This story is sponsored by: Chili Implement
By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
Stratford senior running back/linebacker Koehler Kilty walked away with both the Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors on the 2023 All-Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division Football Team, as voted on by the conference coaches following the season.
Kilty was one of four Stratford players to earn first-team honors on both offense and defense, joining offensive/defensive linemen Landon Zawislan and Carter Lueck, and wide receiver/linebacker Gavin Leonhardt. Senior defensive back Payton Glenn also was named as a first-team pick for the Tigers, which won the CWC Large title with a 7-0 record and finished 13-1 overall, winning their second-straight WIAA Division 6 state championship.
Kilty finished the season with 1,919 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, while also leading Stratford with 108 total tackles, including 10 for loss, and two interceptions.
Leonhardt was Stratford’s second-leading tackler with 82, including eight for loss, and combined for 1,235 total yards of offense (628 receiving, 607 rushing) and 20 touchdowns.
Junior quarterback Jack Tubbs and junior defensive back Caleb Wrensch were second-team picks, and Jett Schoenherr at wide receiver and defensive back, and linebacker Matt Folz were honorable mention selections for Stratford.
Spencer/Columbus senior Gage Young was a second-team pick at both offensive and defensive line, and senior running back Landon Behselich also made the second team for the Rockets, who went 2-5 in conference play this fall.
Offensive lineman Zach Roehrborn, defensive back Devlin Timmler and linebacker Mason Wolf were named honorable mention all-conference for Spencer/Columbus.
Stratford’s Jason Tubbs was named Marawood Conference Coach of the Year.
2023 All-Central Wisconsin Conference Large Division Football Team
First Team
Offense
Kicker: Dakota Stroud, sr., Manawa.
Offensive line: Charlie Nowinsky, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Balin Wojtalewicz, sr., Amherst; Carter Lueck, jr., Stratford; Walker Weis, jr., Stratford; Landon Zawislan, sr., Stratford.
Quarterback: Nathan Waupekenay, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood.
Running back: Koehler Kilty, sr., Stratford; Nasiah Holland, sr., Amherst.
Wide receiver: Brayden Arndt, sr., Weyauwega-Fremont; Casey Kielman, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Gavin Leonhardt, sr., Stratford.
Defense
Defensive back: Casey Kielman, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Spencer Cohen, sr., Amherst; Payton Glenn, sr., Stratford.
Defensive line: Charlie Nowinsky, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Gunner Wierzba, sr., Amherst; Carter Lueck, jr., Stratford; Landon Zawislan, sr., Stratford.
Linebacker: Boone Schairer, jr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Brady Zemple, sr., Manawa; Koehler Kilty, sr., Stratford; Gavin Leonhardt, sr., Stratford.
Punter: Dakota Stroud, sr., Manawa.
Second Team
Offense
Kicker: Nathan Waupekenay, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood.
Offensive line: Brady Zemple, sr., Manawa; Mason Spice, jr., Nekoosa; Vanden Hoffman, sr., Weyauwega-Fremont; Keegan Schmid, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Gage Young, sr., Spencer/Columbus.
Quarterback: Jack Tubbs, jr., Stratford.
Running back: Bryson Schmid, so., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Landon Behselich, sr., Spencer/Columbus.
Wide receiver: Hunter Miesenhelder, sr., Weyauwega-Fremont; Spencer Cohen, sr., Amherst; Thomas Bartelt, sr., Manawa.
Defense
Defensive backs: Hunter Miesenhelder, sr., Weyauwega-Fremont; Bryson Schmid, so., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Caleb Wrensch, jr., Stratford.
Defensive line: Vanden Hoffman, sr., Weyauwega-Fremont; Austyn Neubert, jr., Shiocton; Charlie Lehman, sr., Amherst; Gage Young, sr., Spencer/Columbus.
Linebacker: Jordan Jahnke, jr., Shiocton; Conner Groshek, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Nasiah Holland, sr., Amherst; Sam Stuczynski, jr., Amherst.
Punter: Beau Diederich, sr., Amherst.
Honorable Mention
Offense
Kicker: Beau Diedrich, sr., Amherst.
Offensive line: Cain Schiller, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Alberto Sanchez, so., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Rhett Loken, sr., Amherst; Zack Roehrborn, jr., Spencer/Columbus.
Quarterback: Kam Zielke, jr., Weyauwega-Fremont; Michael Benjamin, sr., Amherst.
Running back: Dawson Lind, so., Weyauwega-Fremont.
Wide receiver: Bennett Schmidt, sr., Shiocton; David Scott, sr., Amherst; Jett Schoenherr, jr., Stratford; Marshall Fraaza, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood.
Defense
Defensive back: Fransisco Vega, jr., Nekoosa; Noash Krcmar, jr., Nekoosa; Bennett Schmidt, sr., Shiocton; Keegan Benbo, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Devlin Timmler, so., Spencer/Columbus; Jett Schoenherr, jr., Stratford.
Defensive line: Logan Spice, jr., Nekoosa; Coye Brillowski, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Rhett Loken, sr., Amherst.
Linebacker: Ilijah Sanchez, jr., Shiocton; Isaiah Carton, jr., Shiocton; Braeden Groshek, sr., Wittenberg-Birnamwood; Ephraim Anglemeyer, sr., Amherst; Mason Wolf, jr., Spencer/Columbus; Matt Folz, sr., Stratford.
Offensive Player of the Year: Koehler Kilty, RB, Stratford.
Defensive Player of the Year: Koehler Kilty, LB, Stratford.
Coach of the Year: Jason Tubbs, Stratford.