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TOP YOOPERS: All-U.P. Football Picks Announced
 MARQUETTE---The Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters announced their All-U.P. football teams Friday evening. A panel of 20 people met for seven hours at Northern Michigan University on Wednesday to come up with this list. The Negaunee Miners were easily picked as the U.P. Large School Team of the Year with their undefeated season. Iron Mountain was the unanimous pick for the U.P. Small School Team of the Year. Both the Miners and Mountaineers have state semifinal games this Saturday. Negaunee Coach Paul Jacobson was picked as Coach of The Year, after leading the Miners to the fourth round of the D-6 playoffs for the first time in years. He received ten votes, with Iron Mountan Coach Rob Marttila finishing second with seven.
The Offensive Player of the Year honors went to Kingsford wide receiver Nic Nora, with 16 votes. Gladstone's Cole Potier was runner up with four votes. On defense, Marquette's Pete Closner got U.P. Defensive Player of the Year,getting 14 of the 20 votes. Negaunee's Easton Palomaki had four votes and Gladstone's Austin Solis got two votes.
The Gladstone Braves had six players named to the Dream Team, two to the First Team, and one honorable mention pick. The Braves won the Great Northern Conference and District Championships in compling a 9-3 record, their best in 15 years. The Miners had six Dream Team selections as well, with Phil Nelson getting the nod in two diferent categories. UPSSA rules state that a player can receive a special teams award in addition to an either offensive or defensive award. A player cannot get honors in both offense and defense. 2022 All-UP Football Team Offensive Player of the Year: Nic Nora, Kingsford Defensive Player of the Year: Pete Closner, Marquette Large School Team of the Year: Negaunee Small School Team of the Year: Iron Mountain Coach of the Year: Paul Jacobson, Negaunee Mitchell Snyder Lineman of the Year: John Burke, Sault Ste. Marie
Center: Vinny Howes, Gladstone, 6-0, 225, Jr. Guard: Drake Spickerman, Sault Ste. Marie, 5-11, 260, Sr. Guard: Lucas Sischo, Bark River-Harris, 5-9, 230, Jr. Tackle: John Burke, Sault Ste. Marie, 6-3, 295, Sr. Tackle: Dasan Smith, Marquette, 6-5, 285, Jr. Quarterback: Nate Young, Gladstone, 5-8, 185, Jr. Running back: Vincent Martin, Bark River-Harris, 5-11, 195, Sr. Running back: Nico Lukkarinen, Negaunee, 5-11, 205, Sr. Running back: Cole Potier, Gladstone, 6-0, 205, Sr. Wide receiver: Nic Nora, Kingsford, 5-11, 175, Sr. Wide receiver: Trent Lawson, Escanaba, 5-10, 170, Sr.
Tackle: Jed Anderson, Negaunee, 5-11, 225, Sr. Tackle: Josh Racine, Gladstone, 6-0, 240, Jr. Tackle: Max Wiljanen, Westwood, 5-8, 205, Sr. End: Noah Johnson, Kingsford, 6-1, 215, Jr. End: Ross Pugh, Manistique, 6-1, 185, Sr. Linebacker: Pete Closner, Marquette, 6-4, 225, Sr. Linebacker: Easton Palomaki, Negaunee, 6-0, 175, Sr. Linebacker: Austin Solis, Gladstone, 5-8, 155, Jr. Back: Luke Wolf, Iron Mountain, 5-11, 200, Jr. Back: Phil Nelson, Negaunee, 6-1, 180, Sr. Back: Braden Sundquist, Gladstone, Sr. Special Teams Kicker: Bradon Farragh, Iron Mountain, 5-10, 200, Sr. Punter: Kaiden Brown, Escanaba, 6-1, 170, Sr. Return specialist: Phil Nelson, Negaunee, 6-1, 180, Sr.
Offense Center: Tyler Smith, Menominee, Jr. Guard: Adam Horrigan, Sault Ste. Marie, 5-11, 260, Sr. Guard: Travis Hyrkas, Calumet, 6-0, 200, Jr. Tackle: Garrett Veale, Kingsford, 6-1, 220, Jr. Tackle: Marcus Verrette, Iron Mountain, 5-11, 280, Sr. Quarterback: Joe Colavecchi, Iron Mountain, 6-1, 180, Sr. Running back: Kaeden Calcari, Menominee, 5-11, 180, Sr. Running back: Cole Myllyla, Kingsford, 5-11, 165, Sr. Running back: Ryver Rycheghem, Sault Ste. Marie, 5-8, 165, Jr. Wide receiver: Gaborik Carlson, Houghton, 6-1, 180, Sr. Wide receiver: Tyler Darmogray, Gladstone, 5-8, 160, Sr. Defense Tackle: AJ Prosser, Ishpeming, 6-3, 210, Sr. Tackle: Colin Schneider, Iron Mountain, 5-10, 155, Sr. Tackle: Javon Shelifoe, L’Anse, Sr. End: Callen Campbell, Sault Ste. Marie, 6-4, 235, Jr. End: Levi Kilpela, Calumet, 6-5, 270, Sr. Linebacker: Corbin LaFave, Bark River-Harris, 5-10, 225, Sr. Linebacker: Bradon Farragh, Iron Mountain, 5-10, 200, Sr. Linebacker: Mitch Cartwright, Gladstone, 5-10, 175, Sr. Linebacker: Eli Van Buren, Negaunee, 6-0, 225, Sr. Back: Matthew Colavecchi, Iron Mountain, 6-0, 170, Jr. Back: Sebastian Compton, Sault Ste. Marie, 5-5, 155, Sr. Back: Aksel Loukus, Calumet, 5-9, 160, Sr. Special Teams Kicker: Ethan McDonald, Sault Ste. Marie, Sr. Punter: Kordell Killscrow, St. Ignace, Jr. Return specialist: Preston Gauthier, Ishpeming, 5-10, 180, Sr. Special mention (receiving two or more votes) Breydan Dunstan, Negaunee, OT, 5-11, 240, Sr.; Aidan Rajala, Ishpeming, OT, 6-0, 230, Sr.; Lucas Thoune, Menominee, OT, Soph.; Casey Bray, Escanaba, QB, 6-0, 175, Sr.; Preston Gauthier, Ishpeming, RB, 5-10, 180, Sr.; Ben Johnson, Escanaba, RB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Jerzee Karki, Westwood, RB, 6-1, 175, Sr.; Amar Patterson, Calumet, RB, 6-1, 180, Sr.; Honorable mention Colton Berglund, Gwinn, G, 6-3, 270, Sr.; Austin Hutchens, Gwinn, OT, 6-0, 270, Jr.; Brayden Martin, Ishpeming, OT, 6-0, 240, Jr.; Ethan Ives, Bark River-Harris, QB, 5-9, 180, Jr.; Ethan McLean, St. Ignace, QB, Jr.; Trevor Theuerkauf, Menominee, QB, 5-10, 170, Jr.; Landon Bardowski, Menominee, RB, 5-9, 170, Jr.; Trevor Halonen, Hancock, RB, 5-8, 155, Sr.; Josh Petreson, Kingsford, RB, 5-11, 190, Jr.; Hunter Smith, Ishpeming, RB, 5-9, 165, Jr.; |
