North Stars grad Nubin a Sporting News All-American
On Dec. 13, The Sporting News named Minnesota fifth-year defensive back Tyler Nubin (St. Charles North) a first-team All-American. Also a consensus first-team Big Ten selection this season, entering the Dec. 26 Quick Lane Bowl against Bowling Green, Nubin has made 53 tackles with 5 interceptions and 9 passes defended. A four-time Academic All-Big Ten player, Nubin owns Minnesota’s program record with 13 interceptions.
The week prior, Nubin earned second-team All-America honors from the Associated Press, Walter Camp Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America.
Tyler’s younger brother, Gophers redshirt sophomore running back Jordan Nubin (St. Charles North), earned “Who’s Hot” notice by the Maxwell Football Club after running for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns in a 27-12 win over Michigan State on Oct. 28. Entering the game with 6 carries on the season, Jordan Nubin produced the 28th most rushing yardage in Minnesota history.
From the same high school, North Central College senior soccer forward Sarah Andrey (St. Charles North) was named to the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III Scholar All-America first team after being a third-team pick in 2022. Andrey, a second-team USC All-America selection and first-team pick in the College Conference of Illinois-Wisconsin, scored 17 goals with 8 assists on the field. Off it, the sociology major has a 3.70 grade-point average. She helped the Cardinals (18-2-1, 8-0) to their best record, first conference sweep, first CCIW regular-season and tournament titles, and first NCAA tournament appearance.
Aurora University senior forward Enrique Gonzalez (Downers Grove South) was a United Soccer Coaches first-team Division III All-America selection. The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference offensive player of the year, a first for Aurora, in 21 games Gonzalez scored 22 goals with 6 assists, setting the school scoring record. Gonzalez was 8-for-8 on penalty kicks.
On the women’s side, Loras College senior forward Savannah Johnson (Wauconda) also earned USC first-team Division III All-America. She led her team and the American Rivers Conference in goals (24), assists (12) and points (60) and was named the A-R-C most valuable offensive player. She led the Duhawks to an 18-2-1 record and a third straight 8-0 conference record.
Missouri Valley Conference schools select 12 student-athletes for State Farm MVC Good Neighbor Awards three times annually, each sports season. The awards salute sportsmanship, academics and community service. For this fall sports season, honorees included Bradley redshirt sophomore soccer player Camden Kowalski (Mundelein). A four-time Dean’s List student, Kowalski is the soccer team’s representative on the Braves Council, has volunteered for charity auctions and telethons, coached youth soccer, aided hurricane relief efforts in Florida, and contributed to Mundelein High’s food drive.
On Oct. 21 at Southwest Baptist University’s home course in Bolivar, Missouri, the Lewis University women’s cross country team won its second straight Great Lakes Valley Conference title. Placing fourth overall was Flyers senior Caroline Pacer-Ryan (West Chicago). She finished her season ranked fifth all-time at Lewis over 6 kilometers after running 21 minutes, 2 seconds at the NCAA Division II Midwest regional Nov. 4 in Evansville, Indiana.
Though he’s a redshirt senior after spending four years at Eastern Illinois, on Nov. 20 Southern Illinois defensive end Tim Varga (Elk Grove) was named Missouri Valley Football Conference newcomer of the week. In a 38-9 win over Indiana State in Carbondale, Varga made 8 tackles, 3 for loss, with a strip sack. On the season Varga’s 5 sacks nearly equaled the 6 he had in 34 games at Eastern Illinois.
In a 24-0 win over Western Michigan at Huskie Stadium on Nov. 14, Northern Illinois freshman receiver Dane Pardridge (Aurora Christian) returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown. It was the Huskies’ first punt return touchdown in more than 14 years, since Oct. 24, 2009. For that, Pardridge earned Mid-American Conference West specialist of the week.