SS
Spencer Shier
  • sociology
  • Pardeeville

Pardeeville Native Shier Named to 2015 UW-Whitewater Football Roster

2015 Sep 17

Spencer Shier, a native of Pardeeville, WI, and graduate of Portage High School, will compete for the top-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team in 2015.

Shier, a junior for the Warhawks, is majoring in Criminology.

UW-Whitewater, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation by D3football.com in the Web site's latest Top 25 poll, opened the season last Saturday with a 62-6 victory at Belhaven (Miss.).

The Warhawks play their home opener this Saturday against Finlandia (Mich.). Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. on Hall of Fame Day at Perkins Stadium in Whitewater, Wis.

See below for a complete season preview on the 2015 UW-Whitewater football team.

2015 Football Season Preview: Warhawks Focused on the Process

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team enters the 2015 season under new leadership, but expectations surrounding the six-time national championship program remain the same.

Kevin Bullis, a defensive assistant coach for the Warhawks for the last seven years, looks to lead the team to its 10th Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship and seventh NCAA Division III national title in the last nine years in 2015.

For now, the focus of Bullis and UW-Whitewater, which returns seven starters on each side of the ball and both of its specialists from a year ago, remains on the day-to-day grind.

"The national championships were a byproduct of what we focused on. We didn't concentrate on national championships or WIAC championships. What we did concentrate on was getting better every day.

"We're never stagnant. We're never status quo. That doesn't mean I'm revamping all the systems. But we're always looking to make the systems a little better."

In 2014, the Warhawks claimed their 34th WIAC title and sixth national championship in the last eight years with a 43-34 victory over Mount Union (Ohio) in Stagg Bowl XLII. UW-Whitewater also extended its college football best win streak to 32 games.

Despite the loss of 10 seniors due to graduation, including four All-Americans, the Warhawks return several key pieces of last year's national title run in 2015. UW-Whitewater is the preseason favorite to win the WIAC in a poll of the league's coaches and sports information directors, and is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the D3football.com Preseason Top 25.

Captains Zach Franz, Conner Peters, Ryan Winske and Joe Worth highlight a 22-member senior class.

"Our huge senior class is a relief. Going back to January, when I'm interviewing for this job, we talked about maintaining the systems in place. When you have that many returning starters on both sides, that allows you to have confidence in maintaining those systems."

UW-Whitewater opened the season last Saturday with a 62-6 victory at Belhaven (Miss.) to extend its college football-best win streak to 33 games.

The Warhawks will play their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 19, against Finlandia, a first-year Division III program from Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In four regular season games a year ago, an average of nearly 9,500 fans filled Perkins Stadium per game.

Just five days later, UW-Whitewater will head to Morningside College, an NAIA school in Sioux City, Iowa. The Mustangs finished 12-2 a season ago and are ranked No. 3 in the NAIA Football Coaches' Preseason Top 25 Poll.

Combined with its trip to Belhaven, the team will spend nearly 40 hours traveling to and from its two non-conference away contests.

"Our guys seem to travel pretty well. That's one of the things I noticed when I came here eight years ago. They seem to enjoy the time together, which doesn't make it some insurmountable task."

From there, the Warhawks alternate home and away games in conference play, beginning with UW-Platteville, which is receiving votes in the D3football.com poll, on Oct. 3 on Family/Alumni Day at Perkins Stadium.

UW-Whitewater will visit 18th-ranked UW-Oshkosh one week later in what could be a showdown with WIAC championship implications. The Titans finished second in the league in 2014.

The Warhawks host UW-La Crosse under the lights on Friday, Oct. 16, for Student Appreciation Night at Perkins Stadium. The team visits UW-Stevens Point on Oct. 24 before hosting UW-Eau Claire on Oct. 31 as part of Homecoming Saturday in Whitewater.

After a visit to UW-River Falls (Nov. 7), UW-Whitewater hosts UW-Stout to cap the regular season on Nov. 14 for the Shriner's Game and Senior Day.

