This story is sponsored by Victory Apparel
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
Marshfield tight end Zach McManus was named the Valley Football Association South Division Wide Receiver/Tight End of the Year and one of three Tigers chosen to the first team on the VFA South all-conference team.
McManus, a senior, along with fellow seniors Nick Hoheisel at running back and Andrew Gilkerson at offensive line, were unanimous first-team picks for Marshfield, which finished 3-5 in the conference this season.
Hoheisel led the VFA South in rushing with 1,449 yards and third in overall scoring with 96 points (16 touchdowns).
McManus also earned second-team all-conference at punter and was an honorable mention choice at kicker.
McManus was a perfect 25-for-25 in extra points and 3-for-4 on field goals, was fourth in punting average at 35.8 yards per kick, and added 16 catches for 157 yards and three touchdowns receiving.
“Zach had a great season blocking and catching the ball,” Marshfield coach Denny Goettl said. “He made our run game go and was also a very talented kicker and punter. He put in the time to get better and did it.
“Nick had a great season and really put all he had into his efforts,” Goettl added. “He ran with a chip on his shoulder all season long and is one of the better backs we have had in a while in our program.
“Andrew was theleader of the line and a great leader of our team. He’s the guy that went the extra mile in everything he did.”
Joining McManus on the second team for Marshfield were senior quarterback Tyson Slade, senior defensive end Nate Beyer, Hoheisel as a return specialist, and senior cornerback Mason Metz.
Slade was second in the conference with 1,060 yards passing and tied for third with seven touchdown passes in eight games.
Honorable mention choices for Marshfield included offensive linemen Brandon Bell, Jared Heeg and Josh Lang, wide receiver Jon Hardinger, defensive lineman Jon Wittman, and inside linebacker Aaron Peters.
“We started the season with high expectations and never game up on them,” Goettl said. “We went through some tough times to say the least with all the injuries that we incurred, but the kids never gave up. We were a few points away from having a great record. The kids learned many lessons about character and caring about the man next to him.”
Stevens Point running back Victor Kizewski was named Offensive Player of the Year, and Oshkosh North defensive lineman Zach Angle was picked as Defensive Player of the Year. Mike Gnewuch of conference-champion Fond du Lac was named Coach of the Year.
2015 Valley Football Association South Division All-Conference Team
*unanimous selection
First Team
Offense
Linemen: *Mark Dilling, sr., Fond du Lac; *Brett Vandenboogaard, sr., Fond du Lac; Jacob Stein, sr., Hortonville; *Andrew Gilkerson, sr., Marshfield; Jacob Dedering, sr., Oshkosh North; *Jacob Erdman, jr., Stevens Point; *Jack Vruwink, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Tight end: *Zach McManus, sr., Marshfield.
Wide receivers: Brock Young, jr., Hortonville; *Jose Alba-Zielinski, sr., Neenah.
Running backs: Justin Maratik, sr., Fond du Lac; *Victor Kizewski, sr., Stevens Point; *Nick Hoheisel, sr., Marshfield.
Fullback: Geoffrey Cullen, sr., Oshkosh North.
Quarterbacks: Joe Jung, jr., Neenah; Tyler Kujawa, sr., Oshkosh North.
Defense
Linemen: Graham Mulder, jr., Neenah; *Zach Angle, sr., Oshkosh North; Gavin Haehl, sr., Oshkosh North.
Ends: *Aron Frank, sr., Fond du Lac; Josh Dorschner, jr., Neenah; *Jake Harlow, sr., Stevens Point.
Inside linebackers: *Devon Krzanowski, jr., Fond du Lac; *Blake Kalwitz, sr., Hortonville.
Outside linebackers: *Zack Gruett, sr., Neenah; Noah Ahlswede, sr., Fond du Lac.
Cornerbacks: Ryan Collien, sr., Fond du Lac; *Kyle Witthuhn, sr., Hortonville; *Pierce Kauth, sr., Stevens Point.
Safeties: *Jake Walgenbach, sr., Fond du Lac; Mikaal Geenen, sr., Oshkosh North; Evan Mallek, sr., Stevens Point.
Kicker: Sam Herkert, sr., Oshkosh North.
Punter: Jake Walgenbach, sr., Fond du Lac.
Return specialist: *Victor Kizewski, sr., Stevens Point.
