Five members of the Kalamazoo College football team were recognized with All-MIAA honors on Monday. Josh Wise, Ian Good, and Octavius Sanders were selected to the All-MIAA First Team. Connor Rzeznik and Ryan Gregory were selected to the All-MIAA Second Team. League honors are voted on by the conference football coaches.
Josh Wise, a senior wide receiver from Perry, Mich. (Fowlerville HS), earned All-MIAA First Team honors after leading the league in receptions (46), receptions per game (7.67), receiving yards (713), receiving yards per game (118.8), and punt return average (4.5). Including non-conference games, Wise became the fifth Kalamazoo College receiver to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a season with 1,087. Wise's 81 receptions and 10 touchdown receptions both rank third all-time.
"Josh Wise was our rock on offense and most consistent performer," said Kalamazoo Head Coach Jamie Zorbo. "He is an excellent technician who runs excellent routes. He improved his game each and every year to become the best receiver in the league as well as the league's top punt returner."
Ian Good, a senior defensive lineman from Saline, Mich. (Saline HS), earned All-MIAA First Team honors after leading the league in sacks (7), sacks per game (1.17), and tackles for loss (10.5). Including non-conference games, Good recorded 59 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks. His 17.5 career sacks ranks second in school history.
"Ian Good had a great season and was our most consistent performer up front on a really good defensive line," said Zorbo. "He really improved his quickness and we were really pleased with the way he played this year."
Octavius Sanders, a defensive back from Detroit, Mich. (Martin Luther King HS), was the only sophomore defender on the All-MIAA First Team. Sanders had two interceptions in conference games and ranked third in the league in passes defended (12). Including non-conference games, Sanders made 47 total tackles with three interceptions and 16 passes defended.
"Octavius Sanders really improved over last year and he has great coverage ability," said Zorbo. "He is really able to lock down some of the better players in the league. He is very physical for his size and a great tackler in open space. He also did an amazing job on special teams for us as well."
Connor Rzeznik, a sophomore from Walled Lake, Mich. (Walled Lake Central HS), earned All-MIAA Second Team honors for the second year in a row at linebacker. Rzeznik ranked seventh in the MIAA with 48 tackles in league games (8.0/game). Including non-conference games, Rzeznik was Kalamazoo's second leading tackler with 77, including 10.5 for loss.
"Connor Rzeznik has gotten better every week and every day in practice," Zorbo said. "His approach to practice is consistently at a higher level than most players. He did an outstanding job on pass coverage as well and was a big playmaker again for us this year."
Ryan Gregory, a senior from Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich. (Grosse Pointe North HS), earned All-MIAA Second Team honors at defensive back. Gregory made 38 tackles in league games (6.3/game) with one sack. He made 55 tackles in all games this year, including seven for loss with five pass breakups.
"Ryan Gregory has come a long way since his freshman year," said Zorbo. "He has really worked hard and it has paid off this year as an outstanding leader in the secondary. He was a more savvy defender with a greater understanding of the defense. He is a physical tackler who made great plays in space along with momentum-changing hits and plays on defense."
Kalamazoo College finished 6-4 overall in 2013, the team's best record since 2003. The Hornets tied for second place in the MIAA with a 4-2 conference record, the team's best conference finish since 2000.