OFFENSE

Seven starters return to the offense, which led the WIAC in passing, rushing, total offense and scoring. First-year offensive coordinator Craig Smith looks to keep the Warhawks atop the league and among national leaders despite the loss of All-American quarterback Matt Behrendt, wide receiver Jake Kumerow, the 2014 national offensive player of the year, and all-conference wide receiver Justin Howard.

All five starters are slated to return on the offensive line, led by Peters, a first team D3football All-American a season ago and 2015 Preseason All-American. Seniors Eli Sloneker, Johnny Wiederholt, juniors Tony Koepnick and Spencer Shier also return up front. Wiederholt, Koepnick and Shier have each been selected All-WIAC in one of the last two years. The group will also be bolstered by the return of senior All-American Lucas Skibba, who missed the 2014 campaign with an injury.

Seniors Dennis Moore, Nick Patterson and Jordan Ratliffe headline a deep, experienced running back corps. Moore tallied 1,107 yards (6.3 yards per carry) with five touchdowns, while Ratliffe was tabbed second team all-conference for the second straight year after leading the team with nine rushing touchdowns an gaining 950 yards (5.9 ypc). Patterson registered 548 yards (6.9 ypc) and seven touchdowns.

Seniors Kyle Christensen and Logan Solano look to lead the tight end/fullback group. Christensen caught six passes for 21 yards, while Solano totaled 123 yards and two touchdowns on 11 receptions in 2014.

Worth, juniors Marcus Hudson and Ryan Storto return with the most experience at wide receiver. Worth garnered his second All-WIAC accolade with 47 receptions for 526 yards and four scores. Hudson posted 170 yards and two touchdowns, while Storto finished with 15 receptions for 198 yards and one touchdown.

Juniors Chris Nelson and Zack Gehant are the lone returning quarterbacks with playing experience. Nelson completed 22-of-37 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns, appearing in all 15 contests. Gehant contributed 54 yards in six games.

DEFENSE

First-year defensive coordinator Rob Erickson looks to continue the team's recent tradition of stingy, hard-nosed defense. The Warhawks led the league and ranked fifth in the nation in scoring defense in 2014, allowing just 12.2 points per affair.

Franz, a first team All-American a year ago and 2015 Preseason All-American, leads the unit up front. He recorded 35 tackles, including 11 for a loss and seven sacks in 2014. Seniors Kevon Clunis, Nick Froland, juniors John Flood, Tim Regan and Brandon Tamsett also return with significant experience. Tamsett led the line in tackles with 43 last season, while Flood (24 tackles) and Regan (35 tackles) were critical to the group's success up front.

All three starters return at linebacker, led by senior Justin Dischler, a first team All-American. Dischler led UW-Whitewater with 93 tackles and ranked among national leaders with six force fumbles, while junior Paul Foster finished third on the team with 76 tackles. Sophomore Matt Seitz, registered 44 tackles as a starter in 2014, while senior Matthew Hoppe and junior Kyle Schiedemeyer will also figure into the rotation.

Senior Ryan Winske is the lone returning starter from the secondary, which lost a pair of All-Americans in Brady Grayvold and Marcus McLin. Winske placed second on the team with 78 tackles and added three interceptions. Seniors Dylan Morang, Shawn Shillcox, juniors Mickey Morgan and Bennett Young, who played significant snaps in 2014, will be relied upon to step into larger roles. Morang was an all-conference honoree for his work on special teams a season ago.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Junior punter Lake Bachar and sophomore kicker Will Meyer return as starters. Bachar, who is also an all-region pitcher on the UW-Whitewater baseball team, earned second team all-league honors a season ago after averaging 38.4 yards per punt and posting 21 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He also handled kickoff duties. Meyer was also tabbed second team All-WIAC after knocking down 9-of-13 field goals, including a season long of 38 yards.

For more information on the UW-Whitewater football program, visit the team's Web page.