Thirteen from Cheyenne earn all-state football nods

Nov. 20—CHEYENNE — Class 4A runner-up Cheyenne East landed eight players on the Wyoming Coaches Association all-state team, which was released Monday morning.

Seniors Kolbe Dierks, Camden Hayes, Drew Jackson, Nathan Mirich and Colby Olson earned the second all-state nods of their careers, while classmates Brenden Bohlmann, Renton Jensen and Caleb Ruff picked up their first honors.

The Thunderbirds were 10-2 on the season, and finished as 4A runners-up for the second consecutive season.

Hayes, a unanimous pick at quarterback, led the state in all-purpose average (289.3 yards per game) and passing average (230.2 ypg), and ranked ninth in rushing average (58.7 ypg). He threw for 32 touchdowns against just four interceptions while completing 66% of his passes. Hayes also rushed for 10 scores.

Jackson was a unanimous selection at running back after ranking fourth in the state in rushing at 78.3 yards per game to go with 21 touchdowns. He also was 4A's third-leading receiver at 64.4 yards per game with six touchdowns. His average of 172.2 all-purpose yards ranked fourth in the state.

Jackson also was picked for the all-state team as a defensive back, notching 57 tackles (26 solo and two for loss), two interceptions, four pass breakups and a defensive touchdown.

Dierks, a unanimous pick at linebacker, ranked seventh in 4A in defensive points per game (13.2). His 106 tackles were most in the state. He had 36 solo stops and 8 1/2 tackles for loss to go with 3 1/2 sacks. Dierks also forced two fumbles.

Olson was tabbed to the all-state list at three different spots, including offensive line.

As a defensive lineman, Olson was fourth in 4A in defensive points per game (13.7). He tallied 84 tackles (42 solo and 22 for loss) with 6 1/2 sacks, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Olson also was 4A's top punter at 39.6 yards per attempt, with a long of 62 yards, which earned him the distinction of being a unanimous all-state pick on special teams.

Mirich earned all-state honors on both sides of the football. He ranked ninth in the state in receiving average at 43.2 yards per game to go with four touchdowns. Mirich's 54 receptions were tied with Jackson for the most in 4A. As a linebacker, Mirich posted 64 tackles (24 solo and 2 1/2 for loss), a sack and three pass breakups.

Bohlmann was tabbed as a defensive back, tallying 17 tackles (10 solo and two for loss). He also corralled three interceptions, broke up five passes and had a defensive touchdown.

Jensen earned his all-state nod as a receiver, where he averaged 51.2 yards per game with a state-best 11 touchdowns.

Ruff was an all-state honoree as an offensive lineman. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder was East's left tackle, and was a unanimous All-East Conference pick on the line.

Cheyenne Central saw seniors Mason Counter, Miles Porwoll and Colton Prindle joined on the all-state team by junior Brycen Bailey. Counter and Prindle were both second team all-state picks in 2022.

Counter tied Campbell County junior Trent Rosenau for the top rushing average in the state at 110.7 yards per game. Counter also found the end zone eight times for the Indians, who went 4-6 and reached the state playoffs.

Porwoll was tabbed to the all-state squad as a defensive back. He had 24 tackles (15 solo and one for loss) to go with six pass breakups and a fumble recovery.

Prindle was an all-state defensive lineman. He posted 52 tackles (23 solo and eight for loss) to go with two sacks and a pass breakup.

Bailey — a 5-11, 245-pounder — was picked for the all-state team as an offensive lineman.

Cheyenne South senior Keelan Anderson was a unanimous selection at kicker. He booted a 61-yard field goal Sept. 22, which broke a state record that had stood since 1982. Anderson had four of the five longest field goals in 4A this season, which included kicks of 57 and 53 yards.

All of the all-state picks had to be voted onto their respective all-conference teams. This season, the East Conference was comprised of the teams that finished second, fourth, sixth, eighth and 10th in the standings. The West was made up of the first-, third-, fifth-, seventh- and ninth-place teams.

Jackson was a unanimous pick for 4A East offensive player of the year, while Dierks and Olson were unanimous selections for the league's defensive player and lineman of the year honors, respectively. East coach Chad Goff was recognized as the league's coach of the year.

Central senior Tyler Gaer was a first team all-conference pick on both the offensive and defensive lines. Junior linebacker Tate Berry, senior defensive back Marcus DeHoff and senior punter/kicker Brock Pedersen were also first team all-league selections.

East also had junior offensive lineman Jesse Kirkbride and senior defensive linemen Eric Resendiz and Jason Zahm earn first team all-conference accolades.

Burns junior Tagr Holmes was an All-Class 2A selection. He had 56 tackles (24 solo and 4 1/2 for loss) while recovering a fumble and blocking a kick for the Broncs (1-8).

