Braves place 11 on WVFCA all-star team

Dec. 22—It was mentioned several times in the fall that Terre Haute South had a deceiving 5-6 record during the 2023 high school football season.

Wabash Valley coaches must have agreed, because the Braves have what might be an unprecedented 11 players named to the Wabash Valley Football Coaches Association's all-star team.

Part of the reason is because half the Braves' losses came in flukish situations, one of those unlucky setbacks coming against a Bloomington North team that spent quite a bit of the season ranked first in Indiana's Class 5A.

Another part is the result of a change in the WVFCA policies this season, with a separate all-Valley team for the Illinois schools selected for the first time.

Thus, there are 69 Indiana players named to the first or second team and 29 Illinois players picked without regard to position — a total of 98 players named.

That still means that more than one of every nine of the honored players are Braves — quarterback Brady Wilson, running back Zyeiar White, receiver A.J. Watkins, tight end Chris Herrin and offensive lineman Sean Murphy on the first offensive team, lineman Isaac Johnson, defensive back Nic Yatsko and punter Adam Mohamed on the first defensive team, kicker Griffin Runyan on the second offensive team and defensive back Treva Branch and linebacker Brandon Freeman on the second defensive team (Freeman was selected as an at-large defensive player).

Also well represented is South Putnam, a Class A top-10 team the entire season that gave eventual state champion Indianapolis Lutheran one of its closest playoff games. The Eagles have lineman Parker Harris and kicker Wyatt Kendall on the first-team offense; linebacker Aden Beadles and at-large pick Keenan Mowery-Sheilds on the first-team defense; quarterback Wyatt Mullin and receiver Bransyn Hanley on the second-team offense; and lineman Kyle Glasson and defensive back Caden Switzer on the second-team defense.

Linton and South Vermillion, both part of the best Class 2A sectional in the state, each had four first-team players and two second-team players. First-team offensive players are quarterback Paul Oliver and lineman Hank Gennicks of Linton and receiver Parker Weir and quarterback (at-large) Dom Garzolini of South Vermillion. First-team defenders are lineman Corey Andrews and linebacker Christian Shonk of the Miners and lineman Zack Hess and linebacker Alex Shryock of the Wildcats. Second-teamers are offensive lineman (at-large pick) Jacob Breedlove and defensive back Jesse Voigtschild of Linton and running back Dallas Coleman and offensive lineman Aaron Kersey of South Vermillion.

Sullivan, also a member of that sectional, has three first-teamers, all on defense — lineman Seb Ortiz, linebacker Camden Singer and defensive back Seth Pirtle. Second-teamers for the Golden Arrows are receiver James Propes, offensive lineman Brayden Clem and defensive at-large selection Ethan Garrett.

Two Illinois teams have six all-Valley players: Lawrenceville, with Rylee Dohoney, Wyatt Halter, Bryant Jenkis, Kasen Ochs, Tanner Waller and Pep Wirth, and Red Hill, led by Hayden Arbuckle, Dylan Camden, Lance Moore, Reece Ralston, Sam Stimler and Karson Tully.

Monrovia has five players selected: running back Brayton Belcher on the first-team offense, lineman Brendan Frank and at-large pick Joe Smith on the first-team defense, lineman Lane Whitney on the second-team offense and defensive back Eli Welch on the second-team defense.

Another team with five picks is Greencastle. Wide receiver Owen Huff and lineman Jackson Buis are on the first-team offense, quarterback Cole Stephens and running back Lamar Moore on the second-team offense and lineman Cameron Pingleton on the second-team defense.

Casey, which enjoyed a Class A playoff win in Illinois, also has five representatives: Grant Cochonour, Jake Reddicks, Brady Rhoads, Connor Sullivan and Brian Wright.

Northview has four players on the team, including running back Tyler Lee, offensive lineman Aiden Swearingen and defensive back Luke Marlow on the first team and linebacker Jace Deakins on the second team.

