2023 Wartburg Knights football team

Last updated

2023 Wartburg Knights football
Wartburg Knights logo.svg
ARC champion
Conference American Rivers Conference
Ranking
AFCANo. 3
D3Football.comNo. 3
Record13–1 (8–0 ARC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMatt Wheeler (13th season)
Defensive coordinatorMatt Tschetter (3rd season)
Home stadium Walston-Hoover Stadium
Seasons
←  2022
2024  →
2023 American Rivers Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 3 Wartburg $^  8 –0   13 –1  
Coe ^  7 –1   9 –2  
Central (IA)  6 –2   8 –2  
Dubuque  5 –3   5 –5  
Loras  4 –4   5 –5  
Nebraska Wesleyan  2 –6   4 –6  
Simpson  2 –6   3 –7  
Buena Vista  2 –6   2 –8  
Luther  0 –8   0 –10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant
Rankings from D3Football.com

The 2023 Wartburg Knights football team represents the Wartburg College as a member of the American Rivers Conference (ARC) during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. The Knights, led by third-year head coach Chris Winter, play home games at Walston-Hoover Stadium in Waverly, Iowa. [1] The Knights clinched their 19th conference championship on October 28, 2023, with a win over Central College [2] and then capped of the regular season 10–0 following a win at Nebraska Wesleyan. Wartburg ended the season in the national semifinals for the second straight year, losing to North Central 34–27. [3] [4]

Contents

Senior linebacker Owen Grover was named the Cliff Harris Award winner, awarded to the defensive player of the year in division III. [5] He was also named ARC Defensive player of the year and 1st team all-American along with 3 other teammates, including running back Hunter Clasen, who was also named ARC Offensive player of the year. [6]

Schedule

Wartburg's 2023 regular season scheduled consisted of five home and five away games. The Knights also hosted 4 postseason games. [7]

DateTimeOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 27:00 p.m. Monmouth (IL) *No. 5
W 62–353,756
September 91:00 p.m.at No. 16 Bethel (MN) *No. 3
W 16–23,642
September 161:00 p.m. Buena Vista No. 3
  • Walston-Hoover Stadium
  • Waverly, IA
W 47–02,137
September 231:00 p.m.at Simpson No. 3
W 63–01,524
September 301:00 p.m. Coe No. 3
  • Walston-Hoover Stadium
  • Waverly, IA
W 27–213,016
October 71:00 p.m.at Luther No. 4
W 54–0317
October 141:30 p.m. Dubuque Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 3
  • Walston-Hoover Stadium
  • Waverly, IA
W 31–105,102
October 211:00 p.m.at Loras No. 3
W 62–71,300
October 281:00 p.m. Central (IA) No. 3
  • Walston-Hoover Stadium
  • Waverly, IA
W 24–141,500
November 41:00 p.m.at Nebraska Wesleyan No. 3
W 45–01,200
November 1812:00 p.m. Illinois College *No. 3
W 49–141,355
November 2512:00 p.m.No. 20 Whitworth *No. 3
  • Walston-Hoover Stadium
  • Waverly, IA (NCAA Division III Second Round)
W 42–201,207
December 212:00 p.m.No. 5 Wisconsin–Whitewater *No. 3
  • Walston-Hoover Stadium
  • Waverly, IA (NCAA Division III Quarterfinals)
W 31–283,259
December 92:30 p.m.No. 1 North Central (IL) *No. 3
  • Walston-Hoover Stadium
  • Waverly, IA (NCAA Division III Semifinals)
L 27–343,525

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend:██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre1234567891011Final
D3football.com5333343333333
AFCA Not released4443333333

