Staff report
Eight players from Minster and three more from Anna were named to the first or second teams of the All-Midwest Athletic Conference football team, it was announced recently.
Anna had two players named first team, one second team, and four more to the honorable mention list.
Kain Luthman, a 6-foot-4 senior, was first team punter and first team at outside linebacker. He averaged 41 yards per punt this season.
Teammate Blake Stephens, also a senior, was first team at cornerback, and junior Colin Wuebker was second team at safety. They both had five interceptions this season.
Minster had five players named to the first team, including three on offense and two on defense.
On offense, senior Josh Nixon was the first-team selection at quarterback after throwing for over 2,000 yards during the regular season. Heading into tonight’s playoff game, he has thrown for 25 touchdowns and only seven interceptions in 289 attempts.
His favorite target, junior Bryce Schmiesing, was named at a receiver position. He goes into this week’s play with 59 receptions for 903 yards and seven touchdowns.
The third player named to the first team on offense is senior guard Josh Otting.
First team on defense are Evan Huelsman at linebacker and Jacob Dues at safety. Huelsman is Minster’s leading tackler at 99 currently, and he also leads in sacks with 6.5 and in tackles-for-loss with 8.5.
Dues has 63 tackles and four interceptions. Dues was also named to the second team on offense at receiver thanks to his 56 catches for 888 yards.
Also named to the second team on offense is Jason Schultz, the placekicker. He is 3-for-4 on field goal attempts this season and 29-for-31 on extra-point kicks.
Huelsman was named second team at running back. He currently has 915 yards rushing on the season.
Second-team defensive selections include Otting at defensive end, Peter Ranly at inside linebacker and Jared Thobe at outside linebacker. Thobe is second on the team in tackles with 84 and has 7.5 tackles-for-loss. Ranly has 72 tackles and 4.5 tackles-for-loss, and Otting has 37 tackles, 4.5 quarterback sacks, and 7.5 tackles-for-loss.
Versailles had one player named first-team offense in senior running back Collin Peters. Kyle Gigandet, a senior, was named second team offense at guard.
All-MAC football
County/area selections
FIRST TEAM
Offense
Receivers — Hunter Wilker, senior, Marion Local; Bryce Schmeising, junior, Minster.
Punter — Kain Luthman, senior, Anna
Center — John Schwieterman, senior, Marion Local
Guard — Josh Otting, senior, Minster
Tackles — John Dirksen, sophomore, Marion Local
Quarterback — Josh Nixon, senior, Minster
Running back — Aaron Nietfeld, senior, Marion Local; Collin Pedters, senior, Versailles
Defense
Inside linebacker — Evan Huelsman, senior, Minster
Outside linebacker — Kain Luthman, senior, Anna; Cole Unrast, junior, Marion Local
Cornerback — Blake Stephens, senior, Anna
Safety — Jacob Dues, senior, Minster
SECOND TEAM
Offense
End — Derek Albers, senior, Marion Local
Receivers — Jacob Dues, senior, Minster
Kicker —Jason Schultz, senior, Minster
Guards — Luke Moorman, junior, Marion Local; Kyle Gigandet, senior, Versailles
Running back — Evan Huelsman, senior, Minster
Defense
Ends — Jon Knapschaefer, junior, Marion Local; Josh Oting, senior, Minster
Linemen — Dylan Keller, junior, Marion Local
Inside linebacker — Joe Wuebker, senior, Marion Local; Peter Ranly, senior, Minster
Outside linebacker — Jared Thobe, senior, Minsgter
Safeties — Colin Wuebker, junior, Anna; Kyle Homan, senior, Marion Local
HONORABLE MENTION
Anna — Wyatt Bensman, Ethan Burd, Carter Huelskamp, Nathan Stiefel.
Marion Local — Cole Griesdorn, Matt Kahlig, Duane Leugers, Ryan Thobe, Joe Wuebker
Minster — Jarod Huelsman, Johnny Niemeyer
New Bremen — Deion Hoehe, Greg Parker
Versailles — Corey Dieringer, Eric Knapke, Adam Lyons, Gavin Mills, Jonny Moorman, Kurtis Rutschilling, Denver Toner.
