SS
Spencer Shier
  • sociology
  • Pardeeville

Pardeeville Native Shier Named All-WIAC for UW-Whitewater Football

2015 Nov 19

Spencer Shier, a native of Pardeeville, , and member of the No. 6 ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team, was one of 15 Warhawks to garner All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference accolades.

Shier is majoring in sociology.

Senior running back Jordan Ratliffe (Milwaukee/Milwaukee Vincent), senior linebacker Justin Dischler (Milwaukee/Pius XI), senior defensive back Ryan Winske (Omro/Omro), junior wide receiver Marcus Hudson (Delavan, Wis./Delavan-Darien), junior offensive linemen Tony Koepnick (Sussex/Hamilton) and Spencer Shier (Pardeeville/Portage), junior defensive lineman Brandon Tamsett (Waterford/Waterford-Union) and junior punter Lake Bachar (Wheaton, IL/Wheaton North) represented the Warhawks as first team selections.

Senior defensive lineman Zach Franz (DeForest/DeForest Area), junior offensive lineman Austin Jones (Madison, Wis./Edgewood), sophomore tight end Tony Gumina (Sussex, Wis./Hamilton) and sophomore linebacker Matt Seitz (Hartland, Wis./Arrowhead) were named to the second team.

Senior defensive back Dylan Morang (Saint John, IN/Lake Central), senior wide receiver Joe Worth (Hartford/Hartford Union) and junior defensive back Vince Mason (Green Bay, Wis./Green Bay Southwest) received honorable mention.

All 15 players have helped UW-Whitewater (9-1 overall, 6-1 WIAC) reach the NCAA Division III Playoffs for the 10th time in the last 11 years. The Warhawks host St. Norbert this Saturday at noon in a first-round contest.

Ratliffe is now a three-time all-conference pick after being selected to the second team for each of the last two seasons. He leads the league in rushing yards (1,100) and rushing touchdowns (17), and reached the 1,000-yard plateau for the second time in his career. Ratliffe was named WIAC Offensive Player of the Week after posting a career-high 217 yards against UW-Stout.

Koepnick and Shier are first team honorees for the first time after each being tabbed second team All-WIAC in 2015. The Warhawks rank second in the WIAC in scoring offense (41.8 points per game) and rushing offense (217.8).

Hudson has emerged in the second half of the season as UW-Whitewater's leading receiver. He enters the postseason with 41 receptions for 729 yards and six touchdowns and has four 100-yard receiving performances in his last five games. Hudson has also caught at least one touchdown in four straight contests.

Bachar and Dischler are second time honorees.

Bachar, a 2014 second team pick, averages 35.9 yards per punt and has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 16 times. He also has 36 touchbacks on 68 kickoffs. Bachar was named WIAC Special Teams Player of the Week following the Warhawks' 33-30 triumph at NAIA No. 1 Morningside (Iowa) on Sept. 24.

Dischler is now a two-time first team honoree after posting 57 tackles, good for second on the team, during the regular season. He also has an interception, a forced fumble and three passes defended.

Winske ranks third on the team with 53 tackles, including 3.0 for a loss, and is tied for the conference lead with four interceptions.

Tamsett leads all UW-Whitewater defensive linemen with 37 tackles, including a team-best 6.0 for a loss and 3.5 sacks.

Franz, who earned first team accolades in 2014, enters the weekend with 22 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss, and is tied for the team lead with 4.0 sacks despite missing three games this season. Seitz ranks fifth on the team with 39 tackles and owns 5.5 TFLs and three passes defended.

Gumina and Jones have also helped pave the way up front. Gumina enters Saturday with 25 receptions for 341 yards and three touchdowns, good for third on the team in all three categories.

Worth is now a three-time All-WIAC pick, including his second straight year as an honorable mention selection. He ranks second on the team in receptions (36), yards (452) and touchdowns (4).

Mason and Morang have stepped into starting roles in 2015 following the graduation of All-AmericansBrady Grayvold (Norway, MI/Norway) and Marcus McLin (Delavan/Delavan-Darien). Mason ranks fourth on the team in tackles (43), is tied for third in the WIAC in passes defended (11) and is tied for the league lead in interceptions (4), while Morang has 27 tackles (23 solo), two interceptions and six passes defended.

Senior offensive lineman Lucas Skibba (Plover/SPASH) was the team's representative on the All-Sportsmanship Team.