Record-setting players and Lawrence University Hall of Famers lead the selections for the 21st Century Football Team.

Looking back at the last 20 seasons of Lawrence football, Director of Athletic Media Relations Joe Vanden Acker, who has worked at Lawrence since 1999, consulted with multiple sources to select the team. The squad includes players from just around the corner to across the country, famous Lawrence names and spectacular playmakers on both sides of the ball.

QUARTERBACK
Luke Barthelmess, Class of 2014
    Luke Barthelmess holds nearly every Lawrence passing record and is the only player to be in the school's career top 10 in rushing and passing yards. Barthelmess was the starter for three-plus seasons and completed 648-of-1,181 passes for 8,190 yards and 62 touchdowns. He had his best season in 2011 when he went 202-of-363 for 2,721 yards and 22 touchdowns. Barthelmess also ran 502 times for 1,819 yards and 14 touchdowns. Barthelmess had a massive passing day against Knox College in 2011 when he completed 28-of-39 passes for a school-record 549 yards and school-record six touchdowns. Barthelmess, who earned All-Midwest Conference honors in 2013, ranks first in career pass attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns. He also ranks ninth in career rushing yards and first in total offense with 10,009 yards.

RUNNING BACKS
Justin Berrens, Class of 2004
    Justin Berrens powered the Lawrence offense during his three seasons with a bruising running style that earned him Wisconsin Private College Player of the Year honors. Berrens, who missed the 2001 season, ran 744 times for 3,659 yards and 19 touchdowns. Berrens, who ranks third in career rushing yards behind only Lawrence Hall of Famers Scott Reppert and Brad Olson, averaged a hefty 4.9 yards per carry and 122.0 yards per game. His best season came in 2003 when he ran 279 times for 1,477 yards and eight touchdowns. Berrens ran for at least 200 yards in a game five times, and posted one of two 300-yard games in Lawrence history when he finished with 310 yards against Grinnell College in 2003. A first-team All-Midwest Conference pick in 2002 and 2003, Berrens was named the state's top private college player in 2003.

Craig Ebert, Class of 2009
    Craig Ebert was a multi-talented player and four-year starter in the backfield. A first-team All-Midwest Conference pick in 2008, Ebert ran 546 times for 2,477 yards and 10 touchdowns and ranks fourth in school history in rushing yards. He had his best season in 2008 when he ran 181 times for 899 yards and a pair of touchdowns. A receiving threat out of the backfield, Ebert caught 102 passes for 1,052 yards and nine touchdowns. He finished with a career-best 36 catches and four touchdowns in 2008 and posted a career-best 400 receiving yards in 2007. 

WIDE RECEIVERS
Tyler Mazur, Class of 2013
    Tyler Mazur came to Lawrence as a quarterback and ended up being one of the top receivers in school history. A transfer who played three seasons with the Vikings, Mazur spent much of the 2010 season as the team's starting quarterback and completed 102-of-201 passes for 1,255 yards and 10 touchdowns. He moved to wide receiver full-time the next season and was simply spectacular. Teaming with quarterback Luke Barthelmess to form the league's top receiving threat, Mazur finished his career with 130 catches for 2,253 yards and 25 touchdowns. Despite playing just two-plus seasons as a receiver, Mazur ranks fifth in school history in catches, fourth in receiving yards and fifth in touchdown catches. Mazur also ran 104 times for 528 yards and 12 touchdowns. He ranks fifth in career scoring with 224 points and fourth with 37 touchdowns. A two-time All-Midwest Conference selection, Mazur also earned D3football.com All-West Region honors in 2012 and was chosen to play in the All-American Bowl, a Division III all-star game.

