All-League football | Sawyer, Araiza voted to first team
Sylas Wright / Sierra Sun |
Eight Truckee football players were honored with selections to the Northern Division I-A All-League team, as decided by the league’s coaches.
Senior Tanner Sawyer and sophomore Jose Araiza led the way with selections to the first team. Sawyer was voted to the first team as a cornerback while also receiving honorable mention as a wide receiver. Araiza made the first team as both a kicker and punter.
Truckee sophomore Wulfe Retzlaff was voted to the second team at both running back and linebacker, senior Eli Delauney made the second team at safety, and junior Erik Swalander made the second team as an offensive lineman.
Gabe Deiro (running back), Jake Deis (offensive line) and Taylor Ludwig (defensive line) received honorable mention recognition.
Fallon’s Nathan Heck was voted league MVP. Fallon’s Joe Pyle and Lowry’s Beau Billingsley were Co-Offensive MVPs, Fallon’s Justin Hatfield was the Defensive MVP, and Elko’s Benton Wickersham was the Lineman of the Year. Brooke Hill of Fallon was voted Coach of the Year.
No Northern Division I-A team advanced past the state semifinal round. Fallon lost 16-0 to Desert Pines and Elko lost 40-7 to Moapa Valley, which went on to defeat Desert Pines 42-36 in overtime to claim the state championship. It was Moapa Valley’s first title since 2008, when the Pirates defeated Truckee before the Wolverines’ run of four consecutive championships.
Northern Division I-A All-League football
MVP: Nathan Heck, Fallon
Co-Offensive MVP: Joe Pyle, Fallon
Co-Offensive MVP: Beau Billingsley, Lowry
Defensive MVP: Justin Hatfield, Fallon
Lineman of the Year: Benton Wickersham, Elko
Coach of the Year: Brooke Hill, Fallon
First team offense
QB: Mason Cain, South Tahoe
QB: Kevin Montgomery, Fernley
RB: Braxton Williams, Spring Creek
RB: Brian Reyes, Fernley
RB: Jason Wilson, Elko
WR: Dylan Jabines, Fallon
WR: Chris Greco, Wooster
K: Jose Araiza, Truckee
TE: Nate Klekas, Elko
OL: Cody Stadtman, Fallon
OL: Tyler Roemer, Fernley
OL: Luis Cardenas, Lowry
OL: Cody Nielsen, Elko
OL: Jordan Walthers, Elko
P: Jose Araiza, Truckee
P: Shane Kelso, Fernley
First team defense
DL: Hunter Holcombe, Fallon
DL: Brandon Erickson, South Tahoe
DL: Tyler Roemer, Fernley
DL: Jacob Pengelly, Elko
LB: Riley Williams, Fallon
LB: Brian Reyes, Fernley
LB: Donovan Brumm, Lowry
LB: Jordan Walthers, Elko
CB: Tanner Sawyer, Truckee
CB: Eric Van Kirk, Elko
S: Shane Kelso, Fernley
S: Adam Bullock, Elko
Return Spec: Chris Greco, Wooster
Second team offense
QB: Hunter Triplett, Wooster
RB: Skyler Berntson, Dayton
RB: Wulfe Retzlaff, Truckee
RB: Donovan Brumm, Lowry
WR: Connor Richardson, Fallon
WR: Kirby David, South Tahoe
K: Will Mori, South Tahoe
TE: Garrett Naveran, Lowry
OL: Jesus Castaneda, Dayton
OL: Braxton Hunter, Fallon
OL: Erik Swalander, Truckee
OL: Danny Lopez, Spring Creek
OL: Felipe Moreno, Lowry
P: Kevin Montgomery, Fernley
Second team defense
DL: Jesus Castaneda, Dayton
DL: TJ Mauga, Fallon
DL: Kelvin Meza, Lowry
DL: LA Jones, Elko
LB: Jonathan Joyner, Dayton
LB: Wulfe Retzlaff, Truckee
LB: Thomas West, Spring Creek
LB: Cody Nelsen, Elko
LB: Tanner German, Fernley
CB: Skyler Berntson, Dayton
CB: Kenan McDonald, Fernley
S: Jon Anguiano, Sparks
S: Eli Delauney, Truckee
S: Kirby David, South Tahoe
Return Spec: Eric Van Kirk, Elko
Honorable mention (Truckee only)
WR: Tanner Sawyer, Truckee
OL: Jake Deis, Truckee
DL: Taylor Ludwig, Truckee
RB: Gabe Deiro, Truckee