CHRIS SIMMS, Chicago, Ill. (St. Rita HS)
Has earned two letters (2011, 2012)…Linebacker… 2012: Recorded 52 total tackles, including 26 solo… Also broke up one pass... Assisted on a quarterback sack... 2011: Involved in eight total tackles with two solo and six assists…Also made a pass breakup…Had one reception for 11 yards... AT ST. RITA HS: Earned three letters in football and one in rugby...Named first team all-conference in football...Academic all-state...National Honor Society... PERSONAL: Born February 5, 1992...Undecided on academic major at Illinois Wesleyan...He is the son of Leonard Simms and Donna Simms...
KEVIN SLAWKOWSKI, Mokena, Ill. (LincolnWay East HS)
Has earned one letter (2012) ... Defensive Back... 2012: Recorded 5 total tackles, including 2 solo… AT LINCOLN-WAY EAST HS: Two-year letter winner in football and baseball...2nd team All-Southwest Suburban Blue Conference as a senior...All-Conference as a senior in baseball...Two-year conference team champions in football...Team was undefeated in 2011 season...Four-year honor roll member...National Honor Society member... PERSONAL: Born on November 19, 1993...Son of Ken and Tammy Slawkowski...
T.J. STINDE, Lexington, Ill. (HS)
Has earned three letters (2010, 2011, 2012)...Running back… 2012: Rushed for 495 yards on 91 attempts and six touchdowns... Longest run was 39 yards... Made eight receptions for 46 yards...Had long catch of 14 yards... 2011: Season was cut short with knee injury in third game of year…Still finished third on team with 254 rushing yards…Had 55 carries and scored two rushing TDs…Made four catches for 54 yards and returned three kickoffs for 39 yards with a long of 31 yards... 2010: Had three carries for 17 yards with a long run of 12…Also returned 10 kickoffs for 258 yards with a long dash of 49 yards…Had fumble return for six yards… Made one solo tackle and assisted on one more on special teams… AT LEXINGTON HS: Earned four letters in football, four in track, and two in basketball...Set Illinois state single season records for rushing yards (3,325) and touchdowns (46) as a senior...Chosen as The Pantagraph area 2009 “Player of the Year”...First team all-state and all-conference selection...Minutemen’s “Most Valuable Player” and team captain as a junior and senior...His career totals of 5,298 yards and 75 rushing TDs rank eighth in Illinois high school history...Tied state mark with seven
kickoff return TDs...Fourth in Illinois history in career touchdowns with 92...Named second team all-american by MaxPreps... PERSONAL: Born November 5, 1991...Majoring in business administration at Illinois Wesleyan...Two of his uncles, Randy Winterland and Josh Hardt, played for the Titan football team and his cousin, Dan Stinde, was a member of the track team...He is the son of Tom and Angie Stinde...
ZACH SZYKOWNY, Palos Heights, Ill. (Shepard HS)
Has earned one letter (2012) ... Defensive Line... 2012: Recorded 22 total tackles, including 11 solo…Also broke up one pass... Had three quarterback sacks and assisted on one... AT SHEPARD HS: Earned three football letters and two more in baseball...Two time all-conference selection in both sports...Baseball team captain as a senior...Academic all-state...National Honor Society...Illinois State Scholar... PERSONAL: Born April 8, 1992...Also plays baseball at IWU...Undecided on academic major at Illinois Wesleyan...He is the son of Daniel and Suzanne Szykowny...
JIMMY WHITE, Loves Park, Ill. (Boylan Catholic HS)
Has earned one letter (2012) ... Wide Receiver... 2011: Had one tackle in two games played... AT BOYLAN CATHOLIC HS: Earned two letters in football...Served as team captain...All-conference honorable mention and “Iron Titan” award winner…National Honor Society member... PERSONAL: Born August 3, 1992... Given name is James Joseph White...Majoring in business administration at Illinois Wesleyan...Parents are Jim and Nancy White…
JOHN WORLEY, Elmhurst, Ill. (York HS)
Has earned two letters (2011, 2012) … 2012: Recorded 32 total tackles, including 17 solo…Also broke up two passes... Had three quarterback sacks and assisted on one... 2011: Involved in four total tackles with two solo and two assists… AT YORK HS: Earned two letters in both football and basketball...All-West Suburban Conference in both football and basketball...All-area and “Dan Parmenter Leadership Award” winner in football…Illinois State Scholar…Academic all-conference... PERSONAL: Born July 1, 1993...Studying business administration at Illinois Wesleyan...Parents are Mike and Darcy Worley… Father played soccer and rugby at the University of Illinois...
WORKING OVERTIME The Titans are 5-1 all-time in overtime games (4-1 at home). 1 – In Bloomington, IWU defeated Washington U., 31-24, on Sept. 21, 2002 when Eric White caught a 10-yard pass from Josh Akin for the score and Brian Klesath added the extra point before the Titan defense held the Bears. 2 - In Decatur on Oct. 14, 2006, the Titans beat the Big Blue 12-6. The winning score came when Nick Panno hit Martin Ceisel with an 11-yard TD pass. 3 - In Bloomington, IWU beat North Central, 28-22, on Oct. 31, 2009. After holding the Cardinals, IWU scored in five plays on a 10-yard pass from Kraig Ladd to Michael Sloboda. 4 – In Bloomington, IWU beat Wabash 41-35 in the second OT possession in a Nov. 21, 2009 NCAA playoff game. Jack Scalcucci caught a 30-yard TD pass from Kraig Ladd on a fourth and 15 play for the winning score. The game was 28-28 after regulation and both teams scored in their first possession. The P.J. Cummings intercepted a pass to end Wabash’s second OT drive before the IWU score. 5 - IWU lost a home NCAA playoff game in the third overtime to Monmouth, 33-27, on Nov. 19, 2011. The teams tied 17-17 at the end of regulation and played through two rounds of overtime with alternating possessions. On IWU’s third OT possession, Rob Gallik fumbled the ball at the 1-yard line to give the ball to the Scots. Monmouth’s Trey Yocum ran four times for 30 yards in the final OT, including a 7-yard TD rush for the winning score. 6 - Illinois Wesleyan won, 34-33 in overtime vs. Millikin at Tucci Stadium on Sept. 29, 2012. Tyrell Bolden broke up a two-point conversion pass to preserve the one-point win. IWU got the ball first and Sean Conley ran 4 yards for a score. Michael Kelley’s kick gave IWU a 34-27 lead. Millikin matched the TD but failed on a two-point pass play.