Ishpeming's Grady Gauthier, with ball at center, keeps his balance to gain several yards during a Great Lakes Eight East Conference game played against Munising at the Ishpeming Playgrounds field on Sept. 20. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

NEWBERRY — The Ishpeming, Munising and Newberry football teams shared almost equally in postseason honors made recently by the East Division of the Great Lakes 8 Conference.

Each of those three area schools had a player named to the First Team at both an offensive and defensive position, while each also had two players named Honorable Mention.

The only difference was that Newberry had two players make the Second Team for a total of three berths on that unit, while the Hematites and Mustangs had one player apiece.

Senior Grady Gauthier of Ishpeming was named to the First Team as a running back after he gained nearly 1,600 yards on the ground this season, scoring 18 touchdowns.

And he was also named as a defensive back after making four interceptions and recovering two fumbles, also forcing a fumble, making a quarterback sack and totaling 56 tackles.

A Munising senior, Avery Murk, was another two-time First Teamer.

As an offensive lineman, he was a unanimous choice, then as a defensive back, he was noted for forcing three fumbles, making six tackles for loss, recording three QB sacks and making 96 total tackles, 40 of them solo tackles.

Newberry’s Garret Lewicki also gained berths on the First Team twice, making it as a “hybrid” skill player on offense, then as an end on defense. Statistics for Newberry players weren’t available.

On the Second Team, Newberry’s Matthew Luebkert was chosen both as a running back and as a kicker, while teammate Kadin Kellogg made it as a hybrid.

Ishpeming senior Josh Wojie also made the Second Team at linebacker after he made two fumble recoveries and also forced two fumbles, adding in two QB sacks and 65 tackles overall.

Munising senior Brody Johns got to the Second Team as a linebacker. He had four fumble recoveries and an interception, making 118 total tackles, 58 of them solo.

For Honorable Mention, the Hematites’ Davis Hyatt made it on the defensive line and Xavier Bannister on the offensive line.

Munising’s Dylan Adkinson was HM as a wide receiver, as was teammate Ethan Petersen as a defensive end.

And from Newberry, HMs went to Luke Luebkert at linebacker and Logan Lusk on the offensive line.

Norway won three of the four major awards — Owen Baij was named Offensive Player of the Year and Andy Mendina the Coach of the Year, while the Knights earned Team of the Year.

The other special award went to Pickford’s Caden Chromy as Defensive Player of the Year.

Here are the other honorees, listed with school and position:

First Team — Cadin Lester, St. Ignace, quarterback; Gunner Bennin, Pickford, running back; Evan Arnold, St. Ignace, wide receiver; Kaleb LaPine, Norway, offensive hybrid; Keith Burcar, Norway, offensive line; Caleb Stocker, Rudyard, OL; Josh Schiltz, Norway, defensive end; Keith Burcar, Norway, defensive tackle; Landon Roos, Norway, linebacker; Kaden Wiltfong, Pickford, LB; Elliot Kraemer, Norway, defensive back; Gunner Bennin, Pickford, DB; Cameron Varta, Norway, defensive hybrid; Steven Kirschner, Rudyard, kicker; Cameron Varta, Norway, punter; Gunner Bennin, Pickford, returner

Second Team — Kyle Postma, Rudyard, QB; Josh Schiltz, Norway, RB; Cole Fettig, St. Ignace, WR; Jaxon Clark, Rudyard, WR; Cameron Varta, Norway, WR; Kaden Wiltfong, Pickford, offensive hybrid; Caden Chromy, Pickford, OL; Dylan Sheppard, St. Ignace, OL; Landon Ross, Norway, OL; Carter Rye, Pickford, DE; Kyle Postma, Rudyard, DE; Cam Rau, Rudyard, DT; Jonas Rivers, Pickford, DT; Jaxson Clark, Rudyard, DB; Colt Fettig, St. Ignace, DB; Mason Andrzejak, Pickford, punter; Jaxson Clark, Rudyard, returner

Honorable Mention — Chase Seelye, St. Ignace, RB; Sully Smith, St. Ignace, DL; Chase Moraska, Norway, OL; Caleb LaPine, Norway, DB; Levi Mayer, Rudyard, OL; Ty LaLone, Rudyard, DB; Jonas Rivers, Pickford, OL; Ethan Caldwell, Pickford, DE

Story contents based on email received from Dan Hardenbrook of the Newberry News. Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.