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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
The Spencer/Columbus Catholic football team put together another great season, and as a result, a number of Rockets earned postseason awards on the 2017 All-Cloverbelt Conference Football Team.
A total of 11 Spencer/Columbus players were named to the all-conference squad, as voted on by the nine conference coaches.
Spencer/Columbus finished 7-1 in conference play and took second place behind undefeated champion Stanley-Boyd. The Rockets went on to finish 9-2 overall, losing in the second round of the WIAA Division 5 playoffs to Amherst.
Cloverbelt Conference rules allow players to only be selected at one position for the all-conference squad, eliminating two-way players for earning multiple awards.
SC senior running back Hunter Luepke was named Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team pick after rushing for 1,870 yards and 40 touchdowns, averaging 11.1 yards per carry. He added 10 receptions for 233 yards and three more scores. Luepke, a North Dakota State recruit, was also a first-team all-conference selection at running back the past two seasons, and was Offensive Player of the Year in 2015.
Junior offensive lineman Logan Zschernitz and senior linebacker Carson Hildebrandt also earned first-team honors for the Rockets. Hildebrandt, a repeat first-team all-conference performer, led the Rockets in tackles with 119, including 22 for loss.
Spencer/Columbus had six second-team picks – senior running back Jacob Miller, senior offensive lineman Nick Hutchison, junior defensive lineman Nate Karau, senior linebacker Adam Walter, junior defensive back Ethan Meece, and sophomore return specialist Hayden Bauman.
Miller finished with 413 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 10.1 yards per carry despite missing SC’s final four games due to an injury.
Bauman had 322 return yards and had one punt return for a touchdown.
Junior quarterback Jarred Mandel (927 yards passing, six touchdowns) and senior wide receiver Lukas Ellefson (10 catches, 277 yards, two TDs) earned honorable mention status for the Rockets.
Stanley-Boyd linebacker Ben Turner was named Defensive Player of the Year.
2017 All-Cloverbelt Conference Football Team
First Team
Offense
Quarterback: L.J. Schmelzer, jr., Stanley-Boyd.
Running backs: Ethan Ritger, sr., Fall Creek; Hunter Luepke, sr., Spencer/Columbus Catholic; Kolten Wright, sr., Altoona.
Wide receivers: Brandon Herrick, sr., Stanley-Boyd; Nate Meyer, sr., Colby.
Linemen: Logan Zschernitz, jr., Spencer/Columbus Catholic; Sam Krause, sr., Colby; Andrew Ernstmeyer, jr., Eau Claire Regis; Benji Gindt, sr., Cadott; Theo Chwala, sr., Stanley-Boyd
Defense
Linemen: Tyler Riehle, sr., Colby; Kaden Bowman, sr., Osseo-Fairchild; Matt Nesterick, sr., Stanley-Boyd; Laith Kidess, sr., Eau Claire Regis.
Linebackers: Ben Turner, sr., Stanley-Boyd; Brandon Wright, sr., Stanley-Boyd; Carson Hildebrandt, jr., Spencer/Columbus Catholic; Andrew Root, sr., Eau Claire Regis.
Defensive backs: Ben Miles, jr., Stanley-Boyd; Christain Raasch, sr., Colby; Cade Osborn, jr., Eau Claire Regis.
Specialists: Noah Hllegers, jr., Fall Creek; Nolan Gillingham, jr., Stanley-Boyd
Second Team
Offense
Quarterback: Michael Emery, sr., Cadott.
Running backs: Jacob Miller, sr., Spencer/Columbus Catholic; Reece Kellnhofer, jr., Colby; Caden Boettcher, jr., Osseo-Fairchild.
Wide receivers: Bailey Gillett, sr., Cadott; Nati Raehl, sr., Eau Claire Regis.
Linemen: Nick Hutchison, sr., Spencer/Columbus Catholic; Ben Boie, sr., Stanley-Boyd; Brock Kostka, sr., Osseo-Fairchild; Logan Hawkey, jr., Colby; Nathan Gorzek, jr., Eau Claire Regis.
Defense
Linemen: Nate Karau, jr., Spencer/Columbus Catholic; Jared Mundt, sr., Colby; Ethan Dahl, sr., Osseo-Fairchild; Brian Pelakoudas, jr., Fall Creek.
Linebackers: Adam Walter, sr., Spencer/Columbus Catholic; Ryan Ciresi, sr., Eau Claire Regis; Joe Kinderman, jr., Fall Creek.
Defensive backs: Ethan Meece, jr., Spencer/Columbus Catholic; Peyton Smith, sr., Colby; Mitch Adrian, sr., Altoona.
Specialists: J.J. Pritzl, sr., Fall Creek; Hayden Bauman, so., Spencer/Columbus Catholic.
Honorable Mention
Offense
Quarterbacks: Nate McMahon, so., Altoona; Jarred Mandel, jr., Spencer/Columbus Catholic.
Running backs: Colton Dupey, sr., Cadott; Luke Spaeth, sr., Stanley-Boyd.
Wide receiver: Lukas Ellefson, sr., Spencer/Columbus Catholic.
Linemen: C.J. Spaeth, jr., Cadott; Bryce Nichols, sr., Stanley-Boyd; Justin Smasal, jr., Stanley-Boyd; Mike Anderson, jr., Fall Creek; Nate Strasburg, jr., Fall Creek.
Defense
Linemen: Blake Loegering, jr., Altoona; Kadin Peterson, jr., Eau Claire Regis.
Linebackers: Parker Ramseier, sr., Osseo-Fairchild; Paxton Gluch, so., Altoona; Willis Reynolds, jr., Stanley-Boyd.
Defensive backs: Tristan Root, so., Eau Claire Regis; Collin Meyer, sr., Stanley-Boyd.
Specialists: Zachary Klatt, jr., Altoona; Bret Kostka, so., Osseo-Fairchild.
Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Hunter Luepke, RB, Spencer/Columbus Catholic.
Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Turner, LB, Stanley-Boyd.