BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference released its 2016 Football Postseason Awards Tuesday and Gustavus is well represented with two student-athletes on the First Team, seven on the Second Team, and four honorable mentions.
First team members include offensive lineman Joe Theiler (Sr., Maple Grove, Minn.) and outside linebacker Casey Decker (Jr., Mapleton, Minn.). Second team members include running back Luke Martinez (Sr., Lenexa, Kan.), wide receiver Hunter Johnson (Jr., Cannon Falls, Minn.), offensive lineman Ryan Landherr (Sr., Prior Lake, Minn.), defensive lineman Chris Nelson (Jr., New London, Minn.), inside linebacker Zack Martinez (Sr., Lenexa, Kan.), cornerback Jordan Kahlow (So., Le Sueur, Minn.), and kicker Brendan Boche (Jr., Lakeville, Minn.). Gusties earning honorable mention include linebackers Matt Berkner (So., Sleepy Eye, Minn.) and Leeland Lauti (Jr., Ewa Beach, Hawaii), running back Karim Ortiz (Jr., Cancun, Mexico), and defensive lineman Iker Ortiz-Hidalgo (Sr., Cancun, Mexico).
St. Thomas swept the top three awards as quarterback Alex Fenske was named the Jim Christopherson MIAC MVP, offensive lineman Will Hilbert was honored with the Mike Stam Award, and coach Glenn Caruso was named the John Gagliardi MIAC Football Coach of the Year.
In his final season wearing the Black and Gold, Theiler played and started in all 10 games at right guard this season. Theiler blocked for an offense that racked up 3,295 total yards of offense, averaging 329.5 yards per game. The senior captain finished his career having started in all 29 games he played in over the past three seasons. This is Theiler’s second time being recognized by the MIAC after receiving Second Team honors last season.
Decker makes the improvement from earning Second Team All-Conference last season to First Team this year. Decker started in all 10 games this season at defensive end and made 23 tackles (four solo, 19 assist). The Maple River product also tallied two tackles for loss, two passes defended, and two interceptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. His 93 interception return yards were second most in the MIAC. Decker was also the team’s punter, averaging 36.3 yards per punt on 42 kicks with a long of 60 yards. His 15 punts inside the 20-yard line were most in the league.
Luke Martinez earns Second Team All-MIAC for the second time in his career after rushing for 518 yards and four touchdowns this season. Martinez posted three games of over 100 yards rushing with the highest mark of 161 yards in the final game of his career against Carleton. Martinez also caught six passes for 57 yards. The St. Thomas Aquinas product finished his career with 1,201 rushing yards, which is just outside the top 20 in program history.
Johnson led the team in receiving and all-purpose yards this season. The Cannon Falls product caught 43 passes for 544 yards and three touchdowns. Johnson also led the team with 16 punt returns for 133 yards and 15 kick returns for 287 yards, amassing 962 all-purpose yards for an average of 96.2 yards per game, which ranks seventh in the MIAC.
Landherr is recognized by the MIAC as a Second Team member for the first time in his career after starting all 10 games this season at right tackle. Landherr blocked for an offense that averaged 158.8 rushing and 170.7 passing yards per game. The Prior Lake native was a constant presence on the Gustavus offensive line the past two seasons, having started in all 20 games, helping the team to a 12-8 overall record during that time.
Nelson makes the All-MIAC Second Team after playing in all 10 games this season on the defensive line. Nelson made 12 tackles (two solo, 10 assist), including 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and one fumble recovery. Nelson was a member of a defensive unit that limited opposing teams to 143.0 rushing yards per game (5th/MIAC).
Zack Martinez makes the league’s Second Team defense for the second time in his career after leading the team with 58 tackles (19 solo, 39 assist). He also tallied 3.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, and one pass defended. The two-year team captain finished his career with 162 total tackles.
Kahlow earns Second Team honors after an impressive sophomore campaign. The Le Sueur-Henderson product led the team with 29 solo tackles and tied for second with 50 total tackles, which was most among defensive backs. Kahlow also had two interceptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. His 96 return yards are most in the MIAC. Kahlow also tallied 1.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, and six passes defended.
Boche is named to the Second Team for the second straight season after posting another impressive season as the Gusties’ placekicker. Boche made 31-of-32 extra points for a 97 percent completion rate, which was best in the MIAC. He also made 8-of-12 field goals, with a long of 39 yards, for a total of 55 points. The Lakeville native also booted 48 kickoffs for an average of 56.5 yards, including nine touchbacks. Boche has now made 86 career extra points, which is 12 shy of the program record.
Berkner receives honorable mention honors after stepping in at linebacker for an injured Tyler Jakes. Berkner recorded 36 tackles (17 solo, 19 assist), including a team-high five tackles for loss and one sack. Lauti earns honorable mention after tallying 50 total tackles (26 solo, 24 assist), which tied for second most on the team. He also registered two interceptions for 38 yards and a touchdown. Ortiz joins the list of Gustavus honorable mentions after leading the team in rushing with 567 yards on 118 carries and six touchdowns. Ortiz-Hidalgo rounds out the group of honorable mentions after making 23 total tackles (10 solo, 13 assist), along with 4.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, and one interception.
