Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324
Story written by secondary contact Alex Mielcarz, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, ajmielcarz@noctrl.edu
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Nov. 10, 2025) - The College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin selected Thomas Skokna as its Special Teams Player of the Week after his 79-yard punt return touchdown in North Central's 58-point shutout of Elmhurst University this past weekend.
This is Skokna's third conference recognition of the season and his career. He's been tabbed as the CCIW Offensive Player of the Week twice this season, but this week marks his first special teams award.
Late in the first quarter, Skokna watched the punt fly over his head and watched it take a high bounce on the Elmhurst turf. Skokna, running towards his own goal line, fielded the punt, turned 180 degrees and followed a legion of Cardinal blockers to the endzone for the seventh-longest punt return in program history.
Skokna scored three total touchdowns in the contest, with receptions of 40 yards and three yards, respectively. He finished with three receptions for 56 yards and ended the afternoon with 135 all-purpose yards.
On six punt returns this year, Skokna has accumulated 139 yards and a touchdown, averaging just over 23 yards per return.
The Cardinals are back in Naperville on Saturday after a two-week hiatus, hosting Illinois Wesleyan for senior day and the regular season finale. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. inside Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium. The Cardinals have beaten the Titans in their last 14 matchups dating back to 2009, and 20 of the last 21 dating back to 2003.