Second Team
Offense
Linemen: Jay Perras, jr., Neenah; Manny Ramos, jr., Stevens Point; Brandon Winters, sr., Stevens Point.
Tight end: Will Wright, sr., Fond du Lac.
Wide receivers: Kyle Witthuhn, sr., Hortonville; Victor Kizewski, sr., Stevens Point.
Running back: Eliot Dittmer, sr., Oshkosh North.
Fullback: Brandon Patoka, jr., Stevens Point.
Quarterbacks: Braden Stoeger, sr., Hortonville; Tyson Slade, sr., Marshfield.
Defense
Lineman: Gage Zahradink, sr., Fond du Lac.
Ends: Nate Beyer, sr., Marshfield; Landon Mueller, jr., Oshkosh North.
Inside linebackers: Walter Williams, sr., Oshkosh North; Grant Roth, jr., Stevens Point; Rian Ott, jr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Outside linebackers: Jacob Enz, sr., Neenah; Mitch Sundstrom, sr., Oshkosh North; Austin Meulemans, sr., Oshkosh West.
Cornerback: Mason Metz, sr., Marshfield.
Safety: Zane Drummond, sr., Hortonville.
Kicker: Joey Dorgan, jr., Stevens Point.
Punter: Zach McManus, sr., Marshfield.
Return specialist: Nick Hoheisel, sr., Marshfield.
Honorable Mention
Offense
Linemen: Mason Laning, sr., Fond du Lac; Dakota Wagner, sr., Fond du Lac; Mike Hills, sr., Hortonville; Jack Huebner, sr., Hortonville; Joey Schroeder, sr., Hortonville; Brandon Bell, jr., Marshfield; Jared Heeg, sr., Marshfield; Josh Lang, sr., Marshfield; Nick Ledwith, sr., Neenah; Cade Fredrick, jr., Oshkosh North; Malykee Hall, sr., Oshkosh North; Noah Gagnon, sr., Stevens Point; Andy Leiser, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Tight end: Derek Krzykowski, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Wide receivers: Jon Hardinger, sr., Marshfield; Alec Elkin, so., Neenah; Cameron Sorenson, jr., Oshkosh North; Chance Proehl, sr., Oshkosh West; Matt Rebholz, sr., Oshkosh West; Grant Czaikowski, sr., Stevens Point; Austin Glinski, jr., Wisconsin Rapids; Isaiah Westfall, so., Wisconsin Rapids.
Running backs: Brad Conger, sr., Hortonville; Gus Turner-Zick, jr., Stevens Point.
Quarterbacks: Quinn Woelfel, sr., Fond du Lac; Alex Lowney, sr., Oshkosh West; Beau Rosenthal, jr., Stevens Point.
Defense
Linemen: Tanner Koenigs, sr., Fond du Lac; Kyle Weisshahn, jr., Hortonville; Jon Wittman, jr., Marshfield; Evan Koehnke, sr., Neenah; Mark Wedde, sr., Stevens Point.
Ends: Murphy Osmond, sr., Oshkosh North; Dawson Thurber, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Inside linebackers: Aaron Peters, sr., Marshfield; Samer Meshinesh, sr., Oshkosh North; DeShawn Dickinson, sr., Oshkosh West; Nate Engle, sr., Stevens Point.
Outside linebackers: Carver Nolan, sr., Fond du Lac; Taylor Thomas, sr., Stevens Point; Keon’te Williams, jr., Stevens Point; Nathan Hepp, so., Wisconsin Rapids.
Cornerbacks: Trey Halfmann, jr., Fond du Lac; Nathan Lichtfuss, jr., Hortonville; Weston Hertel, sr., Neenah; Joe Vils, sr., Oshkosh West; Joe Strigel, jr., Stevens Point.
Safeties: Keagan Berandt, jr., Fond du Lac; Joe Cliver, sr., Hortonville; Cole Szezepaniak, sr., Neenah; Logan McConnell, sr., Oshkosh North; Reed Yoder, jr., Oshkosh West; Joey Roth, jr., Stevens Point; Cody Kiedrowski, sr., Wisconsin Rapids.
Kicker: Zach McManus, sr., Marshfield.
Punters: Sam Herkert, sr., Oshkosh North; Dylan Ashbeck, so., Wisconsin Rapids.
Return specialists: Reggie Hernandez, jr., Fond du Lac; Thomas Grube, so., Wisconsin Rapids.