MADISON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Ten UW-Eau Claire football players were recognized with All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) honors for the 2012 season, the conference office announced today.
Three Blugolds earned first team All-WIAC honors, all on the offensive side of the ball. Tight end Austin Goetsch (Sr.-Waunakee, Wis.), lineman Jake Holterman (Sr.-Muskego, Wis.) and running back Joel Sweeney (Jr.-Tomah, Wis.) were all picked as first teamers.
Goetsch led the Blugolds in receiving this season with 568 yards and 45 catches, both of which ranked seventh best in the WIAC. He ranks 14th all-time on the Blugolds' career receiving yards list with 1,413 yards and 12th with 106 receptions. He also tied for ninth in career receiving touchdowns with 14. A season ago Goetsch was a second team offense pick.
Holterman started all 10 games this year at left guard. The Blugold offense was third in the league in rushing with 175.3 yards per game. During his four year career, Holterman played in all 40 games.
Sweeney led the entire conference with 122.3 yards rushing per game. He carried the ball 264 times and accumulated 13 touchdowns to lead the team and WIAC in touchdowns. Sweeney currently ranks seventh in rushing yards in a career for the Blugolds with 2,853 and eighth in rushing attempts with 634. In 2010, Sweeney was selected to the second team offense.
Center Paul Santi (Jr.-Kingsford, Mich.) and punter/quarterback Austin Neu (Sr.-Iron Ridge, Wis./Hustisford) were named to the second team offense while lineman Pat Hendricks (Sr.-Clintonville, Wis.), linebacker Sean Graham (Jr.-Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall) and defensive back Tyler Janus (Sr.-Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) were all selected to the second team defense.
Santi started all 10 games this year at center. He has started all 30 games in his career so far. He was also a second team offensive member last year.
Neu, who was the Blugolds' quarterback this year, was honored by the conference for punting. Neu averaged 35.7 yards per punt and completed his career with a 35.92 average in his career, a mark that ranks seventh best all-time in program history. At quarterback this season, Neu was third in the WIAC in total offense, averaging 209.6 yards per game. Last year he was named an honorable mention offensive selection at quarterback.
Hendricks, who started all 10 games this season at nose guard, finished the season with 25 tackles (19 solos, six assists). He had three tackles for loss, one sack and also intercepted a pass while blocking one kick.
Graham led the Blugolds in tackling this season with 63 (44 solos, 19 assists), tied for 18th most in the WIAC, and also had a team-high 6.5 tackles for loss. He recorded one sack and recovered three fumbles, tied for the most in the conference. Last year, Graham received honorable mention accolades on defense.
Janus was second on the team with 61 tackles (50 solos, 11 assists), which ranked 20th best in the conference. He led the team with three interceptions and forced one fumble.
Recognized with honorable mention status were defensive linemen Jimmy Hall (Sr.-Howards Grove, Wis.) and Nate Johnson (Sr.-Madison, Wis./La Follette).
Hall finished the year with 16 tackles (12 solos, four assists) and had two sacks. He played in nine games, starting seven. Last season Hall was named to the first team defense.
In 10 games, nine of which he started, Johnson record 23 tackles (21 solos, two assists). He forced one fumble and blocked a kick.
Additionally, Nathan Bollinger (Sr.-Eau Claire, Wis./North) was selected to the All-Sportsmanship Team, was chosen for individuals that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school. Bollinger played in all 10 games this season.
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