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| Joe Tinucci wrapped up the MVP Award |
Posted December 14, 2008
Linebacker Joe Tinucci, who led the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in tackles, earned the UW-Platteville Most Valuable Player Award. He was honored Sunday at the team's year-end banquet.
Tinucci, a senior from Willowbrook, Ill. (Hinsdale Central) made 57 solo and 38 assisted tackles during the year. He had 10 or more tackles three times and at least seven in every game. Tinucci recorded a career-best 16 tackles in a 13-9 win over Augustana (Ill.). He earned second team all-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference honors for his season.
Nick Grosso earned Offensive MVP, and David Akey was the Defensive MVP, while George Katze earned the Special Teams MVP. Grosso, a senior wide receiver from Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley), caught 50 passes for 641 yards and four touchdowns, ranking sixth in the WIAC and good for second team all-conference. Akey, a senior defensive end from Merrill, Wis. became the first Pioneer defender in 13 years to earn back-to-back first team all-WIAC honors. He made 65 tackles, second on the team, including a team-high 12 for losses. He had 6.5 quarterback sacks this season. Katze, a junior defensive back from Friesland, Wis. (Cambria-Friesland), made 10 tackles, including nine solo stops. He earned the WIAC Special Teams Player of the Week award after a four-tackle performance at UW-Oshkosh.
The Pioneers were 4-6 during the 2008 season and achieved defensive history when they recorded their first consecutive shutouts in league play since 1950. UWP blanked UW-River Falls 7-0 Nov. 1 and UW-Oshkosh 28-0 a week later. They also held eventual league champion UW-Stevens Point to a field goal in a 3-0 loss.
The full list of Award Winners were: