NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) announced the 2025 all-conference team on Tuesday morning and North Park Football saw five players named to the end-of-the-season list.
Starting off, safety Ben Butler was named to the All-CCIW Defensive 1st Team for the second consecutive year. Butler has been a premier defensive back for the Vikings for multiple seasons and has consistently given opposing offenses fits with his ball-hawking skills and ability to fit the run and play the alleys in the run game. Butler totaled 44 tackles (33 solo, 11 assisted), 2 interceptions, a team high 5 pass break ups, and 1 fumble recovery.
Joining Butler with a 1st Team nod is receiver Jereme Ombogo, who was named to the All-CCIW 1st Team Specialists for his impact in the kick return game. Ombogo, an offensive 1st Team member last season, made his presence felt on special teams in a big way this season averaging the most yards per kickoff return in the CCIW with 29.27. He caught 15 kicks for 439 yards and a touchdown which he took back 97 yards, the second longest return by any player in the conference. He was also involved in returning punts this season as well, catching 8 kicks for 96 yards.
Kicking off the 2nd Team members is receiver Wesley McCloud, named to the All-CCIW Offensive 2nd Team for his second straight season. While the offense took a dip this season overall, McCloud was the constant for the Vikings providing a safety blanket for his quarterbacks. McCloud finished with 36 catches for 546 yards, both being team highs, and a touchdown. He averaged 54.6 yards per game and notched a 58 yard reception as his longest of the season. Though he wasn't named to a Specialist team, he too was an impact player in the return game logging 10 returns for 272 yards and a 95-yard touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Vikings had two players earn All-CCIW Defensive 2nd team honors -- first being linebacker Armando Martinez. Martinez, a sophomore, steadily made a name for himself this season as a guy with a nose for ball hovering around the top-10 in solo and total tackles across the whole conference. Replacing All-CCIW backers like Jaydin Miller and Egan Bender from a season ago is no small feat, and Martinez is on his way to being put in the same conversation as those guys. This season he had 70 total tackles, good for 8th in the conference and 41 solo tackles, good for 10th. He finished with 3.5 tackles for loss, 2 pass break ups, a quarterback hurry, and one fumble recovery.
Lastly, linebacker Theo Smith was named to his first All-CCIW Defensive 2nd Team, and rightfully so. He was the catalyst for disrupting backfields all season for North Park, leading all Vikings players in tackles for loss with 6.5 (12th in the CCIW) and sacks with 3, and he was second in quarterback hurries with 3 behind defensive lineman Dylan Hughes' 4. Smith had 36 total tackles (24 solo, 12 assisted), forced a fumble, recovered 2 fumbles, and blocked a punt this season.
Additionally, Issac Chandler was named North Park's representative for the CCIW's RESPECT Award.
RESPECT Award
At the conclusion of every sports season, each varsity program will recognize one student-athlete as their RESPECT Award honoree. RESPECT Award recipients have distinguished themselves as an integral member of the team, their institution and community by upholding the values of Responsibility, Enthusiasm, Service, Pride, Excellence, Collaboration and Trust. The RESPECT Award recognizes the intangible traits a student-athlete possesses that exemplify great character and encourages inclusiveness and a positive culture.
These six players and many more provided plenty of bright spots and great moments for the Vikings this season. Of these six, only Martinez will be returning next season for the Vikings as Butler, Chandler, Ombogo, McCloud, and Smith were all honored on Saturday's Senior Day. Congratulations to all five players announced to an All-CCIW team today, players who gave it their all this season and left it all out there on the field.