Illinois playoff team Paris has four players — Ethan Curl, Ty King, Evan Ramsey and Kalvin Rigdon — and so does Olney with Logan McDonald, Jashun McKinley, Nolen Seals and Case Thomann.

North Vermillion produced two first-teamers on offense — receiver Cody Tryon and quarterback (at-large pick) Jerome White — plus defensive lineman Aidan Hinchee. Marshall also had three players chosen — Lucca Giannavola, Luis Lopez and Kaden Matzke — and Cascade has a second-team offensive player in running back Toby Savini and second-team defensive players in lineman Duncan White and defensive back Lucas Farmer.

Teams with two picks are Owen Valley (first-team defensive back Tim Harden and second-team offensive lineman Hemi Shepherd), Terre Haute North (defensive lineman Ash Duckett and linebacker Jackson McDonald, both on the second team), North Central (offensive lineman Coy Brooks and defensive lineman Lane Hargis, second-teamers), Parke Heritage (second-team linebacker Jerrid Graves and second-team defensive lineman John Kramer) and North Putnam (second-team tight end Patrick O'Brien and second-team punter Christian Kramer).

One player each was selected from West Vigo (second-team linebacker Ryan Cobb), Eastern Greene (second-team running back James Lewis) and Cumberland (Blake McMechan).

First team

Offense

Quarterback — Paul Oliver, Linton

Quarterback — Brady Wilson, Terre Haute South

Running back — Brayton Belcher, Monrovia

Running back — Tyler Lee, Northview

Running back — Zyeiar White, Terre Haute South

Wide receiver — Owen Huff, Greencastle

Wide receiver — Cody Tryon, North Vermillion

Wide receiver — A.J. Watkins, Terre Haute South

Wide receiver — Parker Weir, South Vermillion

Tight end — Chris Herrin, Terre Haute South

Offensive line — Jackson Buis, Greencastle

Offensive line — Hank Gennicks, Linton

Offensive line — Parker Harris, South Putnam

Offensive line — Sean Murphy, Terre Haute South

Offensive line — Aiden Swearingen, Northview

Offense at-large — Dom Garzolini, South Vermillion

Offense at-large — Jerome White, North Vermillion

Kicker — Wyatt Kendall, South Putnam

Defense

Defensive line — Corey Andrews, Linton

Defensive line — Brendan Frank, Monrovia

Defensive line — Zack Hess, South Vermillion

Defensive line — Aidan Hinchee, North Vermillion

Defensive line — Isaac Johnson, Terre Haute South

Defensive line — Seb Ortiz, Sullivan

Linebacker — Aiden Beadles, South Putnam

Linebacker — Christian Shonk, Linton

Linebacker — Alex Shryock, South Vermillion

Linebacker — Camden Singer, Sullivan

Defensive back — Tim Harden, Owen Valley

Defensive back — Luke Marlow, Northview

Defensive back — Seth Pirtle, Sullivan

Defensive backs — Nic Yatsko, Terre Haute South

Defensive at-large — Keenan Mowery-Shields, South Putnam

Defense at-large — Joe Smith, Monrovia

Punter — Adam Mohamed, Terre Haute South

Second team

Offense

Quarterbacks — Cole Stephens, Greencastle; Wyatt Mullin, South Putnam

Running backs — Dallas Coleman, South Vermillion; James Lewis, Eastern Greene; Lamar Moore, Greencastle; Toby Savini, Cascade

Wide receivers — Bransyn Hanley, South Putnam; James Propes, Sullivan

Tight end — Patrick O'Brien, North Putnam

Offensive linemen — Coy Brooks, North Central; Brayden Clem, Sullivan; Aaron Kersey, South Vermillion; Hemi Shepherd, Owen Valley; Lane Whitney, Monrovia

