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Playoff teams also earn West PAC top awards

Ishpeming Hematite Gavin Sundberg takes the ball downfield during their game against the Gwinn Modeltowners on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018. (Journal photo by Trinity Carey)

NEGAUNEE — The area’s three high school football playoff teams — Ishpeming, Westwood and Gwinn — captured numerous special awards while garnering their fair share of all-conference nods when the West PAC announced honors this week.

Each eight-school group — the larger schools’ Copper Division and smaller schools’ Iron Division — released its own awards, not surprising in this oversized league of 16 teams.

The Hematites won three special awards, Westwood two and Gwinn one.

Ishpeming senior quarterback Gavin Sundberg was named Offensive Player of the Year in the Iron Division, while senior defensive end Logan Kruhlik became the Defensive Player of the Year.

And longtime mentor Jeff Olson was named Coach of the Year.

In addition, Hematites senior tight end Logan Kruhlik was runner-up for Lineman of the Year and senior defensive back Hunter Smith was second as Special Teams Player of the Year.

In the Copper Division, Westwood senior defensive end Sam Gilles double dipped as Lineman of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year.

Patriots senior quarterback-running back Nathan Beckman was second in voting for Offensive Player of the Year.

From Gwinn back in the Iron Division, offensive guard Ed Chapman was co-Lineman of the Year.

Also in the Iron Division, Munising senior Anthony Mattson was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year.

Iron Division

Ishpeming earned seven all-conference berths on offense and four on defense.

Sundberg earned the nod at QB, Kruhlik at tight end, Smith at wide receiver, senior teammate Drake Sundberg at fullback, junior Jake Kugler at center, junior Owen Morton at guard and senior Devin Nyman at tackle.

Defensively, Kruhlik won an all-conference honor at defensive end, Smith at defensive back, Drake Sundberg at inside linebacker and senior Matt Trawick at outside LB.

Gwinn had four make all-conference on offense and three on defense.

The Modeltowners’ Chapman earned the distinction at guard, senior Seth Aho at running back, senior Tucker Taylor at tight end and senior Mason Bockert at tackle.

Chapman was also all-conference on the defensive interior line, Taylor at outside linebacker and Aho at inside linebacker.

Munising had two all-conference players on each side of the ball.

Mattson was named as a tight end and senior Mason Scheiding at running back, while on defense, Mattson made it at inside linebacker and Schieding at defensive back.

The other Special Awards went to West Iron County’s Bryant Schram as co-Lineman of the Year and Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Carter Crouch as Special Teams Players of the Year.

Another runner-up for these awards was Norway’s Mitchell LeGrave for Offensive Player of the Year.

These are other all-conference honorees — LeGrave at running back, LL-H’s Kellen Klein at fullback, WIC’s Caden Pellizzer at wide receiver, Norway’s Zach Powell at tackle, Bark River-Harris’ Willy Schmitt at kicker, Norway’s Kody Hendricks at defensive end, WIC’s Bryant Schram and Cayne Rowell at defensive interior line, LL-H’s Ben Wilson and WIC’s Trey Bociek at inside LB, LL-H’s Crouch and WIC’s Zach Quintero at defensive back, and Crouch at punter.

Copper Division

Westwood had five all-conference honorees on both offense and defense.

On offense, Gilles was a unanimous pick at guard, Beckman unanimous at running back, senior Blake Hewitt at tackle, senior Jacob Adriano at tight end and senior Ashton Bergman at fullback.

Defensively for the Pats, Gilles was a unanimous pick at defensive end, Bergman unanimous at inside linebacker, Beckman at defensive back, senior Hayden Mann unanimous at defensive lineman and junior Erik Anderson at outside LB.

Negaunee had three all-conference picks on defense along with junior Erik Salminen at kicker. Also named were senior Brayden Velmer at defensive lineman, senior Alex Zampese at defensive end and junior Jason Waterman at defensive back.

Two L’Anse players made all-conference — junior Jonah Dowd a unanimous pick at running back and senior Reese Waara at kicker.

Calumet carted off all the Special Awards that Westwood didn’t claim, including senior Travis Ojala as Offensive Player of the Year, junior Nick Djerf as Special Teams Player of the Year and John Croze as Coach of the Year.

Copper Kings’ runners-up were senior Trevor Hendrickson at Defensive Player of the Year and senior Josh VanDenburg as Lineman of the Year.

Here are other all-conference honorees — Calumet’s Drew Bjorne as center, Calumet’s VanDenburg as guard, Calumet’s Alex Studebacker at tackle, Iron Mountain’s Charlie Gerhard at tight end, Hancock’s Austin Salani and Calumet’s Matt Ojala at receiver, Calumet’s Travis Ojala unanimously at running back, Calumet’s Brent Loukus at QB, Calumet’s Jayden Gariepy at defensive lineman, IM’s Gerhard and Calumet’s VanDenburg at defensive end, Calumet’s Travis Ojala at outside LB, Calumet’s Trevor Hendrickson unanimous and Houghton’s Ty Halonen at inside LB, Calumet’s Loukus and IM’s Marcus Johnson at defensive back and Calumet’s Travis Ojala and Gogebic’s Parker Wilson at punter.

Honorable mentions

Here are area players making honorable mention:

IRON DIVISION

Ishpeming —

senior Matt Trawick, running back; junior Ty Kauppinen, defensive line; senior Zach Jandreau, outside LB; junior Otto Swanson, inside LB; and Gavin Sundberg, defensive back.

Gwinn —

Bockert, defensive end; senior Chris Sirois, defensive line; and senior Austin Forbes, defensive back.

Munising —

senior Jesse Matson, wide receiver; senior Trevor Johnson, guard; and senior Dayne Murk, defensive line.

COPPER DIVISION

Westwood —

sophomore Garrett Mann, inside LB; and junior Chad Pohlman, defensive back

Negaunee —

Velmer, center; junior Leo Helppi, offensive tackle; junior Drew DuShane, receiver; senior Peyton Anderson, fullback; and junior Alex Munson, outside LB

L’Anse —

senior Max Ostermeyer, center; senior Devan Funke, defensive lineman; senior Alec Rajala, outside LB; senior Alec Sanregret, inside LB; and Waara, defensive back

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.

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