Marshfield football dominates first-team selections on 2018 VFA West All-Conference Team

By Paul Lecker
For focusonmarshfield.com

Marshfield quarterback Ryan Krueger was named Offensive Player of the Year, tackle Brody Anderson was picked as Offensive Lineman of the Year, and safety Nolan Hertel was chosen as Defensive Back of the Year as the 2018 Valley Football Association West Division All-Conference Team was announced.

Krueger was a unanimous first-team selection at quarterback and punter for Marshfield, which won its second-straight VFA West title with an 8-0 record. The Tigers finished the season 12-1, losing in the Division 2 state semifinals to Mequon Homestead.

Along with Krueger, Anderson and Hertel were among 15 first-team selections for the Tigers.

Guard Sam Haessly, fullback Isaiah Baierl, receiver Isaac Meverden, defensive tackle Justin Kuse, defensive end Alex Steines, inside linebacker Ben Gust, outside linebacker Alex Wehrman, cornerback Riley Boushack, kicker Mason Coffren, and Brant Bohman at running back and return specialist were also first-team picks for Marshfield.

In conference play, Krueger threw for 994 yards and 13 touchdowns, and had a 45.5 yards per punt average, all league-bests.

Bohman finished third in the VFA West in rushing with 627 yards and first in touchdowns with 13. He also finished fourth in receiving with 22 catches, 311 yards, and three more scores.

Meverden was seventh in receiving with 18 catches for 282 yards and four TDs.

Coffren made 26 of 29 extra points and two field goals, scoring 44 points, which was best among the conference kickers.

Wehrman had a league-high seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss and gust had five tackles for loss for the Tigers.

Hertel finished with four interceptions, tying for the conference-high, and also had 30 tackles.

Second-team selections for the Tigers included offensive linemen Gabe Raycher and Kieran Bump, receiver Preston Wagner, and defensive end Justin Stanek.

Marshfield’s Dennis Goettl was named West Division Coach of the Year.

2018 Valley Football Association West Division All-Conference Team
First Team (*unanimous selection)
Offense
Linemen: *Brody Anderson, sr., Marshfield; *Sam Haessly, sr., Marshfield; *Adam Gilmeister, sr., Stevens Point; *Austin Stankowski, sr., Stevens Point; *Mike Iverson, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Fullbacks: Isaiah Baierl, sr., Marshfield; Derek Mesunas, sr., D.C. Everest.
Running backs: *Nash Coombs, sr., Wisconsin Rapids; Brant Bohman, sr., Marshfield; Jack Kelly, sr., Stevens Point.
Tight end: Owen Ahrens, sr., Stevens Point.
Receivers: *Dylan Lisitza, so., Wisconsin Rapids; Mason King, sr., Stevens Point; Isaac Meverden, jr., Marshfield.
Quarterback: *Ryan Krueger, sr., Marshfield.
Defense
Linemen: *Jack Kelly, sr., Stevens Point; Bailey Koski, sr., D.C. Everest; Justin Kuse, sr., Marshfield.
Ends: Alex Steines, sr., Marshfield; Spencer Wierzba, jr., Stevens Point; Justin Bonke, sr., Wausau West.
Inside linebackers: *Marc Sippel, jr., Wausau West; *Ben Gust, jr., Marshfield; Justin Wefel, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Outside linebackers: *Alex Wehrman, sr., Marshfield; *Nate Engelkes, jr., Stevens Point.
Cornerbacks: *Riley Boushack, sr., Marshfield; *Luke Bembenek, sr., Stevens Point.
Safeties: *Nolan Hertel, sr., Marshfield; Ethan Ostrowski, jr., D.C. Everest; Brennan Goralski, jr., Wausau West.
Kicker: *Mason Coffren, sr., Marshfield.
Punter: *Ryan Krueger, sr., Marshfield.
Return specialist: *Brant Bohman, sr., Marshfield.
Second Team
Offense
Linemen: Matt Schooley, jr., Wisconsin Rapids; Gabe Raycher, sr., Marshfield; Kieran Bump, sr., Marshfield; Hayden Hopfensperger, sr., Stevens Point; Gabe Stibbe, jr., Wausau West; Ryan Blokhuis, jr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Fullback: Marc Sippel, jr., Wausau West.
Running backs: Nick Moe, sr., D.C. Everest; Jager Reissmann, sr., D.C. Everest.
Receivers: Chris Tilton, jr., D.C. Everest; Bryan Halambeck, jr., D.C. Everest; Preston Wagner, sr., Marshfield.
Quarterbacks: Austin pelot, jr., Wisconsin Rapids; Brett Her, sr., Stevens Point.
Defense
Linemen: Mike Iverson, sr., Wisconsin Rapids; Hayden Hopfensperger, sr., Stevens Point; Kane De Forrest, sr., Wausau West.
Ends: Matt Schooley, jr., Wisconsin Rapids; Justin Stanek, sr., Marshfield.
Inside linebackers: Mason Schlegel, sr., Wausau West; Declan McCarthy, sr., Wausau West.
Outside linebackers: Luke Babl, sr., Stevens Point; Keaton Edwards, jr., D.C. Everest.
Cornerback: Anthony Herbig, sr., Wausau West.
Safeties: Evan Thomas, sr., Stevens Point; Dalton Zuleger, jr., D.C. Everest.
Kicker: Kenny Schultz, so., Stevens Point.
Punter: Kaleb Brehm, sr., D.C. Everest.
Return specialists: Jager Reissmann, sr., D.C. Everest; Evan Thomas, sr., Stevens Point.
Conference Awards
Offensive lineman of the year: Brody Anderson, sr., Marshfield.
Offensive receiver/tight end of the year: Dylan Lisitza, so., Wisconsin Rapids.
Offensive back of the year: Ryan Krueger, sr., QB, Marshfield.
Offensive player of the year: Ryan Krueger, sr., QB, Marshfield.
Defensive lineman of the year: Jack Kelly, sr., Stevens Point.
Linebacker of the year: Marc Sippel, jr., Wausau West.
Defensive back of the year: Nolan Hertel, sr., Marshfield.
Defensive player of the year: Jack Kelly, sr., DE, Stevens Point.
Coach of the year: Dennis Goettl, Marshfield.

Paul Lecker is publisher of MarshfieldAreaSports.com and a contributor to focusonmarshfield.com.