Offense at-large — Jacob Breedlove, Linton

Kicker — Griffin Runyan, Terre Haute South

Defense

Defensive linemen — Ash Duckett, Terre Haute North; Kyle Glasson, South Putnam; Lane Hargis, North Central; John Kramer, Parke Heritage; Cameron Pingleton, Greencastle; Duncan White, Cascade

Linebackers — Ryan Cobb, West Vigo; Jace Deakins, Northview; Jerrid Graves, Parke Heritage; Jackson McDonald, Terre Haute North

Defensive backs — Treva Branch, Terre Haute South; Lucas Farmer, Cascade; Caden Switzer, South Putnam; Jesse Voigtschild, Linton; Eli Welch, Monrovia

Defense at-large — Brandon Freeman, Terre Haute South; Ethan Garrett, Sullivan

Punter — Christian Kramer, North Putnam

Illinois

Casey — Grant Cochonour, TE-LB; Jake Reddicks, CB; Brady Rhoads, WR; Connor Sullivan, RB-LB; Brian Wright, K

Cumberland — Blake McMechan, RB-DB

Lawrenceville — Rylee Dohoney, OL-DL; Wyatt Halter, QB-DB; Bryant Jenkis, RB-LB; Kasen Ochs, FB-LB; Tanner Waller, RB-LB; Pep Wirth, OL-DL

Marshall — Lucca Giannavola, LB; Luis Lopez, P; Kaden Matzke, QB

Olney — Logan McDonald, LB; Jashun McKinley, RB; Nolen Seals, DB; Case Thomann, OL

Paris — Ethan Curl, LB; Ty King, WR; Evan Ramsey, DL; Kalvin Rigdon, RB-DB

Red Hill — Hayden Arbuckle, RB-DB; Dylan Camden, OL-DL; Lance Moore, TE-DL; Reece Ralston, WR-DB; Sam Stimler, RB-DB; Karson Tully, LB

Honorable mention

Cascade — Marcus Hobson, Josiah Murrain, J.T. Roshong, Chase Schnarr, Duncan White

Cloverdale — Tayt Jackson

Eastern Greene — Darrel Burton, Evan Ferkingstad, Jonas Hawk, Evan Rogers, Bryce Teague

Edgewood — Gunnar Caswell, Jaxton Collier, Christian Couch, Carter Hayden, Keegan Lane, Michael Law, Gunnar Perry, Nehemiah Strunk

Lawrenceville — Wyalan Bice, A.J. Lawson, Kolby Stoops

Linton — Ty Boyd, Hayden Feltner, Blane Kirkman, Cooper Smith, Ashton White

Marshall — Ty Harper

Monrovia — Asher Clements, Ethan Followell, Jozy Hand, Dom Kindle, Ryder Pool

North Central — Gavin Simmons, Blake Sturm, Malakai Urbain, Greydyn Walters

North Putnam — Jayden Laffin, Brogan Woodall

North Vermillion — Landen Baker, Gavin Bean, Wyatt Walters

Northview — Caelen Bell, Kyle Cottee, Slade Fell, Avery Perry, Gage Thompson

Olney — Evan Gilreath, Dirks Weiler

Owen Valley — Rhett Manuel, Kolby Pardue, Bryan Richardson

Parke Heritage — Caleb Rector

Red Hill — Avery Arbuckle

Riverton Parke — Gabe Lewis, Sebastian Mankin, Kyle Price

South Putnam — Zach Dorsett, Kolby Harcourt, Logan Sillem, Wyatt Switzer, Ben Teipen

South Vermillion — Will Clay-Faulkner, Dylan Conder, Dylan Hill, Jace Skinner, Carter Wood

Sullivan — D.J. Gaines, Laytin Huff, Logan Ketterer, John Taft, Jackson Trimble

Terre Haute North — Kam Baker, Tristen Chatman, Emelio Medina

Terre Haute South — Coy Bender, Imer Holman, Jaidyn Hoole, Tommaso Poff, Brodi Smith, Bronson Thomas, Landon Wilkinson

