The Indians’ Garrett Lewicki did win a close vote for U.P. Defensive Player of the Year, while head coach Zach Clickner lost by a single ballot for U.P. Coach of the Year in Division 1.

Lewicki and Ishpeming’s Grady Gauthier were named to the All-U.P. Dream Team, while Munising’s Avery Murk and Brody Johns, along with Newberry’s Kadin Kellogg, made the First Team.

And there were two more area players, Ishpeming’s Josh Wojie and Newberry’s Logan Lusk, who were named Honorable Mention.

Lewicki, who was listed as both a “hybrid” defensive back and linebacker for the Indians, tied for the most votes when being elected to the All-U.P. Dream Team on the defensive line.

Ishpeming’s Grady Gauthier, center, breaks a tackle with teammate Josh Wojie following at left as Gauthier gets to the end zone for a touchdown in a high school football game played against Ontonagon at the Ishpeming Playgrounds on Aug. 29. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

The 6-foot, 180-pound senior was cited for making 100 tackles this season, 55 of them solo tackles and six for losses, while also having two fumble recoveries and a quarterback sack for 6-3 Newberry, which finished 3-3 in the East Division of the Great Lakes Eight Conference, tying for third place.

In balloting for top U.P. defensive player, he received seven votes, while Jason Graham of North Dickinson and Matthew Switzer of Bessemer-Gogebic each received five.

Graham was a top vote-getter at Dream Team linebacker, while Switzer actually matched Lewicki for the most votes for Dream Team D-line.

Clickner earned eight votes for U.P. Coach of the Year to nine for Norway’s Andy Mendina, who led the Knights to the Division 1 semifinals before bowing out in a tight 32-28 loss to Blanchard Montabella on Saturday.

Clickner was cited for deftly handling a difficult situation in Newberry, not playing several players as a team disciplinary move in the Indians’ final game of the season, a 26-8 loss to Rudyard that likely cost NHS a playoff spot.

The second-year head coach led Newberry to a big improvement over his 2-7 initial season.

Joining Lewicki on the All-U.P. Dream Team is Gauthier, a 5-5, 145-pound senior for the 2-7 Hematites who made the honor squad as a running back.

Gauthier earned 1,593 yards in 223 attempts, a 7.1-yard-per-carry average, scoring 18 touchdowns and a dozen 2-point conversions.

He also completed 7 of 17 passes for 132 yards, accumulating his statistics in just 6 1/2 games as he was knocked out for the season with a severe ankle sprain against St. Ignace on Oct. 11.

Named to the First Team in the Great Lakes Eight East, he was a team captain.

“He was our leader and the backbone of a Hematites team with just two seniors, carrying that on his small frame,” Ishpeming head coach Mike Lyman said in a statement supporting his nomination. “He has a great work ethic and reliability while running behind a young, inexperienced line.”

All three area players making the All-U.P. First Team did so on defense.

The Mustangs’ Murk, at 6-1 and 252 pounds, is a senior who was a unanimous pick on both sides of the ball for the First Team in the Great Lakes Eight East Conference despite Munising finishing 0-9.

His All-U.P. honor was on the D-line as he received the most votes for First Team. As a defensive tackle, Murk made 96 tackles, 40 solo and six for loss, while forcing three fumbles and picking up three QB sacks.

Teammate Johns, at 6-foot and 168 pounds, was All-U.P. First Team at linebacker, earning Second Team in the Great Lakes Eight at that position.

He had 118 tackles, 58 of them solo, with four fumble recoveries and an interception.

Newberry’s Kellogg is a 5-10, 170-pound senior.

Of the honorable mentions, Ishpeming’s Wojie is a 5-10, 175-pound senior who had 65 tackles, two QB sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He was nominated for All-U.P. at linebacker.

Newberry’s Logan Lusk is a junior who compiled 45 tackles, 18 of them solo and five for loss, while making two sacks and two fumble recoveries. He was All-U.P. nominated on the defensive line.

With the exception of Lewicki, Norway swept just about all of the top eight-player All-U.P. honors. The Knights were Division 1 Team of the Year, with North Dickinson earning that distinction in Division 2.

Norway senior Keith Burcar, 5-10 and 195 pounds, outballoted Bessemer-Gogebic’s Switzer for Mitchell Snyder Lineman of the Year, while Knights senior QB Owen Baij, 6-foot and 190 pounds, won both U.P. Offensive Player of the Year and Mr. Football.

The Nordics’ Mike Christian won by acclimation for Division 2 Coach of the Year.

Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee’s email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.