Sixteen Eureka Football Players Named NACC Scholar-Athletes

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference recognized 16 Eureka College football players as scholar-athletes for the 2022-23 academic year on Wednesday.

The Red Devils' NACC Scholar-Athletes included Steven Bartkus (Seneca, Ill./Seneca), Brendan Durr (Washington, Ill./Washington), Hugo Garza (Arcola, Ill./Arcola), Carson Gregory (Pekin, Ill./Pekin), Austin Hopkins (Arcola, Ill./Arcola), Xander Hutchcraft (Bement, Ill./Bement), Gabe Newlin (Covington, Ind./Covington), Wyatt Perkins (Trivoli, Ill./Farmington Central), Bryson Smith (Cisco, Ill./Monticello), Ethan Sramek (Peru, Ill./St. Bede Academy), Austin Swan (Hopedale, Ill./Olympia), Austin Swiech (Fairbury, Ill./Prairie Central), Gabe Townsend (Winamac, Ind./Winamac), Garrett Wayne (Clinton, Ill./Clinton), Chris Woods (Avon, Ill./Abingdon-Avon) and Ben Wright (Bloomington, Ill./Bloomington).

The NACC recognized more than 2,600 full-time student-athletes as scholar-athletes for the 2022-23 academic year. Student-athletes competing in the conference must maintain a grade point average of 3:25 or higher for the academic year to be eligible for the honor. Each academic year stands by itself for determination of this award.

Eureka is an associate member of the NACC and competes in the conference in football only. This is the second straight year that the Red Devils have had 15 or more honorees.

Bartkus, the Red Devils' starting kicker last season, is studying middle grades for a teacher's license. Durr, a senior linebacker and defensive leader last season, graduated with a degree in digital media and design last December, but he will be back for a fifth year of eligibility this fall. Garza, a junior kinesiology major, was a starting offensive lineman for the maroon and gold last season. Gregory, a junior defensive lineman last season, is a psychology major.

Hopkins, a key junior linebacker last season, is a business administration and environmental science major. Hutchcraft, a freshman offensive lineman last season, is studying secondary education for a teacher's license with an emphasis on history/political science. Newlin, a wide receiver/tight end last year, graduated with a degree in environmental science last December. Perkins, a sophomore linebacker last season, is majoring in business administration.

Smith, a fifth-year senior and starting defensive lineman last season, graduated with a degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise science last December. Sramek, a freshman linebacker/defensive lineman last season, is a kinesiology-exercise science major. Swan, a freshman defensive linemen last season, is studying sports management, and Swiech, a sophomore wide receiver last season, is a kinesiology-athletic training major.

Townsend, a junior running back last season, is an accounting major. Wayne, a junior defensive back last fall, is a chemistry major. Woods, a freshman linebacker in his first season as a Red Devil, is studying accounting, while Wright, a senior defensive lineman in his last season in maroon and gold, graduated with a degree in communication in May.

Durr, who was recently selected to the National Football Foundation's Hampshire Honor Society, is Eureka's second-ever four-time NACC All-Academic honoree.

Gregory, Hopkins, Townsend and Wayne became three-time honorees, while Garza, Bartkus, Perkins, Swiech and Wright were honored for the second time.