Burns also landed junior Mason Medley and senior Jesse Tarango on the All-East Conference team.

Pine Bluffs had senior Mitchell Birkhofer and junior Shawn Shmidl voted onto the Class 1A nine-man list. Birkhofer had 37 tackles (16 solo and seven for loss), five sacks, four fumble recoveries and a forced fumble.

Shmidl caught 33 passes for 568 yards and four touchdowns. His 63.1 receiving yards per game were fourth-best in nine-man. Shmidl also had 88 tackles (37 solo and seven for loss), four sacks, a fumble recovery and four pass breakups.

Birkhofer and Shmidl were joined on the all-conference team by juniors Ethan Bomberger, Justin Lerwick and Ryan Mohren and senior David Merryfield.

The Hornets went 6-3 and made the nine-man playoffs this fall.

PREP FOOTBALL

ALL-STATE TEAMS

— Indicates a unanimous selection.

CLASS 4A

Offense

— Cheyenne Central: OL Brycen Bailey, jr., AL Mason Counter, sr.; Cheyenne East: QB Camden Hayes, sr., RB Drew Jackson, sr., WR Renton Jensen, sr., WR Nathan Mirich, sr., OL Colby Olson, sr., OL Caleb Ruff, sr.; Campbell County: WR Aidan Dorr, sr., RB Trent Rosenau, jr.; Natrona County: OL Noah Sides, sr.; Rock Springs: TE Goodness Okere, sr.; Sheridan: QB Dominick Berrettini, sr., OL Will Brooks, sr., OL D.J. Elchlinger, sr., RB Terran Grooms, sr., OL Alex Haswell, sr., WR Dane Steel, sr.; Thunder Basin: TE Cort Catlin, jr., RB P.J. Hatzenbuhler, sr., OL Kavontate Montgomery, sr., WR Landon Scalise, sr.

Defense

— Cheyenne Central: DB Miles Porwoll, sr., DL Colton Prindle, sr.; Cheyenne East: DB Brenden Bohlmann, sr., LB Kolbe Dierks, sr., DB Drew Jackson, sr., LB Nathan Mirich, sr., DL Colby Olson, sr.; Campbell County: LB Levi Palmer, sr.; Kelly Walsh: DL Kadon Boyce, sr.; Natrona County: LB Timothy Edmondson, sr., AL Beau Russell, sr., DL Danny Yates, sr.; Sheridan: DB Cody Dunham, sr., DL D.J. Elchlinger, sr., DL Alex Haswell, sr., LB Jackson Lynn, sr., DB Dane Steel, sr.; Thunder Basin: DL Peyton Brown, sr., DB P.J. Hatzenbuhler, sr., LB Logan Mendoza, jr.

Special teams

— Cheyenne East: P Colby Olson, sr., Cheyenne South: K Keelan Anderson, sr.; Sheridan: RS Dane Steel, sr.

CLASS 3A

Buffalo: Cohen Gossard, Will Hammond, Hayden Jawors, Eli Patterson, Lance Rabel; Cody: Maddax Ball, Wyatt Barton, Logan Class, Chase Hatch, Brady McCarten, Conner Moss, Trey Schroeder, Warren Sorensen, Trey Smith; Douglas: Carter Archuleta, Trey Rinn, Tegen Seeds; Evanston: Kai Barker, Drew Barker, Cohen Morrow, Brady Roberts; Jackson: Seb Brunner, Harrison Ward; Powell: Doug Bettger, Wyatt Blackmore, Dusty Carter, Jhett Schwahn, Trey Stenerson, Keona Wisnewski; Rawlins: Zachary Covolo, Jose Morales; Riverton: Darrick DeVries, Nick McIntosh, Ty Sheets; Star Valley: Garrett Carlson, Jayden Crook, Jesse Gibson, Cooper Lawson, Jesse Leavitt, Smith McClure, Bryson Nield, Clay Merritt, Grant Thompson, Lane Wiebelhaus; Worland: Brody Thiel.

CLASS 2A

Burns: Tagr Holmes; Big Horn: Keifer Dunham, Gavin Stafford, Avon Barney, Drew Heermann, Caleb Gibson, Kolby Butler; Cokeville: Jack Dayton, Micah Petersen, Jethro Autrey; Kemmerer: Gabe Emery; Lovell: Jared Magnus, Adnan Khan, Davin Crosby; Lyman: Carter Bradshaw, Morgan Hatch, Max Gregory, Sam Gregory; Mountain View: Carson Eardley, Justus Platts, Jayce Schultz; Coby Jones; Newcastle: Landon Hatheway; Pinedale: Jake Hammer; Thermopolis: Jessen Basse; Tongue River: Colter Hanft, Connor Cummins, Caleb Kilbride; Torrington: Ty Bennick, Bryce Hager, Brayden Frazier, Trey Parriott, Greysen Shields, Jacob Durrant, Kaiden Riggs, Kaden Romig; Upton-Sundance: Eli Gill, Keaton Mills; Wheatland: Jake Hyche, Brock Peasley, Bryce Stenson.

