MOUNT PLEASANT – The Iowa Wesleyan College football Purple & White spring game was the last of a number of events that fell through as steady rains played havoc with IWC sporting events this weekend.
The Tigers’ annual intrasquad scrimmage to end spring practice was cancelled on Sunday after rain made the team’s practice field unplayable. The game will not be rescheduled.
Other festivities for the football team on Sunday went on as planned, including the annual spring ball wrap-up session in which a number of players received honors. Sixteen players were given awards for their work in the weight room, while fifteen more players were honored as team Scholar Ballers, an award going to players with a grade point average above 3.0.
Nine players also received the team’s Leadership Award, including Rocco Russo (So.-Miami, Fla.), who was named captain of the leadership team. Others receiving the award included Tim Chavez (So.-Champaign, Ill.), Brian Farmer (Jr.-Bronx, N.Y.), Greg Fields (So.-St. Louis, Mo.), Ethan Lord (Fr.-Dupo, Ill.), Jamie Mattson (So.-Iron River, Mich.), Chris Newman (Jr.-Mount Dora, Fla.), Tyler Stewart (Fr.-Merritt Island, Fla.) and Allante Taylor (Fr.-Detroit, Mich.).
Several players also received individual awards for their work this spring. Fields was named the team’s Offensive MVP while linebacker Chris Owens (So.-Greer, S.C.) was named Defensive MVP. Chavez was awarded the Most Improved Player award for the offense and Shawn Monos (Fr.-Warner Robins, Ga.) received the same award for the defense.
Brian Schrock (Fr.-Congerville, Ill.) was named the team’s Most Valuable Teammate and Troy DeRossett (Fr.-Dupo, Ill.) received the Weight Room Award. Finally, T.J. Tolliver (So.-Bellwood, Ill.) received the team’s Freddy Arcaina Hustle Award, considered by coaches as the team’s most prestigious award and named after Arcaina, who played for the Tigers from 2003-05.
The Tigers have now concluded spring practices and will report in mid-August for fall practice. IWC opens the 2009 football season with a home game Aug. 29th against Trinity International (Ill.) University at 6 p.m. at Evans Field at the Mapleleaf Community Athletic Complex.
For more information regarding the IWC football program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Adam Glatczak (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; aglatczak@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's athletics web site at www.iwc.edu/athletics.