Zach Michael, Class of 2004
    Zach Michael came just a few blocks from Appleton East High School to attend Lawrence and became the latest Appleton native to carve out a spectacular career with the Vikings. A USA Football Freshmen All-American in 2000, Michael was a four-time All-Midwest Conference selection. Michael set Lawrence career records with 248 catches for 3,842 yards and 40 touchdowns, shattering the career TD record of his prep coach, All-American Pat Schwanke. Michael had a huge season in 2001 when he caught 77 passes for 1,207 yards and 11 touchdowns. Michael set Lawrence game records for catches and yards vs. Monmouth College when he grabbed 15 passes for 279 yards in 2001, and included in that total was a school-record 96-yard TD catch. Michael also set the Lawrence game record for touchdown catches, grabbing four TD passes against St. Norbert College in 2003. Michael also served as the team's primary punt returner and had 74 returns for 594 yards, an 8.0-yard average, and one touchdown. He finished third in school history with 250 points and 41 touchdowns. Michael was inducted into the Lawrence Hall of Fame in 2014.

TIGHT END
Chris McGinley, Class of 2003
    Chris McGinley had an interesting career in which he played three different positions, two on offense and one on defense, and was a key player on special teams. McGinley, who was imposing at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, started his career as a defensive end. After playing his rookie season on defense, he played tight end for the next two-plus seasons before being pressed into playing quarterback for half of the 2002 season. McGinley, who was a two-time All-Midwest Conference pick, finished with 69 catches for 830 yards and 11 touchdowns. His best receiving season came in 2001 when he caught 27 passes for 319 yards and six touchdowns. McGinley, also the team's long-snapper, had 19 catches for 202 yards and a TD in 2002 when he moved to quarterback for the final four games and completed 45-of-115 passes for 790 yards and six touchdowns.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Tony Bouressa, Class of 2004
    Tony Bouressa was a standout on the offensive line opening holes for Justin Berrens and earned All-Midwest Conference honors twice. Bouressa, a native of nearby Kaukauna and the son of Lawrence Hall of Famer Frank Bouressa, played tackle and was chosen for the all-conference team in 2002 and 2003. Bouressa started his career as a tight end and caught 14 passes for 143 yards as a rookie in 2000.

Gabe Baker, Class of 2020
    Gabe Baker was a stalwart on the offensive for three seasons before his career was cut short by injury. An offensive tackle, Baker was an All-Midwest Conference selection in 2018 and three-year starter for the Vikings. Baker was injured in the penultimate game of the 2018 season and didn't play in 2019 as a senior.

Mark Smrecek, Class of 2001
    Appleton native Mark Smrecek was always a part of Lawrence's offensive line during his four years with the Vikings. A stellar performer at guard and tackle, it is believed that Smrecek played every offensive snap from scrimmage, including a few at fullback, during his career. Smrecek also was pressed into action on defense in his final two seasons and would play several series on the defensive line in each game. Smrecek was a two-time USA Football All-American and a four-time All-Midwest Conference selection. Smrecek is one of just six Lawrence football players to be a four-time all-conference selection. Smrecek was inducted into the Lawrence Hall of Fame in 2013.

Jackson Straughan, Class of 2017
    Jackson Straughan played both offense and defense during his career and was a two-time All-Midwest Conference selection. Straughan played defense as a freshman before switching to offensive tackle where he was a first-team all-conference selection in 2015 and a second-team pick in 2016. 

Spencer Swick, Class of 2015
    Spencer Swick was another local player who became a star at Lawrence. A native of Kimberly, Swick earned All-Midwest Conference honors in 2014 and protected the back of quarterback Luke Barthelmess for several seasons. An athletic tackle, Swick also was also a top thrower for the Lawrence track and field team.

DEFENSIVE ENDS
Matt Frelich, Class of 2010
    Matt Frelich was a playmaker on defense and put together some record-setting tackle numbers. Frelich amassed 186 tackles and a school-record 38.0 tackles for loss to go with 19.0 sacks, which ranks third on the career list. A three-time All-Midwest Conference selection, Frelich had his most productive season as a senior in 2009 when he posted a career-high 74 tackles, including 14.5 TFLs and 6.0 sacks. Frelich also had a pair of interceptions and scored his lone career touchdown in 2009. Frelich also was a force on special teams as he set a Lawrence career record with seven blocked kicks.