West Vigo — Hunter Callahan, Landon Fields, Gabe Skelton

All-Academic team

Cloverdale — Corey Branigan, Jesse Carroll, Carson Caulkins, Jace Gardner, Logan Hamm, Artrevion Henderson, Drake Hoffa, Tayt Jackson, Levi Johnson, Scottie McGuire

Eastern Greene — Kendall Britton, Jace Brown, Darrel Burton, Evan Ferkinstad, Jonas Hawk, Peyton Lewis, Ty McKnight, Kegan Michael, John Williams

Edgewood — Grant Coffey, Christian Couch, Evan Dodds, Carter Hayden, Terrance Moore, Dylan Wickens

Greencastle — Anthony Adams, Jackson Buis, Cooper Robinson

Lawrenceville — Rylee Dohoney, Walter Halter, Bryant Jenkins

Liinton — Brett Anderson, Michael Auberry, Jacob Bredeweg, Aaron Chancy, Hayden Feltner, Drake Fields, Hank Gennicks, Dresden Kenworthy, Lane McDonald, Colten McKinnon, Cody Pigg, Casin Pope, Ezra Powell, Christian Shonk, Cooper Smith, Aiden Sparks, Gage Sullivan, Ashton White

Marshall — Will Crumrin, Gabe Deckard, Lucca Giannavola, Liam Keim, Hank Orman, Trey Scott, Madix Weddle

Monrovia — Noah Breeden, Brody Clampitt, Connor Denault, Parker Hale, Bentley McClellan, Korbin Monroe

North Central — Josh Helton, Malakai Urbain, Tucker Mitchell

North Putnam — Chase Abdon, Jesse Bryan, Neal Bryan, Braden Glaze, Caiden Hankins, Brody Kinkead, Christian Kramer, Braxston Mitchell, Wes Murphy, Paxton O'Brien, Evan Polley, Braxton Woodall

Northview — Kale Allen, Varzidy Batchelor, Kyle Cottee, Jace Deakins, Carter Kumpf, Peyton Lear, DaMarius McLawyer, Avery Perry, Memphis Rice, Harmen Singh, Kenny Smith, Aiden Swearingen, Luke Whitman

Olney — Brayden Beard, Reid Brown, Jack Colwell, James Daniel, Zach Fritchley, Evan Gilreath, Bobby Graves, Mack Graves, Xander Holtz, Gavin Jennings, Ryan Kirby, Reed Klingler, Logan McDonald, Ian Pianfetti, Nolen Seals, Casey Thomann, Aiden Weidner, Brandon Wenger, Xavior Zuber

Parke Heritage — Tucker Conley, Carson Crowder, Caleb Rector, Lucas Rhoads, Carson Rolison

Riverton Parke — Jonathan Harper, Kyle Price, Jake Roderick, Collett Sanders, Sean Vester

South Vermillion — Dylan Conder, Dylan Hill, Aaron Kersey, Alex Shryock, Dakota Spivey, Wyatt Whitley

Sullivan — Peyton Carlson, Gauge Case, Zane Catlin, Camryn Farmer, Sam Fathauer, Blake Fraker, D.J. Gaines, Ethan Garrett, Ty Hamilton, Layton Huff, Sam Jackson, Logan Ketterer, Seth Pirtle, Camden Singer, Jackson Trimble, Eli Van Ness, Jon Wiley

Terre Haute South — Coy Bender, Chase Brown, Ty'Ree Cuffle, Chris Herrin, Isaac Johnson, Jesus Lopez, Chase Maxwell, Adam Mohamed, Sean Murphy, Brandon Pearman, Griffin Runyan, Caelan Vandentop, A.J. Watkins, Landon Wilkinson, Brady Wilson, Nic Yatsko

West Vigo — Jeffery Brown, Ryan Cobb, Hunter Davis, Landon Fields, Andrew Kidwell, Gabe Skelton, Connor Wallace, Wyatt Walters