Gustavus Adolphus sophomore left guard Lyle Opdahl and junior free safety Brad Kruckeburg have been named 2010 MIAC Second Team All-Conference as a part of the 2010 MIAC Football Awards announced Tuesday, Nov. 23 by the league office. Cody Sukalski was named to the 2010 All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team. Bethel running back Logan Flannery received the Jim Christopherson MIAC MVP award, while Saint John’s defensive lineman Kyle Schroeder was awarded the Mike Stam Award as the league’s top interior lineman. St. Thomas head coach Glen Caruso was named the 2010 MIAC Coach-of-the-Year Award after leading the Tommies to MIAC Championship.
Lyle Opdahl
Opdahl, a native of Young America, Minn. and a product of Central High School, is one of only two sophomore offensive linemen to earn a spot on the All-Conference Team. The 6’1” 245-pound left guard started in every game this season, playing a key role in Gustavus’s ground attack. The Gusties had the fourth ranked rushing offense in the MIAC, averaging 153.8 yards per game and running for over 100 yards in eight of their ten contests. Against Northwestern on Sept. 18, the Gusties turned in 278 yards on the ground. Three weeks later the hogs opened up running lanes against Hamline in a season-high 318-yard day at Hollingsworth Field. The performance against Hamline was the third best single-game rushing achievement for Gustavus since 1996, sitting behind a 354-yard game against Augsburg in 2008 and a 344-yard game against St. Olaf in 1996.
Brad Kruckeberg on an interception return
Brad Kruckeberg made his presence felt in his first season as the full-time free safety. The Ellendale, Minn. native led the MIAC in both interceptions with six and passes defended with 12 (1.20 Avg/G). Kruckeberg started in all 10 games, recording 26 tackles, which ranks fourth on the team. He totaled 103 interception return yards (2nd in MIAC) and one touchdown, coming by way of a 70-yard INT return against Hamline. The Gusties finished the season with the third-ranked pass defense in the MIAC, allowing 1706 total yards for an average of 170.6 yards per game. The Gustavus defense picked off 19 passes (1st in MIAC) and allowed a league-low seven touchdowns through the air.
Senior wide receiver Cody Sukalski was named to the 2010 All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team. The Blue Earth, Minn. export has recorded over 50 yards receiving in a game 11 times in his four-year career. In four years, Sukalski has played in 36 games, totaling 1,141 yards on 99 catches for an average of 14.25 yards per catch and 39.19 yards per game. Sukalski finishes his career among the top receivers in Gustavus history, surpassing the likes of Paul Pehrson (1987-90), Tim Roberts (1979-82), Tom Illies (1981-84), and Kerry Zajicek (2003-06). He ranks eighth in receptions (99), seventh in receiving yards (1,141), and sixth receiving touchdowns (14).
Cody Sukalski catches a touchdown pass against Hamline
This season’s All-MIAC Sportsmanship team for football is the fifth in the history of the conference. Members of the All-MIAC Sportsmanship team are selected by their coaches and teammates as individuals who demonstrate ideals of positive sportsmanship both on and off the field of competition.