Filter, Strehlow, Wara Voted BSN All-Americans
Led by Nate Wara's (Sr. • Oshkosh) selection as the Offensive Player of the Year, UW-Oshkosh placed three players on the 2012 Beyond Sports Network NCAA Division III All-America Team.
Wara was one of two quarterbacks named to the first team. Center Ben Strehlow (Sr. • Brandon) was voted to the second team and cornerback Tim Filter (Sr. • New Berlin) to the third.
Linebacker Javicz Jones of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) was picked as the Defensive Player of the Year and returner Chris Denton of the University of Mount Union (Ohio) as the Special Teams Player of the Year.
The leader of UW-Oshkosh's offense, Wara totaled 4,051 yards and 40 touchdowns this season. He posted 3,311 yards with 30 scores while completing 65 percent (238-366) of his passes. Wara also rushed 185 times for 740 yards and 10 touchdowns. Ranking ninth in the nation, Wara posted a passer rating of 165.3. He threw just five interceptions, including a stretch of 192 passes without a pick.
In the season opener against Central College (Iowa), Wara passed for 275 yards and four touchdowns while running for 118 yards and two scores. He compiled a career-best 369 passing yards with four touchdowns as the Titans won at UW-La Crosse for the first time in 45 years.
Wara started all 44 games the past four years, leading UW-Oshkosh to a 28-16 record. He ranks second in WIAC history in total offense (11,202 yards), third in passer rating (147.8), fourth in touchdown passes (80) and fifth in completions (750). Wara finished with 8,881 passing yards, in addition to 2,321 yards and 23 touchdowns rushing. His rushing total ranks fifth in school history.
A starter in all 14 games, Strehlow anchored an offensive line that averaged 240 rushing and 240 passing yards per game. The Titans rank 14th in the country in total offense (480 yards) and 21st in scoring (37.5 points).
UW-Oshkosh surpassed 600 yards in four games this season and rushed for at least 250 yards in five contests. The Titans ran for 3,363 yards - a school record and the fifth-best mark in WIAC history.
Strehlow played in 33 games during his career, starting 14. He was named an Academic All-American earlier this month.
Filter leads the NCAA Division III with eight interceptions. He picked off a pass in six straight games, including two takeaways during the Titans' 28-13 victory at defending national champion UW-Whitewater. Filter ended the season with 44 tackles (35 solo), seven pass breakups and one forced fumble. He was a starter in all 14 games.
Filter helped UW-Oshkosh rank 20th in the country in scoring defense (15.8 points), 23rd in rush defense (99.1 yards) and 33rd in total defense (297.4 yards).
During his 34-game career (17 starts), Filter intercepted 10 passes and totaled 75 tackles.
Other players from Wisconsin on the All-America squad were punter Christian Hallingstad of UW-La Crosse, tight end Austin Goetsch of UW-Eau Claire, defensive end Josh Zank of Carroll University and safeties Jason Kramer of Wisconsin Lutheran College and Ryan Wenkman of UW-Whitewater. Hallingstad was named to the first team, while Goetsch, Zank, Kramer and Wenkman were voted to the third.
UW-Oshkosh finished the season with a 13-1 record. The Titans captured the WIAC title and advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division III Championship.