North Dakota Preps

All-EDC Team
Fargo South - Zach Reich, Sr.; Christian May, Sr.; Austin Wicklund, Sr.; Jack Ellis, Sr.; Joe Mehrer, Jr.; Drew Fahrman, Jr.; James Johannesson, So.
West Fargo - Brody Mertz, Sr.; Preston Lehmann, Sr.; Shelby Schulz, Sr.; Miles Scholl, Sr.; Adam Thomte, Sr.; Drew Johnson, Sr.; Caleb Mattila, Sr.
GF Red River - Bryan Bjerk, Sr.; Loren Bothun, Sr.; Jon Lizotte, Sr.; Connor Dingle, Sr.; Ryan Bothun, Sr.; Jake Robson, Jr.; Chad Bartosh, Jr.
Devils Lake - Chase Johnson, Sr.; Nathan Mertens, Sr.; Shane Ebertz, Sr.; Austin Schall, Jr.
Fargo Davies - Eric Peterson, Sr.; Chris Ennen, Jr.; Gunnar Kollman, So.
Fargo North - Matt Connelly, Sr.; Hunter Slemmons, Jr.; Olaf Hanson, Jr.; Seth Brenneman, Jr.
GF Central - Rylie Devier, Sr.; Dusty Marynik, Sr.

Senior Athlete of the Year: Zach Reich (Fargo South)
Special Teams Player of the Year: Jacob Weiler (Fargo South)
Coach of the Year: Troy Mattern (Fargo South)

All-WDA Team
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks - Jared Fischer, Sr. (Century), Ben Jolliffe, Sr. (Bismarck), Alex Yanosko, Jr. (Minot)
Running Backs - Layne Johs, Sr. (Bismarck), Michael Cherwinski, Jr. (Dickinson), Brady Lampert, Jr. (Minot)
Wide Receivers - Brennan Doan, Sr. (Century), Drew Wiseman, Sr. (Century)
Tight Ends - Jacob Holmen, Jr. (Minot), Jordan Krieg, Sr. (Dickinson)
Lineman - Jaden Friedt, Jr. (Bismarck), Cullen Goter, Sr. (Jamestown), Tanner Gust, Sr. (Minot), Mitch Mehrer, Jr. (Dickinson), Tanner Ring, Sr. (Williston), Alex Spilman, Sr. (Mandan), Jamie Thorson, Sr. (Bismarck)

DEFENSE
Lineman - Grant Gall, Jr. (Century), Tanner Gust, Sr. (Minot), Aaron Livingston, Sr. (Minot), Dillon Pierce, Sr. (Century), Thomas Sease, Jr. (Bismarck)
Linebackers - Zach Danelson, So. (Minot), Alex Haaland, Sr. (Williston), Ryan Hillerud, Sr. (Jamestown), Levi Jordheim, Jr. (Dickinson), Jacob Loraas, Sr. (Century), Dylan Leutz, Sr. (Century), Paul Michaelson, Sr. (Williston), Riley Plant, Sr. (Bismarck), Tyler Sadowsky, Sr. (Mandan)
Defensive Backs - Lee Braunagel, Sr. (Bismarck), Brennan Doan, Sr. (Century), Matt Grounds, Sr. (Jamestown), Nathan Schmidt, Sr. (Mandan), Josh Seibel, Sr. (Bismarck), Dylan Skabo, Jr. (Dickinson), Drew Wiseman, Sr. (Century), Brady Zittleman, Jr. (Mandan)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Kickers - Ben Love, Jr. (Minot), Dominic Neameyer, Jr. (Century)
Punters - Jared Fischer, Sr. (Century), Levi Jordhiem, Jr. (Dickinson), Tyler Sadowsky, Sr. (Mandan)
Return Specialist - Brady Zittleman, Jr. (Mandan)

HONORABLE MENTION
Bismarck - Brennan Fetch, Sr. LB; Nick Goulet, Sr. DB
Century - Ryan Gesellchen, Sr. RB; Chirs Kraft, So. LB
Minot - Kimani Benjamin, Jr. WR/DB; Josh Pizzo, Jr. DB
Dickinson - Jace Dukart, Jr. WR; Aaron Sayler, Jr. OL/DL
Jamestown - Rob Bollinger, Jr. OL/DL; Jordan Weil, Sr. LB
Mandan - Trex Opp, Sr. DL; Brady Skytland, Sr. LB
Williston - Isaac Erickson, Sr. DB; Caden Lerbakken, Sr. DB

Senior Athlete of the Year: Layne Johs (Bismarck)
Coach of the Year: Barry Holmen (Minot)

I am confused. How can you lead the Bismarck High defense in tackles and not make ALL REGION? Brennan Fetch led the defense this year in solo and assisted tackles. Also, Nick Goulet is a better safety than Drew Wiseman. The two athletes went up against each other twice on the field, both were jump balls, and of course Nick Goulet intercepted both of them. Let's look at how these century athletes did when going up against an actual good team. In my opinion, Nick Goulet and Brennan Fetch are definitely more deserving than Brennan Doan.

Why does Williston have two all region linebackers?

Does anyone know how this process works?? I can think of quite a few players that were absolute stand outs this year and were left off this list. Is this list just handing out ribbons for participating, or are people really interested who the top players are??

It is voted on by the coaches.

Is there a website for this? Can you see how each coach voted?