Mike Gostisha, Class of 2010
    Mike Gostisha is one of two Gostishas on the team and the son of a Lawrence football standout, also Mike Gostisha, from the class of 1980. Gostisha earned All-Midwest Conference honors in 2009 after finishing his career 202 tackles, including 30.0 tackles for loss and 11.0 sacks. Gostisha had his best season as a senior in 2009 when he posted career highs with 67 tackles, 15.0 TFLs and 7.0 sacks. He also nabbed his only interception in 2009. The previous season, Gostisha had 66 tackles, 10.5 TFLs and 2.0 sacks.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES
Steve Heindl, Class of 2004
    Another of the many standouts from Kaukauna to play at Lawrence, Steve Hendl was a force in the middle of the defensive line. Heindl piled up 184 tackles and ranks third in Lawrence history with 36.0 tackles for loss to go with 5.0 sacks. An All-Midwest Conference pick in 2002, Heindl hit career highs with 63 tackles and 14.0 TFLs that season. Heindl also posted double-digit TFLs with 11.0 in 2001 as part of his 54-tackle total for the season.

Jeremy Reider, Class of 2009
    Jeremy Reider is another Appleton native who was a multi-sport star for the Vikings. In addition to being a three-time All-Midwest Conference selection for the football team, Reider was the team's heavyweight wrestler as well. An immovable force in the middle of the defensive line, Reider finished with 131 tackles, including 12.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. Reider, who was an all-conference pick in 2005, 2006 and 2007, posted his best season in 2006 with 38 tackles, 7.0 TFLs and 2.0 sacks. Reider missed the 2008 season but returned in 2009 and piled up 34 tackles as a senior.

LINEBACKERS
Jake Gostisha, Class of 2018
    Jake Gostisha is the younger half of the Gostisha brother combination to be selected. Gostisha took a roundabout route to being a star on defense for the Vikings. He came to Lawrence as a quarterback and played a bit of wide receiver before switching to defense. A three-time All-Midwest Conference selection, Gostisha finished with 293 tackles, the most by any player in the 2000s, including 25.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and six interceptions. Gostisha earned all-league honors in 2015 while playing defensive end and finished with 88 tackles, including 10.5 TFLs. He moved to linebacker for his final two seasons, picking up a career-high 107 tackles and five interceptions in 2016 and finished with 88 tackles and 7.5 TFLs as a senior in 2017. Also the team''s long snapper, Gostisha had a knack for catching passes on fake punts.    

Tyler Krzewina, Class of 2007
    Tyler Krzewina is another Kaukauna native who starred with the Vikings. A four-time All-Midwest Conference selection, Krzewina started his career as a cornerback, then moved to safety before settling in at linebacker. Krzewina piled up 256 tackles, including 23.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks for his career. He had a career-high 90 tackles in 2004 and a career-best 11.0 TFLs in 2006 when he earned first-team all-conference honors. Krzewina finished with 11 interceptions, including a career-high six in 2004.     

Scott Dummert, Class of 2002
    Scott Dummert was the prototypical linebacker in the early years of the 2000s, big, physical and a punishing tackler. Dummert earned All-Midwest Conference honors three times and finished with 273 tackles, including 22.0 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks, and five interceptions. Dummert finished his career with monster season in 2001 with 103 tackles, including 13.0 tackles for loss, four interceptions and seven passes defensed. Dummert's 103 tackles is the sixth-highest season total in school history. Dummert, whose 273 tackles ranks second among all players in the 2000s, was a second-team all-conference pick three straight years from 1999 through 2001.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Derek Micke, Class of 2009
    A multi-talented player who could have made this team on defense or offense, Micke was a three-time All-Midwest Conference selection. Another Kaukauna native, Micke finished with 68 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions and 30 passes defensed while playing cornerback. Micke posted career highs of four interceptions and 13 passes defensed in 2005. The Vikings started playing Micke both ways in the 2007 season and he finished with 71 catches as a wide receiver over his final two seasons for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns. Also an outstanding punt returner, Micke averaged 9.5 yards on 71 returns for his career and returned a punt for a touchdown against Grinnell College in 2006.

