Tommies fifth in preseason Top 25

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<p>The Tommies celebrate after running back Colin Tobin scores the first points of the game. In the second quarter Bethel answers to bring the game to 7-6 at the half. (John Kruger/TommieMedia)</p>
The Tommies celebrate after running back Colin Tobin scored in the first half Oct. 23 against Bethel, a key victory in St. Thomas' 12-1 season. (John Kruger/TommieMedia)

St. Thomas is ranked fifth in the 2011 D3Football.com top 25 preseason poll. The Tommies are one of five schools to have been ranked in the top 10 for the past 18  polls.

Wisconsin-Whitewater, Mount Union, Wesley and North Central (Ill.) hold the top four spots. Bethel (7) and St. John’s (25) give the MIAC three schools in the rankings.

St. Thomas will be led into the 2011 season by two preseason All-America selections, senior wide receiver Fritz Waldvogel and senior offensive tackle Chad Vandergriff. They are among 28 members of the D3Classic.com 2011 Preseason All-America team.

St. Thomas starts practice Aug. 15 and opens its season at home Sept. 3 against St. Norbert.

THE POLL

School (first-place votes), 2010 record, 2010 final ranking

  1. Wisconsin-Whitewater (19), 15-0, 1
  2. Mount Union (6), 14-1, 2
  3. Wesley, 12-1, 4
  4. North Central (Ill.), 12-1, 3
  5. St. Thomas, 12-1, 7
  6. Mary Hardin-Baylor, 12-1, 5
  7. Bethel, 12-2, 6
  8. Wheaton (Ill.), 10-2, 11
  9. Linfield, 9-2, 9
  10. Coe, 9-2, 14
  11. Thomas More, 11-1, 15
  12. Montclair State, 10-2, 19
  13. Cortland State, 10-2, 18
  14. Ohio Northern, 10-2, 8
  15. Wartburg, 10-1, 12
  16. Hardin-Simmons, 8-2, 24
  17. Cal Lutheran, 8-2, 21
  18. Alfred, 10-3, 13
  19. Wabash, 8-2, —
  20. Wittenberg, 10-1, 17
  21. Trine, 11-1, 10
  22. Rowan, 9-1, 23
  23. Wisconsin-Stevens Point, 7-3, —
  24. Franklin, 9-2, 22
  25. St. John’s, 7-3, —

Others receiving votes: Delaware Valley 76, Hampden-Sydney 73, Central 64, Pacific Lutheran 62, Salisbury 55, Baldwin-Wallace 45, Springfield 29, Redlands 24, Bridgewater (Va.) 22, Johns Hopkins 16, Willamette 15, Louisiana College 13, Monmouth 10, St. John Fisher 9, Christopher Newport 9, Washington and Jefferson 6, DePauw 5, McMurry 3, Washington and Lee 3, Lebanon Valley 2, Wisconsin-Oshkosh 2, Millsaps 1, Wisconsin-Stout 1, Williams 1.

The D3football.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and media members from across the country.