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Whitewater kicker gets first team nod

Jeff Schebler gets a kick out of his job on the UW-Whitewater football team.

Everyone else related to the team gets a kick out of the job Schebler does.

Schebler, the All-America place-kicker for the defending NCAA Division III champions, has earned his third straight selection to the All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference first team.

Only a junior, Schebler is one of six Warhawks to earn All-WIAC first-team honors. The others are freshman running back Levell Coppage, senior offensive left tackle Mike Sherman, junior defensive end Anthony White, senior middle linebacker Jace Rindahl and junior cornerback Troney Shumpert.

Second-team honors for the co-champion Warhawks (9-1, 6-1) have gone to junior quarterback Jeff Donovan, senior tight end Nick Slupski, sophomore wide receiver Aaron Rusch, senior right tackle Robert Gilbreath, sophomore defensive end Jon Baldwin and junior linebacker Kyle Supianoski.

Whitewater High graduate Michael Zweifel, a sophomore receiver at UW-River Falls, joins Schebler as the only first-team repeaters.

Schebler continues to be a consistent field-goal kicker. He has converted 14 of 16 field goals this season and led league kickers with 82 points.

“He’s head and shoulders above everybody else,” Warhawk coach Lance Leipold said. “He also had a new snapper (Casey Casper) and new holder (Kris Rosholt) this year. Those may seem like little things, but it’s an adjustment.”

Schebler became the all-time leading NCAA Division III field-goal kicker when he got his 53rd career three-pointer last week. He has had field goals of 47, 46 and 45 yards this season alone, and is the all-time conference leader in extra points with 144.

Coppage stepped up in his first season to take the place of All-America honoree and Gagliardi Trophy winner Justin Beaver. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Coppage has gained 1,286 yards rushing and has scored 20 touchdowns.

“We knew the talent he had going into the preseason,” Leipold said. “But he really emerged on the scene. When he had 42 carries in the conference opener (a 16-14 win over UW-Eau Claire), it set the tone for his season.

“He’s been very durable and ultra-productive all year.”

Sherman was the sole returning starter on the offensive line, but the Warhawks’ record and Coppage’s numbers demonstrate how well that line has developed.

“(Coach) Steve Dinkel did a great job putting that line together,” Leipold said. “Mike has been a leader on the line.”

White, Rindahl and Shumpert helped the Warhawks rank 16th nationally in total defense.

White has 34 total tackles, including 21 solos. The 6-foot, 215-pound junior leads the Warhawks with seven tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks.

“He’s a speed rusher with a great motor,” Leipold said. “All the offensive coordinators are aware of him.”

The 6-3, 240-pound Rindahl moved from the outside to the middle linebacker spot and leads the team with 66 total tackles, including 37 solo. He has 5.5 tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks and his tied for the team lead with three interceptions.

“He’s the leader of the team,” Leipold said. “He had so many new guys around him, and he’s helped keep the defense in line. He’s been outstanding.”

Shumpert was one of Whitewater’s four new starting defensive backs, although he was a starter before being injured early last year. The 5-8, 165-pound junior is third in total tackles with 44 and has five tackles for losses this year.

Leipold said Shumpert also was a major contributor on special teams.

“He’s an outstanding cover corner,” Leipold said. “He’s very athletic.”

Zweifel led the conference with 79 receptions for 974 yards, including a season-high 16 receptions against UW-Stevens Point. In his career he has caught 176 passes for 2,030 yards and 13 touchdowns.

UW-Whitewater junior Garth Coats, an Evansville High graduate, has earned honorable mention at center.

Delavan-Darien High graduate Dan Lytle, a 6-1, 200-pound senior wide receiver at UW-Stout, has gained a spot on the All-Sportsmanship team.