Four Dakota Wesleyan University football players were named to the Great Plains Athletic Conference first team on Tuesday.
Brady Bonte, Brady Mudder, Hayden Adams and Taylor Hayley were each given the league honor.
Bonte, a senior linebacker, picked up his third straight first team selection. In 2015, Bonte was second on the team with 80 total tackles (20 for a loss) and terrorized opposing quarterbacks with 8.5 sacks. Bonte also had five forced fumbles, an interception and five pass breakups.
Leading the Tigers in sacks this season was Mudder, a junior defensive end. Mudder recorded 10.5 sacks, 20.5 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and 53 tackles.
Meanwhile, Adams exposed opposing secondaries this season, as the junior wideout caught 14 touchdown passes and averaged 15.4 yards a catch. He caught 57 passes for 875 yards in 2015.
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Leading the DWU rushing attack up front was Hayley, a senior offensive lineman. Hayley was part of a line that allowed DWU to rush for 2,285 yards this season.
Sophomore quarterback Dillon Turner was honored with second team honors, as he finished with 3,255 total yards. He threw for 2,370 yards and used his legs to pick up 889 rushing yards, while scoring 35 total touchdowns. Turner more than doubled his passing touchdown total and cut his interceptions in half from his freshman season.
Other second team selections were Dustin Livingston (as a punt returner), defensive lineman Sam Kiger and cornerback Trevin Island.
Honorable mention honors went to Livingston (as a wide receiver), Trevor Schroeder (tight end) Cohl Ratermann (defensive line), Adam Bormann (linebacker), Cody Reder (safety), Daniel Porter (kicker), Cody Bonte (cornerback).
GPAC Football First Team Offense 2015
Listed by position, name, school, class, hometown
QB: Ryan Kasdorf Morningside, sr., Newhall, Calif.; RB: Nate Meier, Doane, jr., Pierce, Neb.; RB: Tyler Kavan, Morningside, jr., Weston, Neb.; RB: Bryce Collins, Concordia, jr., Boerne, Texas; WR: Connor Niles, Morningside, so., Sioux City, Iowa; WR: Jared Garcia, Concordia, so., Pearland, Texas; WR: Hayden Adams, Dakota Wesleyan, so., Villa Park, Ill.; WR: Xavier Caffee, Dordt, so., Lancaster, Texas; TE: Seth Fitzke, Concordia, jr., Seward, Neb.; OL: Blake Frank, Morningside, jr., Mapleton, Minn.; OL: Blake Bunner, Doane, sr., Blue Hill, Neb.; OL: Joe Brummer, Morningside, sr., Harlan, Iowa; OL: Taylor Haley, Dakota Wesleyan, sr., Winner; OL: Benjamin Balduc, Concordia, sr., Roanoke, Texas; OL: Cody Buskirk, Northwestern, jr., Bellflower, Calif.;
GPAC Football First Team Special Teams 2015
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K: Jordan Pedersen, Doane, sr., Crete, Neb.; P: Spencer Wyant, Morningside, fr., Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; KRS: Drew Klein, Doane, so., Papillion, Neb.; PRS: Connor Niles, Morningside, so., Sioux City, Iowa;
GPAC Football First Team Defense 2015
DL: Sam Van Ginkel, Northwestern, jr., Rock Valley, Iowa; DL: Trey Barnes, Concordia, jr., Seward, Neb.; DL: Brady Mudder, Dakota Wesleyan, jr., Garretson; DL: Sean Fitzgerald, Morningside, sr., Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; DL: Aaron Hanlin, Doane, jr., Pierce, Neb.; LB: Zac Schleuger, Morningside, sr., Wesley, Iowa; LB: Brady Bonte, Dakota Wesleyan, jr., Garretson; LB: Garrett Borcher, Doane, sr., Pawnee City, Neb.; LB: Ethan Stofferan, Morningside, sr., Sibley, Iowa; LB: Andrew Powell, Northwestern, sr., Sioux Falls; DB: Christian Walker, Morningside, sr., Brooklyn, N.Y.; DB: Justin Wohlert, Northwestern, sr., Hartley, Iowa; DB: Tarence Roby, Concordia, so.,Rockford, Ill.; DB: Cole Wiseman, Doane, so., Sutton, Neb.; DB: Alex Gildon, Hastings, sr., Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Offensive Player-of-the-Year: Ryan Kasdorf, Morningside (Quarterback)
Co-Defensive Players-of-the-Year: Sam Van Ginkel - Northwestern (Defensive Line), Zac Schleuger - Morningside (Linebacker)
Coach-of-the-Year: Steve Ryan, Morningside
