Titans Land Seven on All-CCIW Squads

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – The Illinois Wesleyan University men’s lacrosse team saw seven student-athletes recognized on the All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin teams Wednesday, May 3. IWU’s seven selections tied for most in the league, while Zach Iannucci was tabbed the CCIW Coach of the Year for the third time in his career.

The Titans, hot off their fifth straight outright CCIW Regular Season title, put three on the first team and four on the second team. Senior Carson Kiichle (Vancouver, Wash.-Skyview), junior Gage Black (Peoria, Ill.-Dunlap), and sophomore Nick Schroeder (Waunakee, Wis.-Waunakee) received All-CCIW First Team accolades, while seniors Connor Kiichle (Vancouver, Wash.-Skyview) and Blake Muschewske (Excelsior, Minn.-Holy Family Catholic) and juniors Michael Campagna (Arlington Heights, Ill.-St. Viator) and Bob Boone (Los Angeles, Calif.-Notre Dame) earning second team status. Additionally, junior Brendan Baumgarten (Peoria, Ill.-Dunlap) was named Illinois Wesleyan’s recipient of the CCIW RESPECT Award.

Carson Kiichle earned his third straight first team honor, while Connor Kiichle garnered All-CCIW status for the third straight season. Black jumped to the first team after receiving second team status a season ago, with Campagna snagging second team honors for the second consecutive year.

Carson Kiichle has been one of the top facilitators in the CCIW throughout the six-game league slate, leading the conference in assists (21) and assists per game (3.50). The senior attacker finished the regular season second in points (30) and points per game (5.00) and was voted the league’s offensive player of the week, March 7. His eight-point game against Transylviania, April 22, 2023 is tied for third-most by a student-athlete in the conference this season. Additionally, his six assists in IWU’s regular season finale against Carthage, April 29, are tied for the most in a single CCIW game this season, while his five helpers versus Transy are tied for third-most. 

Black, a fiery midfielder, finished eighth in the conference in goals per game. He scored 16 over the course of CCIW play. The Peoria, Ill. native added six ground balls and caused one turnover. He recorded at least two points in every CCIW game this season, including a five-point, four-goal, one assist, showing against Carroll, April 1.

The top faceoff specialist in the league, Schroeder scooped up 36 ground balls per game, good for the third-best average in the league at 7.20. He compiled a faceoff percentage of .590, going 69-for-117 at the X. Schroeder added one goal, a game-winner against Transylvania. The sophomore also went a perfect 13-for-13 in faceoffs in IWU’s rout of Augie, April 8. He was named the CCIW’s Defensive Player of the Week, March 7.

Connor Kiichle, another key piece to the Green and White’s chaotic attack, net 16 goals in CCIW play. His 2.67 goals per game tied for eight-most in the conference, while he was also slotted tied for seventh with 10 assists. The Vancouver, Wash. native’s 4.33 points per game were second on the team and sixth in the league over the six-game span. He is one of two players in the entire conference to be ranked in the top-10 in both goals and assists this season.

Muschewske and Campagna shore up the Green and White’s defensive efforts and have disrupted opponents all season long. Muschewske, who was named the CCIW Defensive Player of the Week yesterday, has five caused turnovers and seven ground balls over the six-game CCIW slate, while Campagna tops the team in both caused turnovers (10), and ground balls (17). Campagna has also tallied two goals and three assists for five points.

Boone, another key piece to IWU’s high-powered offense, is eighth in the conference in points per game and fourth in assists per game. Boone has tallied 24 points over six league games, via nine goals and five assists. He dished out a career-high six assists in Illinois Wesleyan’s win over Transylvania, April 22, tying for the most by a CCIW player this season. His 15 assists are second most on the team, while his nine goals are tied for fifth-most on the squad. 

Illinois Wesleyan hosts fourth-seeded Carthage College Thursday night, May 4, in a CCIW Tournament semifinal showdown under the lights at Tucci Stadium. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

CCIW Coach of the Year
Zach Iannucci, Illinois Wesleyan

CCIW Offensive Student-Athlete of the Year
Dalton Hubbs, Transylvania

CCIW Co-Defensive Student-Athletes of the Year
Trenton Herubin, North Central
Dylan Mlinarich, North Central

CCIW First-Year Student-Athlete of the Year
Eli Spence, Elmhurst

All-CCIW First Team
Jake Allgood, G, North Central
Colin Poitras, A, Carthage
Carson Kiichle, A, Illinois Wesleyan
Nick Rubino, A, North Central
Trenton Herubin, D, North Central
Miles Rathell, D, North Central
Benjamin Marcum, D, Transylvania
George Burchfield, MF, Carthage
Gage Black, MF, Illinois Wesleyan
Dalton Hubbs, MF, Transylvania
AJ Teague, LSM, Transylvania
Nick Schroeder, F/O, Illinois Wesleyan
Dylan Mlinarich, SSDM, North Central

All-CCIW Second Team
Noah Mickelson, G, Elmhurst
Eli Spence, A, Elmhurst
Connor Kiichle, A, Illinois Wesleyan
Tom Eberhardt, A, North Central
Paul Huber, D, Augustana
Mike Campagna, D, Illinois Wesleyan
Blake Muschewske, D, Illinois Wesleyan
Sante Dybowski, MF, Elmhurst
Bob Boone, MF, Illinois Wesleyan
Jack Moran, MF, North Central
Sam Wallace, LSM, Carthage
Tony Vazquez, F/O, Elmhurst
Alex Madson, SSDM, Transylvania

CCIW RESPECT Award Recipients
Erik Singdahlsen, Augustana
Keegan Phillips, Carroll
Ben Krok, Carthage
Elmhurst
Brendan Baumgarten, Illinois Wesleyan
Zack Kuyava, North Central
Evan Deskins, Transylvania