Nine Crimson Wave sprint football players earn MSFL All-Conference honors

WHITING, Ind. – Calumet College of St. Joseph has nine representatives for the Midwest Spring Football League All-Conference team for the 2023 postseason. Six, first team all-conference honors in quarterback Nino Barbosa, running back Elijah Antis, defensive back Quindarius Davis, linebacker Trevor Busse, linebacker Alexander Dellaechaie and kicker/punter Jared Saez. Two second team all-conference players in wide receiver Jacob Oehman and defensive lineman Tony Madrueno, as well as an honorable mention with defensive back Daymon Johnson. 

Both Dellaechaie and Robinson Hale were both recognized as Captains of Character by the MSFL for the 2023 postseason as well.

Nino Barbosa (First Team All-Conference) – Nino Barbosa received MSFL postseason recognition for his play on the field at a multitude of positions. He started the final four games of the year for the Crimson Wave at the quarterback position. In his four starts, Barbosa completed 25 of his 53 pass attempts, which resulted in 401 passing yards and five touchdowns. From that quarterback slot, Barbosa had many opportunities to call his own option, which was also important to Calumet College's success late in the season. He ran 38 times for 229 yards and five touchdowns. One of Barbosa's best performances came in the championship game against St. Mary-of-the-Woods (11/18/23) when he completed 62 percent of his passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns. He also contributed on the ground in the championship game with 78 yards rushing on 15 attempts. Before his late season stretch at the quarterback position, Barbosa played six games as a defensive back recording 20 total tackles and two interceptions, one of which was a 48-yard return for a touchdown against St. Mary-of-the-Woods on October 16, 2023. He also was a punt returner in the first five games of the season, accumulating 163 yards on seven kick returns.

Elijah Antis (First Team All-Conference) – Elijah Antis led the Crimson Wave in rushing this season that helped Calumet College win the MSFL 2023 championship and help Antis earn first team all-conference recognition. Antis rushed for a team-high 412 yards and four touchdowns. Coming out of the backfield, he had six receptions for 43 yards. Within two seasons at CCSJ, Antis has improved in nearly every category from rush attempts, to rush yards, yards per carry and receptions. With more opportunities, Antis managed to have less turnovers and fumbles than he did his freshman year.

Quindarius Davis (First Team All-Conference) – Quindarius Davis led the Crimson Wave on defense this season with eight interceptions. His season total of 29 tackles and eight interceptions awarded him MSFL first team all-conference honors. Davis had four games with at least one interception, including a road game against Quincy (09/30/23) where he snatched three interceptions. In the two postseason games against Bellarmine (11/11/23) and St. Mary-of-the-Woods (11/18/23), Davis had three interceptions, two in the second half of the championship game. Throughout his two years with CCSJ, Davis had recorded 62 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and 11 interceptions.

Trevor Busse (First Team All-Conference) – Trevor Busse played in all eight games this season as a linebacker for the Crimson Wave and received MSFL postseason honors. Recognized as a first team all-conference representative, Busse posted a team-high 66 total tackles this season, at an average of 8.3 per game. He also recorded 2.5 sacks on the year, along with four forced fumbles and one interception. Busse showed why he was deserving of a first team selection in the MSFL championship game against St. Mary-of-the-Woods (11/18/23) as he forced the first turnover of the contest that ultimately led to the Crimson Wave scoring their first touchdown in the biggest game of the year.

Alexander Dellaechaie (First Team All-Conference) – Alexander Dellaechaie played in all eight games as a linebacker for the Crimson Wave and earned MSFL first team all-conference honors. Dellaechaie made 44 total tackles during the 2023 sprint football season, the second most tackles for a CCSJ player. Averaging 5.5 tackles per game, Dellaechaie also posted four sacks for 37 sack yards. He finished the season with the most tackles for loss at 15 for 60 yards. He also tied two other teammates, Tony Madreuno and Robinson Hale, for the most sacks this season at four. 

Jared Saez (First Team All-Conference) – Jared Saez played in each game this season for CCSJ and hit 89 percent of his extra points as well as 60 percent of his field goals to earn MSFL first team all-conference honors. The sophomore nailed six of his 10 field goal attempts and made 16 of his 18 extra point attempts. Responsible for 34 points this season, Saez rose to the occasion in the post season going 7-of-7 on extra points and sunk one of his two field goal attempts. Saez, who also punted for CCSJ, recorded 35 punts for an average of 33.7 yards per kick. His longest punt this season was 67 yards against Fontbonne (10/21/23) and his longest field goal this season was 38 yards against Fontbonne (10/21/23). 

Jacob Oehman (Second Team All-Conference) – Jacob Oehman earned MSFL second team all-conference honors for his freshman campaign with the Crimson Wave. Oehman posted five total tackles, all solo, and two fumble recoveries. He also had a tackle for a loss of 10 yards against Oakland City on October 7, 2023.

Tony Madrueno (Second Team All-Conference) – Whiting native Tony Madrueno played in all eight games his sophomore season with CCSJ and earned second team all-conference honors. He recorded 30 total tackles, 13 solo, for an average of 3.8 tackles per game. Madrueno also had four sacks this season for 24 yards and had an interception against Oakland City on October 7, 2023. Madrueno improved from his first season with the Crimson Wave posting 26 more tackles, 10 more than his freshman season that were for a loss. He also had three more sacks this year, along with his first college career interception.

Daymon Johnson (Honorable Mention) – Daymon Johnson played in seven games at defensive back for the Crimson Wave earning honorable mention honors in his second season at Calumet College. Johnson finished the season with 21 total tackles, two interceptions, one sack and two fumble recoveries.