Eight Falcons have been named to 2009 All-WIAC football teams.

Tight end Ryan Hansen (Sr., Grantsburg, Wis.) and return specialist Greg Klingelhutz (So., Chanhassen, Minn. Holy Family HS) were both named to the first team.

Running back Taylor Edwards (So., Janesville, Wis. Park HS), linebacker Cole Lowell (Sr., White Bear Lake, Minn.) and cornerback Matt Guertin (So., Mounds View, Minn. Irondale HS) were all named to the second team.

Defensive tackle Mike Larson (Sr., Ashland, Wis.) and safety Ben Arata (Sr., Menomonee Falls, Wis.) both earned honorable mention.

Tight end Connor Graves (Sr., Grantsburg, Wis.) was named to the All-Sportsmanship team.

Hansen, 6-3, 210 pounds, was named to the second All-WIAC team in 2007. Hansen, one of the team's captains this year, tied for the team lead with 34 catches and three touchdowns. He had 414 reception yards and averaged 12.2 yards per catch. He had a long reception of 39 yards and started nine games. Hansen was named the team's offensive Player of the Week four times. He finished his career with 86 catches for 955 yards and 11 touchdowns. He averaged 11.1 yards per catch.

Klingelhutz, 5-9, 180 pounds, led the Falcons in kickoff returns with 29 and he averaged 23.7 yards per return. He scored one touchdown on an 86-yard return against UW-Platteville. He was named the WIAC's special teams Player of the Week for his game against UWP. In his two-year career he has returned 55 kickoffs for 1,206 yards and two touchdowns. He has averaged 21.9 yards per return.

Edwards, 6-1, 190 pounds, led the Falcons in rushing this year with 1,076 yards. He carried the ball 239 times and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. He had a long run of 43 yards. Edwards was named the WIAC offensive Player of the Week after he rushed for 246 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-27 win over Alma College. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry in that game and had a long run of 43 yards.

Lowell, 6-0, 210 pounds, was another one of the team's captains. He led the Falcons with 83 total tackles. He had 41 solo and 42 assisted tackles. He had six tackles for loss and intercepted one pass. Lowell also had one pass break up, one fumble recovery and one fumble forced. He finished his career with 93 solo and 163 total tackles. He had four pass break ups, two fumbles forced and two fumble recoveries. He was named the team's defensive Player of the Week three times during the 2009 season.

Guertin finished the 2009 season with 65 tackles, including 43 solo stops. He tied for the team lead with seven pass break ups. Guertin, 5-10, 180 pounds, started all 10 games, had one interception and was named the team's defensive Player of the Week once. In his two-year career he has 100 tackles, including 72 solos. He has broken up 12 passes and blocked one kick.

Larson led the Falcons with nine tackles for loss (-31 yards) this year. He also tied for the team lead with three sacks (-14 yards). He played in all 10 games and had 18 solo and 45 total tackles. He also forced one fumble. Larson, 5-11, 231 pounds, played and started all 40 games in his career at UWRF. He finished his career with 60 solo and 125 total tackles. He had 18 tackles for loss (-55 yards) and six sacks (-25 yards).

Arata, another team captain in 2009, tied for the team lead with seven passes broken up. He played and started in all 10 games and had 25 solo and 42 total tackles. He had 3.5 tackles for all (-4 yards) and he forced one fumble. He was named the team's defensive Player of the Week once in 2009. Arata, 5-11, 195 pounds, returned an interception 99-yards for a touchdown in the team's game against Alma College. He played in 39 career games and made 130 solo and 203 total tackles. He had 5.5 tackles for loss (-8 yards), broke up 19 passes, forced one fumble and recovered five fumbles.

Graves, 6-2, 220 pounds, was named to the WIAC All-Sportsmanship team. The All-Sportsmanship team is made up of players that displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. It included one member from each school as selected by that school. Graves, another one of the team's captains in 2009, caught two passes for 24 yards and one touchdown this year. In his career with the Falcons he caught 13 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

The Falcons finished the 2009 season 3-7 overall and 1-6 in WIAC play.

Season Stats
WIAC Site