FZN Senior Nate Rapplean recently committed to play football at Illinois Wesleyan University located in Bloomington, Illinois. Rapplean captained an FZN squad that went 11 – 2 last fall, capturing their 7th consecutive conference and district titles while advancing to the state semi-final round. A mainstay in the Panther line-up on the offensive side (3-year starter) of the ball, Rapplean wrapped up his high school career as a two-way player earning “All-Conference” lineman status on both sides of the ball. For his efforts, Rapplean was selected as the GAC Central “Player of the Year.” It is the first time the honor was bestowed on a lineman. In addition, Rapplean was placed on the Missouri Football Coaches Association 2nd team “All-State” squad, while earning 1st team “All-State” honors from the Missouri media poll. With a GPA above a 3.25, Rapplean was a 3-year member of the conference “All-Academic” team.
Illinois Wesleyan is a NCAA Division 3 school that competes in athletics as a member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). The football program, which uses the moniker the Titians, did not play a schedule in the fall of 2020 due to COVID. In 2019 the Titians finished the season with a 6 – 4 mark. At IWU Rapplean plans on studying business.