Football stars Holcomb, Helder named first-team All-State
Dec. 7—MINNEAPOLIS — Two southeastern Minnesota football standouts have been named first-team All-State by the Associated Press.
Stewartville quarterback Ayden Helder was picked as the state's top quarterback and Rochester Mayo's Carter Holcomb was chosen first-team All-State for the second straight year as a receiver.
Named to the AP second team were Kingsland running back Beau Wiersma and Kingsland defensive end Parker Johnson. All of the southeastern Minnesota All-State picks are seniors except for Johnson, who's a junior.
Helder had a bonanza of a year in leading his team to the Class 3A state championship. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound senior passed for 2,457 yards and 42 touchdowns, with just two interceptions. He also rushed for 405 yards and four touchdowns.
The 5-9, 175-pound Holcomb ended his season as Minnesota's second-leading receiver in career yards with 3,618. He had 66 receptions this season for 948 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Wiersma, a 5-9, 200-pound running back, had 234 carries this year for 2,279 yards and 38 touchdowns. He also caught 16 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns. Teammate Johnson (6-1, 185) totaled a whopping 16 1/2 sacks at defensive end.
Kingsland finished second in the state in 9-Player football.
ALL-STATE LIST
The 2023 Minnesota Associated Press All-State football team, as voted on by statewide media:
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Maxwell Woods, RB, Chanhassen
FIRST TEAM
QB — Ayden Helder, Stewartville
RB — Maxwell Woods, Chanhassen
RB — Savion Hart, St. Thomas Academy
RB — Ryan Meagher, Minneota
WR/TE — KhiJohnn Cummings-Coleman, Coon Rapids
WR/TE — Carter Holcomb, Rochester Mayo
WR/TE — Cameron Begalle, Andover
OL — Emerson Mandell, Irondale
OL — Will Sather, Eden Prairie
OL — Anton Kedlec, Hutchinson
OL — Wyatt Bell, Rogers
OL — Hayden Broich, Eden Prairie
DL — Wyatt Gilmore, Rogers
DL — Jide Abisari, Prior Lake
DL — Antonio Menard, Lakeville North
DL — Mo Saine, Eden Prairie
LB — Mark Rendl, Forest Lake
LB — Evan Hatton, Mounds View
LB — Mason Carrier, Detroit Lakes
LB — Sam Macy, Chanhassen
DB — Koi Perich, Esko
DB — Owen Kemper, Edina
DB — Luke Dehnicke, Andover
DB — Zashon Rich, Minneapolis North
Kicker/punter — Luke Ryerse, East Ridge
All-purpose — D'Mario Davenport, Andover
SECOND TEAM
QB — Tanner Zolnosky, East Ridge
RB — Charles Langama, Maple Grove
RB — Beau Wiersma, Kingsland
RB — John Warpinski, Edina
WR/TE — Tanner Schmidt, Stillwater
WR/TE — Jalen Smith, Mankato West
WR/TE (tie) — Carter Olson, Springfield
WR/TE (tie) — Jake Schultz, Delano
OL — Tait Anderberg, Lakeville North
OL — Aiden Horel, Prior Lake
OL — Joe Duerr, St. Michael-Albertville
OL — Brycen Lotz, Braham
OL — Azrie Yeager, Minneapolis North
DL — Marcus Whiting, Centennial
DL — Howie Johnson, Forest Lake
DL — Max Mogelson, Two Rivers
DL (tie) — Anaise Dotson, Minneapolis North
DL (tie) — Parker Johnson, Kingsland
LB — Dominic Heim, Eden Prairie
LB — Matthew Heinen, Champlin Park
LB — Wyatt Osterbauer, Buffalo
LB — Kaleb Weikel, Andover
DB — Will Steil, Rocori
DB — Terae Dunn, Eden Prairie
DB — Will Peroutka, Rosemount
DB — Simon Seidl, Hill-Murray
Kicker/punter — Daniel Jackson, Alexandria
All-purpose — Ray James, DeLaSalle