Roster

2023 Wartburg Knights football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
WR 1Brock CaliffJr
QB 3Riley RichardsJr
WR 4Drake GeorgeSr
QB 5Grant HalversonSo
WR 6Trey EagleSr
WR 6Caleb EgesdalFr
QB 7Carter MarkhamJr
QB 8Nile McLaughlinSr
WR 8Karter DeckerFr
WR 10Carter HenryJr
QB 10Payton SalomonFr
WR 11Thor MaakestadSr
QB 15Quintin LoebFr
WR 15Miles RobertsonFr
WR 16Jagger SchmittSo
WR 17Matt BucknerSr
QB 18Leo DoddSo
WR 20Dylan SwanstromFr
RB 21Ben BryantSr
WR 23Darius WhaleySr
RB 24Hunter ClasenSr
RB 25Dylan MartiFr
WR 26Jonathan GreigFr
RB 27Brenden FischFr
RB 28Bricen WhiteJr
RB 31Joey AndersonSo
RB 31Brandon CushionFr
RB 35Levi PingelSo
RB 36Dawson RudFr
RB 38CJ HislerFr
RB 39Maurice PowellFr
TE 41John McConohyJr
TE 43Micah HolmbergSo
TE 46Austin BartaJr
RB 47Jackson ThompsonFr
OL 51Will ConlanSr
OL 52Ben PetlonSr
OL 53Brandt PetersenSr
OL 60Ben DunlapSr
OL 60Brady WeepieFr
OL 62Arturo VenegasFr
OL 63Reese TheobaldSo
OL 64Jason KoopmannSo
OL 65Brandt ReintsFr
OL 65Cooper SmockJr
OL 65Garrett WilliamsFr
OL 66Cade CarpenterJr
OL 67Josh ReichardFr
OL 68Kellen KpogliFr
OL 68Ethan StockwellSr
OL 69Nathan LorenzenSo
OL 70Logan PetermanFr
OL 72Jesse NevarezFr
OL 72Max RossowFr
OL 73Xander BradleyJr
OL 74Alex LahmonSr
OL 75Brady RobinsonFr
OL 76Clayton BockhovenFr
OL 76Isaiah CorbinJr
OL 77Dakota DallyFr
OL 77Tucker KinneySr
OL 78Nicholas MahnkeFr
WR 80Tai StreetsSo
WR 80Ben WymerFr
TE 81Kaden BehrensSo
TE 81Tom ButtersSr
WR 82Justis BachmanFr
TE 82Grant HigginsJr
WR 83Caleb BeckFr
WR 83Jack EddyFr
WR 83Max SolisJr
WR 84Tucker MumfordSr
TE 85Matt DufoeSo
WR 85Brayden LaneFr
WR 85Elijah MendozaFr
TE 86Tanner SauerbreiJr
WR 87Cade HughesSo
WR 88Carter BussanmasSr
WR 89Tyler OttJr
TE 93Blayne FarmerFr
TE 96Matthew HillemanFr
TE 96Malachi MooreFr
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB 2Grant McCallipsSr
DB 2Jack WilsonFr
LB 3Nate LinkSr
DB 5Kaleb LamphierSr
LB 6Sam KissnerSr
DB 8Ryan DoyleFr
DB 9Ben ParkerSr
DB 10Trace MeyerFr
DB 12Blake JanssenSo
DB 13Thane AlexanderJr
DB 14Parker RochfordJr
DB 15Grant LarsonJr
DB 19Drew WyffelsSr
DB 20Conner GroverSo
LB 22Sam ConwaySo
DB 23Ryan FolkertsSo
DB 25Calum MaclearnJr
DB 26Jason O'BoyeFr
DB 27Logan JunglingFr
DB 27Tegan WyckoffSr
DB 28Dylan McCaulleyFr
DB 28Tobias PolkJr
LB 29Tyler GayerFr
DB 30DJ WittJr
DB 31Dylan HansonFr
DB 32Adam LinkFr
DB 33Dakota LauJr
DL 34Jordan DowningSr
LB 36McKade MunnSo
LB 37Preston RochfordSr
LB 40Mac WattsSo
DL 42Justin GrieffSr
LB 44Owen GroverSr
DB 45Colt BerryFr
LB 45Dakota StevensonSr
LB 48Alex KochSo
LB 49Keenan TylerJr
LB 50Jack HeinbergSo
LB 51Aiden MauerFr
LB 52Colin SnitkerSo
DL 54Conner McDonaldFr
DL 55Riley KonrardySr
LB 55Kale RodgersJr
LB 56Kaden BiblerSo
DL 56Kanan MorrisSr
LB 57Seth MaddenFr
LB 58Trent PolleySo
LB 58Trent RobertsSo
LB 59Zack CrawfordFr
DL 61Riley TheobaldSr
DL 71Kale FolkertsJr
DL 72Ethan SchellhornJr
DL 73Ethan BerdingFr
DL 74Jacskon WoodleyFr
DL 75Andrew FriendJr
DL 79Aiden RobersonFr
DL 90Jack DrahosSo
DL 91Walker HermeierJr
DL 93Aiden DoyleFr
DL 93Griffin NealJr
DL 94Josh StiffendSr
DL 95Brady PetersonFr
DL 96Cam StalzerSo
DL 97Owen HatcherJr
DL 98Jake WalkerFr
DL 99Christian NunleyJr
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K 0Cael O'NeillSr
K/P 39Luke ShepardFr
K/P 39Jaxson HoppesSo
LS 79Parker SperfslageFr
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
  • Matt Wheeler – Offensive Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach
  • Matt Tschetter – Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator
  • Anthony Vela – Defensive Line
  • Luke Summers – Offensive Line
  • Ethan Lape – Running Backs
  • Quinton Murphy – Wide Receivers
  • Jeff Beck – Offensive Assistant
  • Paul Mugan – Tight Ends
  • Steve Kingery – Specialists
  • Jason Splitt – Defensive Assistant/Student Coach
  • Danny Drees – Athletic Trainer
  • Jessica Albright – Athletic Trainer
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
  • Redshirt.svg Redshirt