Not sure about the east so much but i think the west should be filled with Bismarck, Century, Minot and a few Dickinson kids. Im surprised to see such diversity throughout teams

funtowatch wrote:Does anyone know how this process works?? I can think of quite a few players that were absolute stand outs this year and were left off this list. Is this list just handing out ribbons for participating, or are people really interested who the top players are??

Each team gets to nominate so many players from there team and then the coaches vote on it... Im sure thats why more bismarck high kids are not on it as they are limited with nominations

It is filled with Bismarck,century,Minot and a few Dickinson kids. There is only a couple williston and Jamestown kids

If it is limited, like returnman7 said, why does century have 11 players represented and Bismarck only 8?

Snapalopes wrote:If it is limited, like returnman7 said, why does century have 11 players represented and Bismarck only 8?

Century has a few players who made offensively and defensively

I really feel bad for the boys who deserve to be on this list but were left off. Sounds like this list is to political. Unfortunately, this also discredits those who made the list. You all worked hard and deserve high praise for your efforts.

Im sure players, fans and coaches all read these blogs. Players keep your chins up. Im sure all the players on both sides of the ball know who deserves to be recognized. Fans(i am one) we are all bias so its hard to understand when we see something like this. Coaches/voters, if it's true you are the only people that vote on this, you fail the kids when you make it political. Without naming names, can you really justify your votes? Would you be willing for your votes to be public?

My guess is most of the players on it completely deserve to be there and it's only a handful that were slighted. This still doesn't make it right.

I would love to hear from some coaches, players and fans. You don't have to give your name but please state which catagory you fall into.

I am a fan. (I know I have bias, so prove me wrong)

Pretty big joke if you ask me. Bismarck High who had probably the best ND defense in over 20 years, possibly ever, has four kids make all region on that side of the ball? Disappointed to see that their defense didn't get the credit it deserves. Note also that Century had six kids make all region defensively, I would go as bold as saying this.. Not a single kid on Century's defense would of started this year for Bismarck's defense yet BHS has four kids make it defensively and Century has 6 make it on D. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I think it's pretty obvious there was a mistake in judgement made there.

Snapalopes wrote:If it is limited, like returnman7 said, why does century have 11 players represented and Bismarck only 8?

The coaches didn't all vote for the bismarck kids? In my mind because they felt bad ... It's gotta be tough losing two state championships in a row

I would love to see each of the kids on this all region team go head to head with any defensive starter for BHS, I would love to see this. All defensive backs deserve to be on this list, not one team had any sort of success against them. They could have the first and a few second string backers from BHS on this also.. think back to all of those games, maybe one big play on them all year, it's not stopped by one player, it is stopped by all 11 of them, which is why most of them should be on here..the first guy gets ahold of him and the other ten appear to swarm around and knock the ball carrier out. Superior D by BHS, they all deserve this award.

ndpreps00 wrote:Pretty big joke if you ask me. Bismarck High who had probably the best ND defense in over 20 years, possibly ever, has four kids make all region on that side of the ball? Disappointed to see that their defense didn't get the credit it deserves. Note also that Century had six kids make all region defensively, I would go as bold as saying this.. Not a single kid on Century's defense would of started this year for Bismarck's defense yet BHS has four kids make it defensively and Century has 6 make it on D. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I think it's pretty obvious there was a mistake in judgement made there.

I couldn't agree more with your sentiment. The voting process for all-region and all-state teams are a complete joke. The don't come close to picking the right players. The sad part can be is maybe some college doesn't pursue you as hard cause they get lazy and look at region teams instead of the game tape. As far as CHS players playing on BHS defense this year you could make an agruement for Grant Gall and Drew Wiseman, but the other ones would not have started on BHS

Body Blow wrote:

ndpreps00 wrote:Pretty big joke if you ask me. Bismarck High who had probably the best ND defense in over 20 years, possibly ever, has four kids make all region on that side of the ball? Disappointed to see that their defense didn't get the credit it deserves. Note also that Century had six kids make all region defensively, I would go as bold as saying this.. Not a single kid on Century's defense would of started this year for Bismarck's defense yet BHS has four kids make it defensively and Century has 6 make it on D. I don't mean to offend anyone, but I think it's pretty obvious there was a mistake in judgement made there.

I couldn't agree more with your sentiment. The voting process for all-region and all-state teams are a complete joke. The don't come close to picking the right players. The sad part can be is maybe some college doesn't pursue you as hard cause they get lazy and look at region teams instead of the game tape. As far as CHS players playing on BHS defense this year you could make an agruement for Grant Gall and Drew Wiseman, but the other ones would not have started on BHS

Yeah I agree with you for sure. And then on my other point about CHS kids starting on the BHS defense, Gall would of maybe been a rotational player on the BHS D-line, not a starter. And then obviously Wiseman is great, but would he really have started over any of BHS' secondary? Tough to say, I guess my personal opinion is no. Regardless I think everyone can agree, the defensive side of the all region and all state teams should of been filled with BHS kids and they didn't even have the most defensive players on the all region team which means they won't on the all state team either. That right there is one of the worst things I've seen happen with these end of year award teams, that D deserved more recognition.

I don't like the voting on this either but in the same just because Bismarck had a good D doesn't mean all there players should be on there. Some players are better if they are surrounded by other good players. It would be like saying that the whole bears defense should go to the pro bowl.

Story I have heard:
Each team gets a specific number of players based on the finish in the conference. (8,7,6,5,4,3,3)
Each player can be put up on both offense and defense.
The coaches vote on players ranking and they are not allowed to vote for their own players.

There is more to it but those are the guidelines.