By ELI LUTGENS
Publisher/Editor
NRHEG head football coach Marc Kruger presented awards and gave a brief recap of the 2023 season during the Fall Athletic Banquet in the high school gymnasium Tuesday, Nov. 14.
The year did not begin well for the Panthers, but the regular season surely ended on a high note.
“Starting the year 0-4, a lot of teams could have packed it in, and thought it would be another down year,” Kruger said. “This group was special though. They did not give in, they did not give up, they truly stepped up.”
The Panthers went on to win four straight games, including a thriller with St. Clair in the season finale to clinch the team's first home playoff game since 2018.
“I am extremely proud of what this team accomplished this season,” Kruger stated. “Every practice they came ready to get better, and it certainly showed by the end of the season.
“I want to thank our seniors, Jaylin, Sam, Jackson, Reese, Zander, Garret, and George. They were truly great leaders who helped us get the program back on the track we want it.”
Kruger thanked all of the coaches, staff, film guys, parents, custodians, administration, and most of all, “our players.”
The following awards were then handed out:
MVP: Alden Dobberstein
MV Offensive back: Dobberstein
MV Defensive back: Carter Flatland
MV Offensive lineman: Jace Ihrke
MF Defensive lineman: George Roesler
Scout player of the year: Ryan Schlaak
Captains: Dobberstein, Roesler, Reese Routh
The following players were recognized for a Spotlight on Scholarship award for earning a Grade Point average of 3.0 or better: Owen Bartlett, Justin Beauvais, Jordan Brouwers, Jackson Chrz, Harbor Cromwell, Garett Degen, Dobberstein, Kaleb Hughes, Cole Hutchins, Jace Ihrke, DeShawn Jones, Jase Knudson, Wyatt Larson, Gavin Lewison, Carter Martens, Noah Miranda, Samuel Olson, Deven Parpart, Carmine Raab, Jaylin Raab, Roesler, Routh, Logan Schiell, Aidan Schlaak, Trevor Selover, Seth Staloch.
Earning All-District Academic Honors for a GPA of 3.5 or better were:
Bartlett, Brouwers, Chrz, Cromwell, Degen, Dobberstein, Hutchins, Jones, Larson, Lewison, Martens, Miranda, Olson, Carmine Raab, Jaylin Raab, Roesler, Routh, Schiell, Aidan Schlaak, Selover.
Earning Academic All-State recognition was Roesler. He was one of 15 chosen in all of Class AA.
Earning all-district honors were: Dobberstein, Roesler, Ihrke, Bartlett, and Chrz.
All-district honorable mentions: Olson, Routh and Jaylin Raab.
This year’s Count on Me award went to Roesler.
District Underclassman of the Year went to Dobberstein.
Earning District Assistant Coach of the Year honors was Neil Fuchs.
Panthers who lettered this year: Parpart, Hutchens, Flatland, Knudson, Jordan Brouwers, Jaylin Raab, Larson, Olson, Aiden Schlaak, Jackson Chrz, Dobberstein, Routh, Bartlett, Flatness, Staloch, Degen, Cromwell, Roesler, Martens, Ihrke, Jayden Flemming.
Other coaches and/or football assistants are Neil Fuchs, Shawn Larson, Jeff Jimenez, Chad Sykes, Aaron Gilliland, Loren Skelton and Dan Schmidt.