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December 4, 2012

Football award winners announced for 2012

Fifth year senior defensive end Pete Schimek was the winner of the Jerry Freck Award at the annual Augustana Football Banquet on Sunday, December 2.

For the second year in a row, junior linebacker Erik Westerberg (York HS, Elmhurst, Ill.) has been named the Most Valuable Player for the Augustana football team. The announcement was made on Sunday, December 2 at the Vikings’ annual football banquet, which was held in the College Center.

Westerberg was a repeat winner of the honor as he helped lead Augustana to a 5-5 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin, good enough for fourth place in the league standings. He was named the “Defensive Player of the Year” by the coaches in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin and he was a first team all-conference selection for the second year in a row. He led the CCIW in total tackles for the second straight season, finishing with 118 (66 solo and 52 assists). He ranks 14 th in the nation in NCAA Division III in both solo and total stops. His 14 tackles for loss also led the Vikings, while his four sacks were tied for second on the team. He became the first Augustana player to win CCIW “Player of the Year” honors since cornerback Tom Anthony in 2005. Westerberg also earned Capital One Academic All-America recognition by the College Sports Information Directors of America for the second consecutive year. He becomes the 141 st student-athlete in Augustana history to win the prestigious honor.

Senior linebacker J.D. Draminski (Kewanee Wethersfield HS, Kewanee, Ill.) was tabbed as the Most Valuable Defensive Player while junior running back Eric Chandler (Cary-Grove HS, Cary, Ill.) was the Most Valuable Offensive Player and senior Arnie Fitzwater (Union HS, Waterford, Wis.) was the Most Valuable Special Teams Performer.

Draminski was a second team all-conference selection at linebacker and was second on the Vikings in tackles with 64 (44 solo and 20 assists). He also had five tackles-for-loss and two quarterback sacks. He blocked two kicks, had two pass break-ups, one interception and a forced fumble. Chandler led Augustana in rushing with 718 yards on 115 attempts for an average of 6.2 yards per carry with a team high five touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. He was a second team all-conference pick. During the year he recorded the 10 th best single game rushing performance in Augustana history when he pounded North Park for 203 yards on October 20 in a 35-14 victory. Fitzwater punted 51 times for an average of 38.5 yards per kick and had three touchbacks, 12 fair-catches and 10 downed inside the 20. He also had five kicks of 50 yards or more. This is the second consecutive season that he has been named the Special Teams’ MVP.

Senior defensive end Pete Schimek (Benet Academy, Naperville, Ill.) was the winner of the Jerry Freck Award. Schimek, who battled injuries throughout his career, came back for a fifth year of eligibility and had three solo tackles. Schimek’s award is named for the late Jerry Freck, who was the Augustana team manager in the late 1970’s and it symbolizes the intangible concept of being a team player and contributing wherever possible to the success of the Vikings.

Sophomore Jon Losen (Morton HS, Morton, Ill.) was named the winner of the Scout Team Offensive MVP while sophomore Tom Enke (Millard West HS, Omaha, Neb.) was the Scout Team Defensive MVP

2012 AUGUSTANA VIKINGS FOOTBALL LETTERWINNERS

HEAD COACH: Rob Cushman

ASSISTANT COACHES: Zac Connors (quarterbacks), Jeff Lindmark (special teams coordinator/wide receivers), Dick Blair (tight ends), Aaron Call (defensive line), Dick Skillett (kickers), Anthony Scott (offensive line), Tom Casey (defensive coordinator), Garrett Riley (running backs), Drew Hawken (linebackers), Rob Erwin (defensive backs).