Terrell Myers, Class of 2020
    Terrell Myers proved to a be a great cover corner and a phenomenal kick returner for the Vikings. Myers' career was cut short by injury, but he grabbed first-team All-Midwest Conference honors as a sophomore in 2017 and wowed fans with his electric kick returns (more on that later). Myers collected four interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown against Presentation College in 2010, and 27 passes defensed in less than three seasons. He finished his career with 81 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Myers had a career-best three interceptions and a career-high 12 passes defensed in 2017 and posted a career-high 36 tackles in 2016.

Jeff Nichols, Class of 2011
    Jeff Nichols was a ball-hawking safety and prodigious tackler from his position as a safety. Nichols was a two-time All-Midwest Conference performer as a junior and senior and finished his career with 221 tackles, including 29.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. Nichols also had eight interceptions, four each in 2008 and 2009, and 25 passes defensed. Nichols had a big season as a senior in 2010 with a career-high 68 tackles, and he posted career highs of 9.5 TFLs in 2008 and 5.0 sacks in 2009.

Sam Wagner, Class of 2014
    Sam Wagner did just about everything for the Vikings during his career. An outstanding defensive back, Wagner also was an superlative return man and wide receiver. Wagner finished his defensive career with 172 tackles, including 10.0 tackles for loss, six interceptions and 29 passes defensed. Wagner piled up a career-high 89 tackles, including 8.0 TFLs, as a senior in 2013 and had a career-best 14 passes defensed in 2012. Wagner played both ways for multiple seasons and finished with 86 catches for 1,125 yards and five touchdowns. Wagner was the team's primary returner with 70 kickoff returns for an average of 21.6 yards and a touchdown, an 88-yarder against St. Scholastica in 2010. 

KICKER
Bryan Althouse, Class of 2008
    Bryan Althouse is one of the top kickers in Lawrence history. Althouse was the team's kicker for three seasons and converted 17-of-25 field goals for a 68 percent conversion rate. Althouse made a school-record four field goals against Illinois College in 2005 and hit on a career-best eight field goals in 2007. He made a career-long 37-yard field goal vs. Illinois College in 2005. Althouse connected on 59-of-67 PAT attempts and finished his career with 110 points. He also served as the team's punter in 2004 and averaged 34.0 yards per punt with a long of 55 yards.

PUNTER
Kyle Gauthier, Class of 2011
    Kyle Gauthier, yet another Kaukauna native to make the team, served as the team's punter for four seasons while also earning All-Midwest Conference honors as a defensive back. Gauthier was the team's punter while the Vikings employed the rugby-style punting, Gauthier averaged 33.1 yards on 166 punts and posted a career-long 59-yard punt in 2008. Gauthier was effective at pinning the opponents deep in their own territory as he dropped 41 punts inside the 20-yard line against just nine touchbacks in his career. Gauthier finished with 82 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, with eight interceptions and 28 passes defensed.         

RETURNERS
Adrell Bullock, Class of 2007
    Adrell Bullock was an outstanding return man and great running back for the Vikings. Bullock finished with a school-record 85 kickoff returns for an average of 19.1 yards. Bullock had a pair of returns of more than 40 yards in his career. Bullock also started in the backfield and ran 287 times for 1,491 yards and 17 touchdowns. Bullock, who averaged a school-record 8.4 yards per attempt in 2005, picked up 5.2 yards for his career.

Terrell Myers, Class of 2020
    Terrell Myers was a phenomenal returner to go along with being one of the Midwest Conference's top cornerbacks. While teams always avoided kicking the ball to Myers, he still managed to average a school-record 28.4 yards per kickoff return. Myers had his biggest season as a returner in 2016 when he averaged 32.6 yards per return and posted a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Illinois College. Myers, who had 30 returns for 851 yards for his career, also ripped off a 64-yard kickoff return against Lake Forest College in 2017.

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