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Warriors Sign 27 For 2008 Season

Story by: Winona State Sports Information Office


WINONA, MN -- Winona State University has announced the signing of 27 high school football players to national letters of intent.

The recruiting class is balanced with 15 defensive, 11 offensive, and one special teams players signed, although heavy on the side of linemen with six defensive and four offensive lineman signed.

On the offensive side one quarterback, two wide receivers, two running backs and one tight end each have inked on the dotted line, while six defensive backs and three linebackers also made their indications towards Winona State. The special teams player signed does both place kicking and punting duties.

The signee breakdown according to state has 14 from Minnesota, five from both Wisconsin and Illinois and one from Iowa.

There are also five players who have transferred to WSU with intent to play in the 2007 season.

Winona State is a member of NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. WSU is one of the most successful Division II programs in the past 12 years, compiling a 140-36 record for a .743 winning percentage. WSU also has also won six outright conference championships and tied for two others in the past 12 years. Winona State has advanced on to NCAA playoff action in five seasons and to Mineral Water Bowl play in two seasons during the past 12 seasons.

Here is a capsule look at the signees:

ILLINOIS

Fahey, Cullen, Fr, 6-2, 175, Kicker/Punter, Crystal Lake, IL (Prairie Ridge)
High school: Four Star Recruit Sailer Kicking Camp, All-Area punter and kicker, Member of state quarterfinal playoff team, All-Conference.

McGuire, Colin, Fr, 6-5, 235, Defensive End, Rockford, IL (Boylan Catholic)
High school: National Honor Society, Conference Scholar Athlete, Honor Roll, Member ICA All-Star game, All-Area, All-Conference.

Montgomery, Jim, Fr, 6-4, 225, Tight End, Carol Stream, IL (Glenbard North)
High school: All-Area, Member of 2007 Class 8A state championship runnerup team, All-Conference, Team Captain, Career 27 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns.

Ohlrich, Tim, Fr, 6-0, 180, Wide Receiver, St. Charles, IL (North)
High school: Academic All-Conference, Rising Star Award, All-Area Daily Herald, Two-Time All-Conference.

Williams, Ryan, Fr, 5-11, 175, Defensive Back, Paddock Lake, WI (Carmel Catholic)
High school: First Team All-State, All-Area, Two-Time All-Conference, Honorable Mention for Walter Payton Player of the Year Award, Defensive MVP, Team Captain.IOWA

Johnson, Bobby, Fr, 5-10, 185, Running Back/Defensive Back, Iowa City, IA (Regina)
High school: Two-Time Academic All-District, Member 2005 Class 1A state championship team, 2007 Class 1A state championship runnerup team, All-District running back, 2007 team leading scorer, WSU camp participant Football; Four-Time Academic All-Conference Track and Field.

Tindall, Andrew, Fr, 5-11, 195, Defensive Back, Cedar Falls, IA
High school: Second Team All-State Des Moines Register, Rivals.com No. 22 Iowa prospect, Two-Time All-Metro, Two-Time All-Conference running back, Team Captain, Rushed for career 2,988 yards and 39 touchdowns and had 31-5 record Football; Two-Time member of state playoff qualifying team Soccer.

MINNESOTA

Aber, Evan, Fr, 6-2, 175, Quarterback, Bloomington, MN (Kennedy)
High school: Honorable mention All-State The Associated Press, Minneapolis Star Tribune and MinnesotaPreps, Two-Time All-Conference, Team Captain, Finished in Minnesota prep history top twenty for attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns, Threw for 5,800 yards and 48 touchdowns Football; All-Conference, Two-Time Team Captain Baseball.

Ender, Nick, Fr, 5-11, 215, Fullback, Spring Lake Park, MN (Blaine)
High school: Who’s Who, Eagle Scout, All-State honorable mention, Conference Lineman of the Year.

Coulter, Alex, Fr, 6-2, 250, Outside Linebacker, St. Cloud, MN (Tech)
High school: Three-Time Scholar Athlete, All-Area, All-Section All-Conference, Defensive MVP Football; All-Conference, Team Captain Hockey; Black Belt Karate.

Ewanika, Chris, Fr, 6-3, 230, Linebacker, Elko, MN (Lakeville South)
High school: Honorable Mention All-State The Associated Press, Two-Time All-Conference, Member of Class 5A state championship runnerup team, Member Two-Time section championship team, Team Captain.

Falk, Patrick, Fr, 6-5, 285, Offensive Line, La Crescent, MN
High school: All-Area La Crosse Tribune and Winona Daily News, All-Conference.

Hunter, Michael, Fr, 6-0, 175, Defensive back/Wide Receiver, Inver Grove Heights, MN (Simley)
High school: All-Metro, All-Conference, MVP, Team Captain.

Johnson, Lewis, Fr, 6-2, 245, Offensive, Line, Tight End, Defensive Line, St. Paul, MN (Como Park)
High school: Honorable mention All-State The Associated Press and St. Paul Pioneer Press, Member of Urban All-Star game, Three-Time All-St. Paul City, Member of conference championship team, Conference Lineman of the Year, Team Captain Football; All-Conference, Team Captain Basketball.

Kubicek, Derek, Fr, 5-11, 170, Running back, La Crescent, MN
High school: Three-Time Outstanding Academic Achievement Award winner, Second Team All-State The Associated Press, All-Area La Crosse Tribune, Team Captain, Rushed for 1,948 yards and 28 touchdowns in senior season Football; Team Captain Basketball.

