Contact: Chassidy Holloway, Associate Executive Director, holloway@midwestconference.org
 
GRINNELL, Iowa – Illinois College’s Tyler Schiltz and Lake Forest College’s Rafael Bonilla-Climaco have been named the 2024 Midwest Conference (MWC) Men’s Soccer Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively. The seniors lead the men’s soccer postseason awards as First Team All-MWC selections.
 
In conference play, Schiltz led the league in shots with 27 over eight games, averaging 3.38 per game. He also led in goals scored with 9, including two game-winners, and finished with a league-best 21 points. Additionally, Schiltz recorded 13 shots on goal and three assists.
 
As a defender for the MWC Champion Foresters, Bonilla-Climaco anchored a defense that allowed a league-low 7 goals in MWC play.
 
Lake Forest College junior Gio Diaz was named MWC Men’s Soccer Newcomer of the Year. In his first season in the league, Diaz tied for the league lead in assists with six through eight MWC matches. He also scored three goals, averaging 1.5 points per game.
 
After leading their team to its second MWC regular-season title in three years and third consecutive MWC Tournament crown, the Lake Forest College coaching staff was named MWC Men’s Soccer Coaching Staff of the Year. The Foresters, led by ninth-year head coach Dan Andrews along with assistants Kyle Jones, Brad Ernest, and Sean Avila, finished 7-0-1 in the MWC and are currently 10-7-3 overall heading into the NCAA Tournament.
 
Beloit College was awarded the Team Sportsmanship Award for men’s soccer, recognizing the team that best exemplifies and upholds the sportsmanship ideals of the MWC. The Buccaneers are led by head coach Patrick Sanchez. 
 
Men’s soccer postseason awards are nominated and voted on by the league’s nine head coaches.
 
The full list of honorees is provided below.

2024 Midwest Conference Men's Soccer All-Conference
 
First Team
Attackers
George Archer, Cornell - Senior
Peter Cirbo, Lake Forest - Sophomore
Kestervens Dera, Knox - Sophomore
Dylan Maddux, Grinnell - Senior
Andre Robertson, Ripon - Junior
Tyler Schiltz, Illinois College – Senior
 
Defenders
Rafael Bonilla-Climaco, Lake Forest - Senior
Alexis Flores, Lake Forest - Junior
Jason Hernandez, Illinois College - Sophomore
Brock Kennell, Illinois College - Senior
 
Goalkeeper
Andrew Swacha, Lake Forest – Sophomore
 
Second Team
Attackers
Gio Diaz, Lake Forest - Junior
Nathan Kostovetsky, Lake Forest - Sophomore
Aidan Lerch, Cornell - Senior
Arito Nakamichi, Knox - Junior
Jacob Pelletier, Illinois College - Junior
Rodrigo Angulo, Lawrence - Senior
 
Defenders
Brett Klemes, Lake Forest - Junior
Evan Larson, Grinnell - Junior
Eric Rodriguez, Lake Forest - Senior
Zak Serby, Grinnell - Senior
 
Goalkeeper
Nicolas Lantzendorffer, Knox - 5th Year
 
Coaching Staff of the Year
Lake Forest College - Head Coach: Dan Andrews
 
Team Sportsmanship Award
Beloit College
 
Newcomer of the Year
Gio Diaz, Lake Forest
 
Defensive Player of the Year
Rafael Bonilla-Climaco, Lake Forest
 
Offensive Player of the Year
Tyler Schiltz, Illinois College