Roster
Last update: November 22, 2023

Awards and honors

Individual Awards
PlayerAward
Owen Grover William V. Campbell Trophy Finalist
Gagliardi Trophy Finalist
ARC Defensive Player of the Year
Cliff Harris Award
D3Football.com Defensive Player of the year
DIII Academic All-American of the Year
D3football.com 1st team All-American
AFCA 1st team All-American
AP 1st team All-American
Hunter Clasen ARC Offensive Player of the Year
D3football.com 1st team All-American
AP 2nd team All-American
Parker RochfordD3football.com 1st team All-American
AP 1st team All-American
Riley KonrardyD3football.com 1st team All-American
Jordan DowningD3football.com 3rd team All-American
AP 2nd team All-American
Tucker KinneyD3football.com 4th team All-American
CoachAward
Chris Winter ARC Coach of the year
AFCA Region 5 Coach of the year
Reference: [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]


All-Conference
PlayerPositionTeamYear
Jordan DowningDL1SR
Riley KonrardyDL1SR
Owen GroverLB1SR
Nate LinkLB1SR
Parker RochfordDB1JR
Hunter ClasenRB1SR
Tucker KinneyOT1SR
Alex LahmonOG1SR
Justin GrieffDL2SR
Preston RochfordLB2SR
Drew WyffelsDB2SR
Nile McLaughlinQB2SR
Tom ButtersTE2SR
Ethan StockwellOT2SR
Cael O'NeillK2SR
Jaxson HoppesPHMSO
Dylan SteenDBHMSR
HM = Honorable mention. Reference: [16]

Related Research Articles

Rick Willis is an American college administrator and former football, baseball, and softball coach. He was the athletic director at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, from 2005 to 2021, before transitioning to vice president for student recruitment. Willis served two stints as the head football coach at Wartburg, from 1997 to 2005 and again from 2008 to 2021, compiled a record of 185–46. He was succeeded in 2021 by his former player and defensive coordinator Chris Winter. He was the head baseball coach at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio from 1991 to 1996, amassing a record of 150–85. Willis also coached the softball team at Wartburg for one season, in 2003, tallying a mark of 38–10 and reaching the Division III Women's College World Series.

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References

  1. ↑ "Wartburg Facilities". go-knights.net. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Promnitz, Donald (October 28, 2023). "Wartburg College clinches A-R-C championship in win over Central". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier . Cedar Falls, Iowa . Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  3. ↑ Nelson, Jim (December 9, 2023). "Wartburg Fights to Finish Stunned Late in National Semifinal Loss to No.1 NCC". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Cedar Falls, Iowa. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Wartburg falls short in national semifinal loss 34–27 to North Central". krcg.com. KRCG. December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  5. ↑ Miller, Danny (December 15, 2023). "Knighted:Wartburg College Linebacker Owen Grover wins Cliff Harris Award for NCAA Division III". CLiff Harris Award.
  6. ↑ Miller, Danny (November 18, 2023). "College football: Clasen, Grover earn A-R-C top honors". Telegraph Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  7. ↑ "2023 Wartburg Knights Football Schedule". go-knights.net. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  8. ↑ "2023 D3football.com All-America team". D3Football.com. December 15, 2023.
  9. ↑ "NFF Proudly Announces the Finalists for 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy". National Football Foundation. October 25, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Illinois College's Collin Brunstein and Pomona-Pitzer's Cameron Shirangi Headline the 2023 AFCA Division III Coaches' All-America Teams". AFCA. December 11, 2023.
  11. ↑ Russo, Ralph. "Cortland quarterback Zac Boyes and North Central RB Joe Sacco lead AP Division III All-America team". Associated Press. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Five named Gagliardi finalists". D3football.com. D3football.com. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Wartburg's Owen Grover named finalist for 2023 Gagliardi Trophy". Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. December 9, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Kalen Deboer and Willie Simmons Headline the 2023 AFCA Regional Coach of the Year Winners". afca.com. AFCA. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  15. ↑ "2023 Academic All-America® Football Teams announced for all NCAA and NAIA divisions" (Press release). January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Wartburg's Clasen, Grover, and Winter Highlight A-R-C All-Conference Football Selections". American Rivers Conference. November 17, 2023.
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