The Bluejay football team racked up a perfect 6-0 season in the Great Northern Football Conference, so it’s no surprise that Merrill was well-represented on the All-GNC team.
Merrill grabbed both the Offensive Player of the Year (running back Mason Reinhardt) and DPOY (inside linebacker Jake Nohr) positions, as well as Coach of the Year in Nick Sturm. Rein?hardt shared his spot with Mosinee senior Chris Tomski.
In addition, Nohr and defensive lineman Dustin Dengel, a unanimous First Team GNC pick, received All-District honors.
“All year, Mason was a difference-maker,” Sturm said. “You never question him as a competitor. He got better and better as the year went on. He has very good vision and because of his strength, people couldn’t tackle him.
“Jake really came out of nowhere because he had an injury last year and hardly got any reps. He has a nose for the ball and is very fast. He made a lot of plays at or behind the line of scrimmage. He had a great senior season.
“Dustin was a quiet leader and very, very consistent. He was one of the most dedicated to the weight room on the team. He was a real treat to coach and a hard-working, tough football player.”
Reinhardt finished with 101.8 yards per game (2nd) on 661 total (2nd), a 7.5 ypc average (1st) and 14 TD’s (tied for 1st). He added nine catches for 77 yards in GNC play.
Nohr led the team with 47 sol and 23 assisted tackles, and added 5 TFL’s, 1.5 sacks, 1 int., 1 forced fumble and 2 recovered. Dengel gave 12 solos, 7 assists, 4 TFL’s, 2 sacks, 1 PBU, three fumbles forced and two recovered with a TD return.
The Jays had one additional unanimous selection to the First Team, junior defensive lineman Christian Kleinschmidt. On offense, other First Team picks included senior Jake Anderson (WR), junior Isaac Buntrock (OL) and sophomore Jon Gruetzmacher.
Kleinschmidt ended up with 20 solos, 5 assists, 6 TFL’s, 2 sacks, 1 FR and 1 blocked kick. Anderson had 23 catches (3rd) for 325 yards (3rd), a 14.1 ypr average (7th) with 5 receiving TD’s (1st).
“Christian has very good footwork and he plays well with his hands,” Sturm said. “He and Dustin made it very hard to run against us inside. He needs to work hard in the weight room and he will make another big jump next year.
“Jake is very consistent. He rarely dropped a ball. He is a very good athlete and ran very good routes. I think Jake has the ability to play beyond the high school level. He is a difference-maker on the football field.
“Isaac had a really solid junior season. He started out unsure of himself but grew in confidence. He gives great effort every day. He’s a quiet leader and very, very consistent. He’s only going to get better because of his intensity and work ethic.
“Jon, what a great year for a sophomore year. He really started developing into a very good left tackle. He has a great future because he works very hard and is very coachable. He progressed very far for a sophomore year.”
Merrill put several players on the Second Team, seniors Mitch Stockowitz (DL), Scott Arneson (DB/OLB) and Chaz Mootz (DB), juniors Ty Butler (DB) and Connor Kleinschmidt (OL) and sophomore Jake Collinsworth (LB).
“Mitch was very hard to move and fights well with his hands,” Sturm said. “A number of coaches felt he could be First Team. He’s very athletic for a big man.
“Scott always came up with big plays. He was very good at setting the edge and a very solid tackler. He’s a fearless football player. Chaz not only had to cover the other team’s best receiver, he had to lead us at quarterback. All year long he was a great leader. Tyler has a knack for making plays. He was very aggressive in the run game as a safety making plays near the line of scrimmage.
“Connor was very consistent with his assignments and a very excellent drive blocker. If he works hard in the weight room, he’ll be a force next year. To play varsity as well as Jake did as a sophomore is very impressive. What sets him apart is his desire to be good. That effort will take him far whether it’s on the field or in the classroom.”
Stats included: Stockowitz (14 S, 4 A, 2 TFL, 2 PBU, 1 BK); Arneson (20 S, 8 A, 5 TFL, 2 int, 2 PBU, 1 FR, 1 TD); Mootz (25 S, 2 A, 1 int. 1 PBU); Butler (35 S, 2 A, 1 TFL, 1 int, 2 PBU, 2 FF, 3 FR, 3 BK); and Collinsworth (38 S, 11 A, 3 TFL, 1.5 sac, 1 int, 1 PBU, 1 FF, 1 FR).
Senior running backs Lucas Lee and Wyatt Strombom both earned Honorable Mention.
“Lucas took great pride in doing his best every day,” Sturm said. “He did a great job blocking, running and catching the ball. Wyatt started out very well, then got hurt and missed much of the middle of the season. He never backed down from a challenge.”
Stats were: Lee (24-176 rush, 6-40 rec., 4 TD, 11 S, 1 A, 1 sac); and Strombom (21-104 rush).