A Dozen Foresters Named All-Midwest Conference
A trio of seniors earn first team honors on defense

Michael Karner

Seniors Michael Karner (Winthrop Harbor, Ill./Zion Benton), Louis Bertuca (Chicago, Ill./Fenwick), and Keith Hanson (Fairfax, Va./Vermont Academy) were each named to the first team on defense. Karner recorded 22 tackles this season from his nose guard position, including 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. It was his first career all-conference selection. Bertuca, a second team all-conference linebacker the last two seasons and an honorable mention selection as a freshman, ranked fourth on the team with 56 tackles and led the squad with 9.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He is the program’s all-time leader with 50.0 career tackles for loss and ranks tied-for-third with 22.0 sacks. Hanson, who was also named to the first team last year, had four interceptions this season and 10 over the last two. The cornerback ranks third in team history with 12 interceptions in his career.

Freshman wide receiver Dan Carter (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator) and sophomore tackle Juan Martinez (Houston, Texas/Episcopal) were second team selections on offense and junior safety Ed Kidd (Round Lake, Ill./Buffalo Grove) was named to the second team on defense after being an honorable mention choice the last two years. Carter caught 36 passes, led the team with 740 receiving yards, and paced the entire league with 11 touchdowns. Martinez started every game and helped the Forester offense rank in the top half of the league. Kidd was fourth on the team with 51 tackles and tied Hanson for the team lead with four interceptions.

Senior wide receiver Lee Fabiatos (Hamburg, N.Y./Nichols School) caught 39 passes for 417 yards and three touchdowns and junior wideout Tom Cirone (Chicago, Ill./Niles Notre Dame) had a team-high 50 receptions for 546 yards and a score. Both were Honorable Mention All-MWC selection with junior tackle Tyler Johnston (O'Fallon, Mo./Fort Zumwalt West) on offense. Sophomore defensive lineman Chris Tossing (Lake St. Louis, Mo./Wentzville Holt), senior linebacker Kevin Carter (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator), and sophomore safety Matt Lawler (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) earned the award on defense. Tossing was sixth on the team and first among defensive linemen with 35 tackles. Carter moved from running back in the middle of the season and finished with 27 tackles and a pair of interceptions. Lawler finished second on the team with 60 tackles and also had two interceptions.

The 12 selections match the third-highest total in team history. Lake Forest won its final four games of the season to finish with an overall record of 5-5 and a 5-4 mark in MWC play.

Midwest Conference Release (pdf)