Koscielniak leads 6 GSM players on All-Ski Valley football teams
GAYLORD ― The Ski Valley Conference continues to produce some of the best 8-player football teams that Michigan has to offer.
Just check how the champs did in the D1 playoffs.
With the state champions crowned and the 8-player season officially wrapped, it is time to look back on the individual players from Gaylord St. Mary on this year's SVC all-conference squads.
Gaylord St. Mary players took up eight spots on the first- and second-team lists, led by senior Brett Koscielniak, the conference's Defensive Player of the Year for the second year in a row.
Koscielniak had an expanded role as the team's top linebacker, leading the team with 95 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and four sacks. He was named to the first team on both offense (skill) and defense (linebacker).
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Other first-team honorees were Daniel Jacobson (offense, skill) JT Greenier (offensive line and defensive back) and Dillon Croff (defensive line).
Jacobson was asked to do almost everything for the Snowbirds offensively, rushing for 833 yards and 13 TDs while throwing for another 833 yards and 11 TDs. Greenier, meanwhile, had standout games on offense and defense for GSM, highlighted by a three-TD performance against Onaway.
Croff dealt with an injury almost all season, limiting his offensive outputs. He still found ways to make an impact, however, accounting for 58 total tackles, 7 TFL and a sack from the defensive line.
Second-team honorees included Jake Butler (defensive line) and Daniel Jacobson (linebacker).
All-Ski Valley Conference Football Teams
Player of the year: Aidan Fenstermaker, Inland Lakes
Defensive player of the year: Brett Koscielniak, GSM
Offensive player of the year: Drayten Evans, Central Lake
First team
Offense
QB Aidan Fenstermaker, IL
Skill Jake Willey, IL
Skill Daniel Jacobson, GSM
Skill Brett Koscielniak, GSM
Skill Drayten Evans, Central Lake
Skill Jackson Chaskey, Onaway
O line Avery Enos, IL
O line JT Greenier, GSM
O line Damon Fox, Bellaire
Utility Mason Hoppe, Central Lake
Utility Justin Kramer St. Germain, Onaway
Utility Kaden Battershell, Bellaire
Defense
D Line DJ Buhr, IL
D line Dillon Croff, GSM
D line Landon Drogt, Central Lake
Linebackers Brett Koscielniak, GSM
Linebackers Mitchell Crawford, IL
Linebackers Brach Taylor, Pellston
Defensive back Aidan Fenstermaker, IL
Defensive back JT Greenier, GSM
Defensive back Jake Willey, IL
Special teams Garrison Barrett, Central Lake
Second team
Offense
Skill Garrison Barrett, Central Lake
Skill Brach Taylor, Pellston
Skill Brendon Brewbaker, Onaway
Skill Drake Kopeke, Bellaire
Skill Connor Keller
Defense
D line Shane Crawford, IL
D line Jake Butler, GSM
D line Lelin Splan, Onaway
D line Austin Downey, Pellston
D line Dawson Derrer, Bellaire
Linebacker Daniel Jacobson, GSM
Linebacker Grant Miller, Central Lake
Linebacker Justin Kramer St. Germain, Onaway
Linebacker Luke Loveless, Onaway
Linebacker Grant Blumke, IL
Linebacker Tristin Wiltse, Central Lake
Defensive back Brach Taylor, Pellston
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Gaylord St. Mary earns eight spots on All-Ski Valley Conference teams