Hortonville players singled out
By Greg Seubert
Sam Dodd had some big shoes to fill replacing Kyle Allen as the Hortonville football team’s quarterback.
The junior found plenty of success on the field this season and has been named the Valley Football Association’s player of the year on offense.
He is one of several Polar Bears that received all-conference recognition from VFA coaches.
Joining Dodd on the first team are seniors TJ Payne and Parker Lawrence (wide receiver); junior Zach Roovers (defensive lineman); senior Ben Buelow (inside linebacker); and senior Chase Hughes (return specialist).
Hortonville players on the second team are junior Brady Mashlan (defensive end) and senior Francis O’Connor (safety).
The honorable mention team includes Roovers (offensive lineman); senior Evan Roach and junior Bodie Schanhofer (offensive lineman); sophomore August Maurer (defensive end); and Payne (cornerback).
The Polar Bears finished second in the VFA standings behind D.C. Everest with a 3-1 record.
Valley Football Association
All-Conference Football Teams
First Team
Offense
Quarterback: Sam Dodd*, junior, Hortonville.
Running back: Colton Geurink, junior, Wausau West; Ty Strehlow, junior, D.C. Everest.
Fullback/tight end: Jesse Rombalski, senior, D.C. Everest; Ean Marciniak, senior, Wausau West.
Wide receiver: Dylan Lisitza, senior, Wisconsin Rapids; TJ Payne, senior, Hortonville; Parker Lawrence, senior, Hortonville.
Lineman: Brendan Harder*, senior, D.C. Everest; Rames Frisch*, senior, D.C. Everest; Devin Dieringer*, senior, Marshfield; Logan Burish, junior, Wausau West; Luke Hafermann, junior, Wisconsin Rapids.
First Team
Defense
Lineman: Jack Davisson, senior, D.C. Everest; Trever Peterson, senior, Wausau West; Zach Roovers, junior, Hortonville.
End: Daveon Gillespie*, junior, Wausau West; Ethan Dagit, senior, Marshfield.
Inside linebacker: Orion Boe*, senior, D.C. Everest; Ben Buelow, senior, Hortonville.
Outside linebacker Max Buchholz*, junior, D.C. Everest; Wesley Schneider, senior, Wausau West; Freddy Lehrke, senior, D.C. Everest.
Cornerback: Alec Schuster*, junior, D.C. Everest; Parker Weik*, senior, Marshfield.
Safety: Owen Latendresse, senior, D.C. Everest; Jackson Schooley, junior, Wisconsin Rapids.
Kicker: Bryce Morris*, senior, D.C. Everest.
Punter: Dylan Lisitza*, senior, Wisconsin Rapids.
Return specialist: Chase Hughes, senior, Hortonville.
Second Team
Offense
Quarterback: Beau Svoke, junior, D.C. Everest.
Running back: Leo Brostowitz, sophomore, Wisconsin Rapids; Brock Babiash, junior, D.C. Everest.
Fullback/tight end: Simon Slade, senior, Marshfield; Brandt Rice, sophomore, Wausau West.
Wide receiver: Wyatt LeMoine, senior, Marshfield.
Lineman: Brennan Neitzel, senior, D.C. Everest; Jack Johnson, senior, D.C. Everest; Garrett Anderson, junior, Marshfield.
Second Team
Defense
Lineman: Zak Glamann, junior, Marshfield.
End: Kaden Kretlow, junior, D.C. Everest; Brady Mashlan, junior, Hortonville.
Inside linebacker: Jaden Wilhelm, senior, Marshfield; Keagan Christy, junior, Wisconsin Rapids.
Outside linebacker: Brenden Braund, senior, Marshfield.
Safety: Francis O’Connor, senior, Hortonville; Reed Napiwocki, junior, Wausau West.
Return specialist Ty Strehlow, junior, D.C. Everest.
Honorable Mention
Offense
Running back: Logan Durham, senior, Marshfield; Jack Ohrmundt, senior, Wausau East; Eric Haupt, junior, Wisconsin Rapids.
Fullback/tight end: Mac Lucas, senior, Wisconsin Rapids.
Wide receiver: Sam Moses, senior, Wausau East; Max Helke, senior, Wausau West.
Lineman: Zach Roovers, junior, Hortonville; Cayden Kershaw, sophomore, Wausau West; Evan Roach, senior, Hortonville; Bodie Schanhofer, junior, Hortonville; Gus Johnson, senior, D.C. Everest.
Honorable Mention
Defense
Lineman: Cole Gascoigne, senior, D.C. Everest; Athan Somers, junior, Wausau West.
End: Colton Bundy, senior, D.C. Everest; August Maurer, sophomore, Hortonville; Mason Mitchell, sophomore, Wisconsin Rapids.
Inside linebacker: Evan Gartzke, senior, D.C. Everest; Joe Berens, junior, Wausau West; Nathan Frost, senior, Wisconsin Rapids.
Cornerback: Jaiger Halvorson, senior, Marshfield; TJ Payne, senior, Hortonville.
Safety: Matt Donovan, senior, Marshfield; Demitrio Covarrubias, senior, D.C. Everest.
Kicker: Nick Raasch, senior, Wausau West.
Punter: Seth Peterson, senior, Marshfield.
Return specialist: Tanner Graham, senior, D.C. Everest; Noah Gnatz, senior, Wausau West.
* – Denotes unanimous selection.
Player of the Year: Sam Dodd, senior, Hortonville (offense); Orion Boe, senior, D.C. Everest (defense).
Coach of the Year: Tim Strehlow, D.C. Everest.