Associated Press all-state football: Trio from Greater Lansing named to Division 7-8 first team
Troy Wertman was one of the top offensive playmakers for the Pewamo-Westphalia football team as it extended its league title streak to eight this season.
But the senior was also a major threat on special teams with his leg.
Wertman was honored for his success as a punter for the second straight season and repeated as an Associated Press first team all-state selection in Division 7-8.
Wertman, who is rated No. 12 nationally among upperclassmen by Kornblue Kicking, had 11 punts this fall and finished with a 45.5 yard average. He had three punts land inside the 20-yard line and a long of 62 yards for P-W, which shared the CMAC title with Fowler and Laingsburg.
Ithaca senior wide receiver Ethan Hull and Perry senior kicker Rease Teel were the other players from Greater Lansing voted first team all-state. Hull finished with 46 catches for 963 yards and 11 touchdowns and also added 30 tackles, an interception and a punt return for a score for the Yellowjackets, who won league and district championships.
Teel earned first team honors as a kicker after making 19 of 20 extra points and going 4 of 5 on field goals for Perry. He had a long of 39 yards and made a game-winning 34 field goal in the Ramblers' win over Saranac.
Carson City-Crystal, Fowler and Ithaca each had players selected second team all-state. Ithaca had a trio of players honored in lineman Brandon Pass, linebacker Kaleb Peska and defensive back Charlie Martyn.
Pass registered 59 tackles, 11 for loss, 7.5 sacks and forced two fumbles and was also a key offensive lineman for the Yellowjackets. Peska finished with 96 tackles, four for loss, an interception and two forced fumbles, whlle Martyn had 46 tackles, five interceptions and six passes defended.
Carson City-Crystal junior Grayson Ackels was honored at receiver and had 43 catches for 1,001 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Fowler junior Evan Curtiss earned recognition as a lineman. He contributed to an offense that had more than 2,500 yards on the ground and 1,400 passing yards. At defensive end, Curtiss finished with 23 tackles, including five for loss, and five sacks. Curtiss played a role in Fowler winning league and district championships.
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Contact Brian Calloway at bcalloway@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @brian_calloway.
ASSOCIATED PRESS ALL-STATE
The Michigan Associated Press Division 7-8 All-State football team.
DIVISION 7-8
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Shea Ruddy, Ottawa Lake-Whiteford, Sr.
FIRST TEAM
Quarterbacks
Shea Ruddy, Ottawa Lake-Whiteford, Sr.
Wyatt Nausadis, Traverse City St. Francis, Sr.
Running Backs
Ethan Wissner, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, Sr.
Derrick Walker, Jackson Lumen Christi, Sr.
Bart Laretz, Napoleon, Sr.
Brenden Haisenleder, Marine City Cardinal Mooney, Sr.
Wide Receivers
Ethan Hull, Ithaca, Sr.
Dakobe White, Evart, Jr.
Jaxon Childers, Benzonia Benzie Central, Jr.
Linemen
Tristan Duncan, Detroit Central, Sr.
Hunter Nysen, Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, Sr.
Jon Brzezinski, Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Sr.
Sam Gallo, North Muskegon, Sr.
Nolan Collins, Lawton, Jr.
Brayden Luse, Ottawa Lake-Whiteford, Sr.
Zac Affholter, Reading, Sr.
Michael Stevenson, Montrose, Sr.
Jaden Curry, New Lothrop, Sr.
Canden Peruski, Ubly, Jr.
Ben Straus, Beal City, Sr.
Parker Peruski, Ubly, Sr.
Mike Humphreys, Napoleon, Sr.
Mack Bontekoe, McBain, Sr.
Linebackers
Jake Iott, Ottawa Lake-Whiteford, Jr.
Mikel Good, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, Sr.
Joey Donahue, Traverse City St. Francis, Sr.
Easten Strodtman, Hudson, Sr.
Tagg Gott, Schoolcraft, Sr.
Defensive backs
Dontez Hicks, Detroit Central, Sr.
Luke Wolfe, Iron Mountain, Jr.
Jacob Hamilton, Reading, Sr.
Specialist
Hunter Hogan, Ravenna, Sr.
Kicker
Rease Teel, Perry, Sr.
Punter
Troy Wertman, Pewamo-Westphalia, Sr.
Coach of the Year
Herb Brogan, Jackson Lumen Christi
SECOND TEAM
Quarterbacks:
Preston Wallace, Evart, Jr.
Jack Kulhanek, New Lothrop, Jr.
Running backs:
Cole Hopkins, Evart, Sr.
Kyler Maiorana, Sterling Heights Parkway Christian, Jr.
Hunter DeBarr, Ottawa Lake-Whiteford, Jr.
Wide receivers:
Grayson Ackels, Carson City-Crystal, Jr.
Jaxon McGuigan, Manchester, Sr.
Linemen:
Luke Braun, Elkton-Pigeon-Bay Port Laker, Sr.
Brandon Pass, Ithaca, Jr.
Evan Curtiss, Fowler, Jr.
Ethan Morgan, Traverse City St. Francis, Sr.
Grayson Orr, New Lothrop, Sr.
Linebackers:
Garrett Hathaway, Traverse City St. Francis, Sr.
Seth Miller, White Pigeon, Sr.
Kaleb Peska, Ithaca, Sr.
Defensive backs:
Charlie Martyn, Ithaca, Sr.
Patrick Sterrett, Charlevoix, Sr.
Connor Boyer, East Jordan, Sr.
Specialist:
Joe Lathers, Jackson Lumen Christi, Sr.
Coach:
Todd Thieken, Ottawa Lake-Whiteford
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Football: See which Greater Lansing players were named D7-8 all-state
