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Football

First-Teamer Taraboi Highlights All-WIAC Selections

UW-Oshkosh linebacker James Taraboi (Sr. • Grafton) wrapped up his spectacular football season by receiving All-WIAC first team honors.

The Titans also had guard Alex Mueske (Jr. • Merrill) earn second team honors, while tackle John Nicholas (So. • Oneida) and cornerback Nate Heard (Sr. • Grafton) received honorable mention status.

Taraboi, who was an all-league second-team performer last year, topped all of the NCAA Division III in total tackles per game (14.5) and solo stops per contest (9.5). His 145 tackles this season marked the second-best total in UW-Oshkosh history. Taraboi forced a league-high three fumbles for the Titans' defense, which totaled 22 takeaways this year. He also listed third in the WIAC with 15 tackles for loss and accumulated four sacks, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

Starting all 10 games, Taraboi posted at least nine tackles in every contest. He racked up 13 or more stops in each of the final eight games, including a career-best 21 against Ohio Dominican University. During a win over UW-Platteville, Taraboi tallied 13 solo stops and 16 tackles, including one sack. He also forced a pair of fumbles and intercepted a pass in the Titans' victory against Huntingdon College.

Taraboi concludes his UW-Oshkosh career with 268 tackles, including 167 solo, while starting 19 games and playing in 35. He also owns totals of 27 tackles for loss, nine sacks and three interceptions. During 2008, Taraboi started all nine games and led the Titans with 73 tackles. As the team's kicker, he booted the game-winning field goal with no time remaining at Ohio Dominican University. Taraboi marked 46 tackles in 2007 and four stops during 2006.

Mueske and Nicholas anchored an offensive line that rushed for 177 yards per game to list fourth in the WIAC. UW-Oshkosh averaged 400 total yards to rank third in the league, while the team posted a +6 turnover margin to top the conference. Mueske started all 10 games this year, while Nicholas started the final eight.

Picking up honorable mention recognition for the second straight year, Heard started all nine games he saw action in. He led the WIAC with 16 passes defended while also recording 29 tackles. Heard intercepted four passes, the fourth-best total in the league, including one he returned 25 yards for a score during a win over UW-Platteville. Heard now has 83 tackles, nine interceptions, 38 pass breakups and three defensive touchdowns in 28 career games.

League champion UW-Whitewater paced the offensive first team with seven selections, including Player of the Year Jeff Donovan. The Warhawks also owned three members of the defensive first team, as did UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point. Lance Leipold of UW-Whitewater won the George Chryst Coach of the Year award. The All-Sportsmanship Team contained eight players, including the Titans' Justin Budiac (So. • Mukwonago).