Dec. 2, 2006

DETROIT - The Wayne State University football team held its 2006 banquet on Saturday at The Detroit Yacht Club. Head coach Paul Winters concluded his third season by announcing several individual honors.

The Warriors recorded their first winning season on the field since 1993 and were twice regionally ranked.

Senior defensive end Chris Smilo (Canton, Mich./Plymouth Canton) won the 2006 Defensive Most Valuable Player award. He was named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention team after starting all 11 games. Smilo recorded 43 tackles which was tops among all WSU defensive linemen. He made a career-high 10 tackles in his final collegiate contest. For the season, he recorded 11 tackles for loss including 7 ½ sacks, which ranked third in the GLIAC. He also had six quarterback hurries and was named GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the win over Ashland where he had six total tackles including a sack, a pass break-up and three quarterback hurries.

Freshman running back Joique Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich.) was named the Offensive MVP after earning First Team All-Region accolades. The GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year, Bell set the NCAA Division II rushing record for a freshman by gaining 2,065 yards in 11 games becoming just the 14th player in NCAA Division II history to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. He was one of 24 national semifinalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy after earning GLIAC Freshman of the Year honors. Bell also broke the WSU single-season touchdown mark with 23 (22 rushing, 1 receiving). He finished the season with 2,462 all-purpose yards surpassing the previous WSU mark by over 300 yards. Bell was also featured in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" after rushing for 318 yards against Mercyhurst.

Junior place-kicker David Chudzinski (Belleville, Mich.) was named Special Teams MVP after playing in all 11 games. He was named to the Daktronics, Inc. All-Northwest Region First Team. The First Team All-GLIAC kicker, he set school records for field goals made in a season (14), extra points made in a season (33), consecutive extra points made in a season (33) and career (37), and kicking points scored in a season (75). He made 10 of 11 field goals inside 40 yards (only missed a 38-yard attempt), and was four of five from beyond 40 yards, including a 49-yarder vs. Hillsdale. Chudzinski had seven touchbacks on kickoffs and average opponent start after a WSU kickoff was its 25. He led all GLIAC kickers in scoring, field goals made and field goal percentage, and was 100% on PATs.

Redshirt senior safety Ryan Oshnock (Lakeview, Mich.) was presented the Randy Guzowski Award, which goes to the individual who has demonstrated team leadership and shown exemplary school and community citizenship. Randy Guzowski won three letters as a WSU football player and spent 15 years on the WSU Police Force. This is the third straight year Oshnock has won the Guzowski Award. He was also a national semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy which recognizes an individual as the absolute best in the country for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. Oshnock was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team for the second time in his career.

Senior wide receiver Jake Weingartz (Lapeer, Mich./East) was honored with the Ron Solack Memorial "35" Award. He was named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention team and was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Second Team. Despite being just 5-9 and 175 pounds, Weingartz finished sixth in the GLIAC in yards per catch. He led the squad in touchdown receptions while finishing second on the team in receptions and receiving yards. Weingartz placed third on the team in all-purpose yards. In 2006, he surpassed his receiving yards total from his first three years combined.

The WSU Offensive Rookie of the Year award went to Joique Bell.

Freshman Matt Shango (W. Bloomfield, Mich./Brother Rice) was selected as the Defensive Rookie of the Year. He appeared in all 11 games and made seven tackles.

Two awards were created in 2005 by the coaching staff. The Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes the football student-athlete with strong academic credentials, while the Ultimate Warrior is for the football student-athlete who did outstanding work in the weight room.

Redshirt junior tight end Dale Knuth (Canton, Mich./Dearborn Divine Child) earned the Scholar-Athlete Award. He has recorded at least a 3.5 term gpa in five of his six semesters at WSU including one 4.00 term while majoring in physical therapy. Knuth missed the final seven games of the 2005 campaign with a non-football injury, but through vigorous rehabilitation was able to play in the home finale against Ashland.

Senior defensive end Dan Barnes (Grand Ledge, Mich.) received the team's Ultimate Warrior award for outstanding work in the weight room. Wayne State's only current two-sport athlete, Barnes was also named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team for the second consecutive year in 2006. This past spring, he was named WSU's Top Pitcher and was selected to the All-GLIAC Second Team as well as being named to the GLIAC Baseball All-Academic team.