3/17/2010 - FOOTBALL Wick extends his football career to professional ranks

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BEMIDJI, Minn. - Former Bemidji State University defensive tackle Bryan Wick has caught on with the Green Bay Blizzard of the Indoor Football League (IFL), managing to extend his football career to the professional ranks.

Wick, a First-Team North Division All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) selection last fall, anchored the 2009 ‘Gang Green’ defensive front with 18 tackles (5 solo) starting in all 11 games as the Beavers’ defensive tackle. Wick posted 3.0 tackles for loss and 1.5 quarterback sacks and was a key to BSU allowing just 81 rushing yards per game to consistently rank among the NCAA’s top 10 defenses.

The Blizzard, which is 1-1 on the season continues its 15-game regular-season slate Saturday when it hosts intrastate rival LaCrosse.  Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. at Online Trading Academy Field in the Resch Center.

The IFL consists of 25 teams located across the United States.  The 2010 season began February 26 and culminates in July with the United Bowl.

Bemidji State finished the 2009 campaign with an 8-3 overall record and a 7-3 mark in league play. With eight wins, BSU has now posted eight or more wins five times since head coach Jeff Tesch took the reigns of the program 14 years ago. In the 70 seasons prior to his arrival, Bemidji State recorded just one eight-win campaign.

Tesch returns 11 starters on the offensive side of the ball, which includes First-Team All-NSIC quarterback Derek Edholm (Sr., Anoka, Minn.) and eight starters on a defense led by Jordan Lardinois (Sr., DE, New Franken, Wis.) a First-Team All-NSIC defensive lineman.

--bsu--