College Achievers: Montini product lights it up on both ends of the court for IWU
Sawyer White’s career day led to national recognition.
In a battle of two Division III top-25 women’s basketball teams on Jan. 3, the Montini Catholic graduate sank eight 3-point baskets and scored 37 points to lead Illinois Wesleyan to an 85-52 win over Carroll College. At the time, Wesleyan was ranked No. 13 by D3Hoops.com, and Carroll was No. 14.
A senior guard from Downers Grove, White’s 37 points, on 13-of-19 shooting, were the most by a Titan woman since the 2020-21 season. Her 8 threes were the most at Illinois Wesleyan since 2008-09. White added 8 steals, 4 assists, and 3 rebounds.
White’s 8 steals vaulted her into the No. 1 spot all-time at Illinois Wesleyan, now with 305 entering Saturday’s game against North Park. A team co-captain, White previously set the Titans’ single-season steals record with 112 in the 2023-24 season.
Adding White’s 15 points, 6 assists and 3 steals in a 78-76 win over No. 22 Bethel to her numbers against Carroll, it equaled a place on the D3Hoops.com “Team of the Week” on Jan. 5.
On the same day, the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin named White its athlete of the week for women’s basketball. According to the CCIW, White is one of eight women across all NCAA divisions with more than 300 steals.
Football awards
Last Wednesday, North Central College senior defensive tackle John Sullivan (Lakes) was named D3Football.com defensive player of the year. The 6-foot-2, 270-pound consensus All-American made 73 tackles including 22 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 22 quarterback hurries and 8 pass breakups. As a junior Sullivan earned second-team D3Football All-America honors with 68 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks.
The D3Football.com All-America first team included Peter Johanik (Wheaton Academy), a senior defensive end at Wheaton College; and North Central senior kicker Aidan Ellison (Naperville Central). Johanik made 73 tackles, 23 for loss, with 14 sacks and 3 forced fumbles; Ellison delivered 36 touchbacks on kickoffs and made 15 of 17 field goals including a 57-yarder against Augustana.
University of Houston senior tight end Tanner Koziol (Lake Park) earned first-team Big 12 Conference honors by league coaches, second-team by The Associated Press. At 6-7 and 250 pounds, Koziol caught 74 passes for 727 yards and 6 touchdowns. Entering Friday’s FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) semifinal, Koziol’s 74 receptions were 19th in the nation and the most by a tight end. He scored on a tiebreaking, 7-yard catch just before halftime at the Texas Bowl, a game Houston eventually won 38-35 over Louisiana State. Playing his prior three seasons at Ball State, Koziol in 2024 set that program’s single-season and all-time records for receptions by a tight end.
And also …
North Central College football defensive coordinator Shane Dierking (Wheaton Warrenville South) was named FootballScoop’s coordinator of the year, which is voted upon by past winners of the award. Dierking led a unit that finished first in red zone defense and was tied for first in defensive touchdowns, second in scoring defense, and top-10 in allowing third down conversions and in blocked punts. In his eighth year as defensive coordinator, Dierking also won the coordinator award in 2022.
In another FootballScoop category, Georgia Southern University football chief of staff Matt Hassan (Glenbard West) was a finalist for FBS director of operations of the year. Since he started in his position in 2022 Georgia Southern has made four straight bowl appearances and this season won its first bowl game since 2020, beating Appalachian State in the Birmingham Bowl.