NINE-MAN

Pine Bluffs: Mitchell Birkhofer, Shawn Shmidl; Big Piney: Preston Bennett, Caden Clifford, Karsyn Gurr, Zach Murphy, Champ Snively, Ruben Stoutenberg, Dylan Woodward, Roger Young; Greybull: Lucas Bolzer; Lingle-Fort Laramie: Anthony Arnusch, Louden Bremer, Colt Brown, Cooper Smith; Lusk: Raynce Brott, Jackson Smith; Moorcroft: Braydnn Terry; Riverside: Curtis Strohschein, Ty Strohschein; Rocky Mountain: Rucker Jackson, Wil Loyning; Shoshoni: Quinton Clark; Southeast: Ayden Desmond, T.J. Moats, Cole Sauer, Tiegen Thompson; Wind River: Chris Burk, Cooper Frederick, Kyzaia Jones, Aidan Ruby, Blake Snyder, Joaquin Stevens, Brayden Tatro; Wright: Pace Garrett, Neikko Heimdale.

SIX-MAN

Burlington: Jordan Michaels, Joe Bassett, Hunter Aagard, Rykael Andrew, Weston Gotfredson, Jordan Casey; Snake River: Isaiah Skalberg, Seth Maxson, Bridger Cozzens, Tanner Dunca, Mason Jones; Encampment: Quade Jordan, Kaben Pickett, Ryan Miller; Dubois: Wyatt Trembly, Jonah Ord, Kaleb Gleim; Meeteetse: Joe Pina; Kaycee: Vuan Pierson; Hulett: Christian Reilly.

CLASS 4A ALL-EAST CONFERENCE

First team offense

— Cheyenne Central: WR Miles Porwoll, OL Brycen Bailey, OL Tyler Gaer, RB Mason Counter; Cheyenne East: TE Kolbe Dierks, WR Renton Jensen, WR Nathan Mirich, OL Caleb Ruff, OL/P Colby Olson, OL Jesse Kirkbride, QB Cam Hayes, RB Drew Jackson; Cheyenne South: OL James Hushbeck, RB Damien Pino; Campbell County: TE Garrett Herther, WR Aidan Dorr, WR Adam Gibson, OL Wyatt Herther, QB Mason Drube, RB Trent Rosenau; Kelly Walsh: OL Caleb Ortberg, AL Landon Walker.

Second team offense

Cheyenne Central: OL Dylan Teasley, P Brock Pedersen; Cheyenne East: WR/AL David Hondel, WR Brenden Bohlmann, OL Lucas Olivas, OL Eric Resendiz, OL Jaydin Hamm; Cheyenne South: TE Dane Barton, WR Trey Downham, OL Jacob Murphy; Kelly Walsh: WR Landon Walker, WR Kaecen Paden, OL Griffen Burnham, QB Carter Alvar, RB Kadon Boyce.

Honorable mention offense

Cheyenne Central: AL Brock Pedersen; Cheyenne South: WR Jaden McNeil, P Keelan Anderson, AL Noah Haggberg; Campbell County: WR Seth Peterson.

First team defense

— Cheyenne Central: DL Colton Prindle, DL Tyler Gaer, LB Tate Berry, DB Miles Porwoll, DB Marcus DeHoff, AL Brock Pedersen; Cheyenne East: DL Colby Olson, DL Eric Resendiz, DL Jason Zahm, LB Kolbe Dierks, LB Nathan Mirich, DB/RS Drew Jackson, DB Brenden Bohlmann, DB Renton Jensen; Cheyenne South: DL Chase Woodard, LB Noah Haggberg, DB Damien Pino, K Keelan Anderson; Campbell County: DL Raynor Ranum, LB Levi Palmer, DB Aidan Dorr; Kelly Walsh: DL Kadon Boyce, LB Ethan Hague.

Second team defense

Cheyenne Central: DL Dylan Teasley, LB Mason DeHoff, DB Lucas Linde, RS Miles Porwoll, K Brock Pedersen; Cheyenne East: LB/AL Caleb Ruff, LB Wyatt Dean, DB David Hondel; Cheyenne South: DL Daniel Serna-Perez, LB Layne Warburton, LB Carson Garey, DB Trey Downham; Campbell County: DL Josue Angulo, LB Patrick Lynch, DB Michael Biggs; Kelly Walsh: DL Caleb Ortberg, DL Griffen Burnham, DB Brayden Johnson.

