UMD Athletics

AS BULLDOG:
2016:  Became a full-time starter and continued to be a disruptive defensive force for the Bulldogs ... was shelved for the final two contests ot the year with a lower body injury, but still managed to pile up the sixth-highest tackle total on the team (a career-best 36 stops) ... also had two interceptions  -- the first two of his career -- with both coming at home in wins over Winona State and Minnesota State-Moorhead ... qualified for the NSIC All-Academic Team.
2015: Shouldered a more prominent role in the UMD secondary ... occupied ninth place on the Bulldog defensive charts, making 32 total tackles, including 21 solo takedowns .... also had six pass breakups, the second most on the club ... was credited with a career-high eight total tackles on the night he made his lone collegiate start (Wayne State on Sept. 12) ... wore No. 25 ... was a NSIC All-Academic Team honoree.
2014: Relieved Hunter Malberg at the strong safety position and was called into action in all 14 games ... also racked up plenty of miles, so to speak, on UMD's No. 1 kick return unit ... was in on 14 total tackles (six solos and eight assists) to go with three pass breakups ... all but one of those 14 stops were recorded at Malosky Stadium.
2013: Was redshirted as a first-year freshman.
BEFORE UMD: Started a pair of years (2011 and 2012) for a dominating West De Pere team which captured a pair of Wisconsin Division 3 championships and four Bay Conference crowns while piecing together a 39-game winning streak at one point ... captained the Phantoms as senior ... was selected to the Associated Press All-State second team that year ... exited the the prep ranks owning a share of the school single-season record for interceptions .... played under head coach Bill Turnquist … also  participated in basketball (point guard) and track and field (sprinter and triple jump) at De Pere High School.
PERSONAL: Is the son of Ken and Lori Wirtz ... is majoring in teaching chemistry at UMD.
COLLEGIATE HIGHS: Total Tackles - 8 vs. Wayne State (9/12/15). Tackles for a Loss - 1.0 (2 Times). Interceptions - 1 (2 Times). Pass Breakups - 2  (2 Times).