Morris, Otis, Fr, 5-8, 160, Defensive back, Libera (St. Cloud, MN Tech)
High school: Honorable mention All-State, Two-Time All-Area St. Cloud Times, Two-Time All-Conference, Team Captain Football; All-Conference 100-meters, Team Captain Track and Field.

Norgaard, Christopher, Fr, 5-10, 170, Defensive Back, Spring Lake Park, MN
High school: All-Conference, Special Team Award, Team Captain, Football; Team Captain Baseball.

Platek, Thomas "Tommy", Fr, 6-3, 245, Defensive End Inver Grove Heights, MN (Simley)
High school: Eagle Scout, Member of Student Council, Two-Time All-Conference, Member of conference championship team, Team Captain, 2007 ranked No. 5 in the State for sacks.

Power, Nick, Fr, 6-1, 250, Defensive Line, Minnetonka, MN (Hopkins)
High school: All-Metro, Two-Time All-Conference, Defensive MVP, Team Captain Football; Member of 2007 state champion rugby team.

Roden, Brady, Fr, 6-3, 200, Defensive End, Foley, MN
High school: National Honor Society, All-Area, All-Conference, Defensive Lineman of the Year, Defensive MVP, Team Captain Football; Three-Time All-State, 2006 State Champions 4 x 100 relay team Track.

Schmidt, David, Fr, 6-0, 175, Wide receiver, Milroy, MN (Tracy Area)
High school: All-State cornerback, All-State wide receiver, Conference Defensive back of the Year, Two-Time All-Conference, Two-Time Team Captain Football; Two-Time All-Conference, Two-Time Team Captain Baseball; All-Conference Basketball.

Vanasek, Thomas, Fr, 6-1, 190, Outside Linebacker, Lakeville, MN (North)
High school: Honorable Mention All-State, All-Conference, Member of section championship team, Best Linebacker Award, Team Captain, Had 96 total tackles, four sacks and one interception return for touchdown senior season.

WISCONSIN

Kopacz, Greg, Fr, 6-0, 190, Defensive Back, Sheldon, WI (Flambeau)
High school: National Honor Society, All-Northwest Wisconsin punter, All-Region defensive back, Three-Time All-Conference quarterback, Two-Time All-Conference free safety Football; Three-Time All-Conference Baseball; Four-Time All-Conference Basketball.

Rolli, Troy, Fr, 6-2, 280, Offensive Line, Madison, WI (East)
High school: All-Area Wisconsin State Journal and Capital Times, All-Region WFCA, Madison City Lineman of the Year, All-City, All-Conference, Team MVP, Team Captain.

Sherard, William, Fr, 6-3, 235, Defensive End, Brown Deer, WI
High school: Honorable Mention WFCA All-State, Member WFCA All-Star Game, WFCA 1st Team Southeastern Wisconsin, All-Suburban, All-Conference, Team Captain.

Waldvogel, Justin, Fr, 6-3, 265, Offensive Line, Defensive Line, Galesville, WI (G-E-T)
High school: All-State Second Team The Associated Press, All-State Honorable mention WFCA offensive and defensive line, All-Area Winona Daily News offensive and defensive line, All-Conference offensive and defensive line, Team MVP, Team Captain.

Zaporski, Ryan, Fr, 6-3, 200, Defensive End, Jackson, WI (Kettle Moraine Lutheran)
High school: National Honor Society; Two-Time Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Southeast Wisconsin All-Area, Washington County All-Area Running back, All-Conference Running back and Defensive end, MVP, Team Captain Football; Conference Champion Triple Jump Track and Field.

TRANSFERS

Dewberry, Curtis, So, 5-8, 180, Running Back, Clermont, FL (East Ridge Orlando, FL)
Transfer: North Greenville, SC; 312 yards rushing, 7.0 punt return avg, 22.9 kickoff return avg, Scored six touchdowns.
High school: All-State, Central Florida Mr. Versatility, All-Area, All-County.

Kasten, Michael, Sr, 6-2, 210, Wide Receiver, Plainview, MN (Plainview/Elgin-Millville)
Transfer: University of Minnesota: Participated in football ’04, ’05, ’06, &’07.
High school: Second Team All-State, Member of 2002 state championship team, Two-Time All-Area, All-Conference, Team Captain Football; Member of 2003 state championship team, All-State high jump (3rd Place), high hurdles (2nd place), 4 x 400 Relay (state champions) Track and Field; 2002-2003 Gatorade Player of the Year, Two-Time All-Conference, Two-Time Team Captain, Career 1,000-point scorer Basketball.

Pedersen, Chris, Jr, 6-4, 290, Defensive Tackle, Antioch, IL
Transfer: Harper JC, Member of NJCAA National championship team; Mesa State, CO
High school: All-County.

Preston, Greg, Jr, 6-3, 210, Quarterback, Taylor Mills, KY (Dixie Heights)
Transfer: University of Tennessee-Martin; Deans List, Starting quarterback for 2006 Ohio Valley Conference championship team; At UT-Martin passed for 850 yards and six touchdowns and ran for two touchdowns.
High school: Four-Time Honor Roll, All-State, All-District, All-Conference, Career passed for 3,900 yards and rushed for 750 yards for 51 touchdowns.

Rock, Reginald "Reggie", So, 5-10, 180, Defensive back, Miami, FL (Cretin-Durham Hall, MN)
Transfer: Iowa State
High school: Army All-America, The Associated Press All-State Defensive back, EA Sports Elite 11 Top 11 Quarterback in country, Rival.com Top 100 Prospect, MinnesotaPreps.com To Five Player of the Year, All-Metro.

Last Modified: Saturday, April 19, 2008 10:47 by Michael Herzberg