of the Mexican college football season. Since 1997, it has matched Mexican all-stars against a selected team of NCAA Division III all-stars. The USA's victory was its fourth straight.