Honorable mention

Cheyenne Central: LB Will Pauley; Cheyenne East: K Jaxon Miller; Cheyenne South: DL Skylar Smith, DB/RS Cameron Trujillo, DB Jaden McNeil; Campbell County: AL Michael Biggs; Kelly Walsh: LB Wyatt Humbel, RS Evan Martinez.

— Offensive player of the year: Drew Jackson, East.

— Defensive player of the year: Kolbe Dierks, East.

— Lineman of the year: Colby Olson, East.

Coach of the year: Chad Goff, East.

CLASS 4A ALL-WEST CONFERENCE

First team offense

— Laramie: WR Max Alexander; Natrona County: WR Rogan Potter, OL Noah Sides, OL Josh May, RB Will Cantrell; Rock Springs: TE Goodness Okere, WR Kael Anderson, OL Ethan Saunders, RB Brycen Coombs; Sheridan: WR Dane Steel, WR Cody Dunham, OL Alex Haswell, OL D.J. Elchlinger, OL Will Brooks, QB Dominick Berrettini, RB Terran Grooms, P Ty Gilbertson, AL Nahir Aguirre; Thunder Basin: TE Cort Catlin, WR Landon Scalise, OL Kavontae Montgomery, OL Caden Parker, QB Alonso Aguilar, RB P.J. Hatzenbuhler.

Second team offense

Laramie: OL Beau Wright, P Fisher Frude; Natrona County: TE Dallin Bertagnole, WR Dawson Clark, WR Aiden Youmans, OL Keegan Crow, OL Shawn Benson, OL Tays Turnbull, QB Trig Berens, RB/AL Beau Russell, RB Danny Yates; Rock Springs: QB Michael Faigl; Sheridan: OL Noah Williamson, RB Nahir Aguirre; Thunder Basin: TE Logan Mendoza, WR Antonio Avila, WR Parker Wagner, OL Kingston Hanson.

Honorable mention offense

Laramie: QB Fisher Frude; Natrona County: TE Charlie True, P Trig Berens, AL Porter Trabing; Rock Springs: OL Ethan Frady, OL Pablo Meza, OL Ranger Elkins, RB Sam Thornhill, P Michael Rubich, AL Michael Faigl; Sheridan: TE Jacob Ormseth, OL Justyce Lucas, OL Bridger Peldo, OL Payten Martineau, OL Kolin Custis, RB Kelten Crow; Thunder Basin: AL Antonio Avila.

First team defense

— Natrona County: DL Danny Yates, DL Joseph Sanchez, LB Timothy Edmondson, LB Beau Russell, DB Bridger Anderson, AL Tucker Sides; Rock Springs: LB Sam Thornhill, DB Andre Graves; Sheridan: DL Alex Haswell, DL D.J. Elchlinger, DL Noah Williamson, LB Jackson Lynn, LB Kolin Custis, DB/RS Dane Steel, DB Cody Dunham, DB Aiden O'Leary, K Ty Gilbertson; Thunder Basin: DL Peyton Brown, DL Jaxson Viergets, LB Logan Mendoza, DB P.J. Hatzenbuhler.

Second team defense

Laramie: DL Tyler Ennist, LB Kyler Roberts, LB Dakota Ledford, DB Fisher Frude, DB Max Alexander; Natrona County: DL Will Cantrell, DL Noah Sides, LB Tucker Sides, DB Rogan Potter, DB Gus Bertagnole, RS Beau Russell; Rock Springs: RS Kael Anderson, AL Goodness Okere; Sheridan: DL Payten Martineau, LB Terran Grooms; Thunder Basin: DL Riley Bertsch, LB Cort Catlin, DB Nolan Hottell, K Quinn Kalpin.

Honorable mention

Laramie: LB Bodie Livingston, LB Noah Kirsch, DB Evan Crum, K Fisher Frude, AL Porter Trabing; Natrona County: DL Logan Bonner, DL Charlie True, LB Peyton Maggi, LB Jameson Siemens, LB Sides, DB Dawson Clark, DB Zaven Thomas, K Rogan Potter; Rock Springs: DL Ethan Saunders, DL Goodness Okere, DL James Moore, LB Brycen Coombs, LB Josh Sain, DB Kael Anderson, DB Kyle Cahill, DB Trew Thompson, K Michael Rubich; Sheridan: DL Will Brooks, DL Beck Haswell, LB Kelten Crow, DB Dominick Berrettini, DB Ty Gilbertson, DB Breck Reed; Thunder Basin: AL Cort Catlin.

— Offensive player of the year: Dane Steel, Sheridan.

— Defensive player of the year: Dane Steel, Sheridan

— Lineman of the year: Alex Haswell, Sheridan.

Coach of the year: Jeff Mowry, Sheridan.