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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).

Brett Koscielniak was named the SVC Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season.
Brett Koscielniak was named the SVC Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season.

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