-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Jakob Koopman of St. Edmond makes the catch for a first down against GTRA

Seven St. Edmond football players were named to the first team for eight-player, District 1.

The Gaels, who finished second in the district behind GTRA, also had two second team selections and an honorable mention pick.

Seniors Ethan Swisher, Jakob Koopman, Koleman Hanson, Grant Galles and Kinnick Henning were joined on the first team by junior Aaron Hindt and sophomore Coltin Fevold.

Fevold was one of just three sophomores named to either the first team offense or defense within the district.

Making the second team from St. EdmFond were senior Max Webster and junior Jacob Nieland, as freshman Blake Bartlett earned honorable mention status.

“I was really pleased with all of our all-district selections,” SEHS head coach Matt Dillon said. “It was a loaded district with a lot of really talented players, and we were one of those top teams with some really great players.”

Newell-Fonda had three first team picks in Jacksyn Hogrefe, Lincoln Gauley and Trevor Tauber, as three others made the second team and three more were honorable mention.

Swisher, a two-year starter at quarterback, completed 70 percent of his passes in district games, throwing for 825 yards with 13 touchdowns. He also had 176 yards rushing and two more scores.

Koopman was the leading receiver for the Gaels, catching 26 passes for 431 yards and six scores.

Hanson had 34 touchbacks on 36 attempts, adding five made extra-points and a field goal. He also recorded 19 tackles and forced two fumbles on defense.

“Our kids always gave it their all and I think the other coaches in the district noticed that,” Dillon said. “When I put kids up for nomination, there wasn’t any real disagreement because they understand just how valuable our kids were to our success.”

Galles picked off three passes, returning one for a score. In addition, he was named the specialist MVP after returning two punts back for touchdowns while averaging almost 18 yards per kickoff return.

Henning recorded 297 yards rushing and scored five touchdowns, four tackles for loss and three sacks.

Hindt had 343 yards rushing, 187 yards receiving on 13 receptions and scored nine offensive touchdowns. He returned a kick for a 10th score and made a team-leading 32 tackles.

Fevold had 21.5 tackles, including five for loss and a sack, all while forcing three fumbles.

Nieland, a starter on both the offensive and defensive lines, had seven tackles with a sack while Bartlett, who also played both ways, finished with 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack.

“Aaron, Coltin, Jacob and Blake will be our building blocks moving forward,” Dillon said. “While we lost some very good players, I like what we have coming back to work around.”

Webster, who returned to the field following a knee surgery, was presented with the Golden Award which goes to an injured player who was all-district the year prior.

Mark McDermott was named the assistant coach of the district and Galles claimed specialist MVP status.

Teagan Hanson of GTRA was named the offensive MVP, Tyler Koch from Kingsley-Pierson earned defensive MVP honors and Todd Hough from GTRA was the coach of the year.

EIGHT-PLAYER, DISTRICT 1

First Team

Offense

Teagan Hansen, GTRA, QB; Kenny Ness, GTRA, RB; Aaron Hindt, St. Edmond, RB; Tyler Koch, Kingsley-Pierson, RB; Jaxson Schnell, GTRA, WR; Jacksyn Hogrefe, Newell-Fonda, WR; Jakob Koopman, St. Edmond, TE; Tyler Wallace, Harris-Lake Park, OL; Jackson Neumann, Kingsley-Pierson, OL; Lincoln Gauley, Newell-Fonda, OL; Wyatt Wittrock, Harris-Lake Park, OL; Ethan Swisher, St. Edmond, U; Landon Howe, Kingsley-Pierson, U; Koleman Hanson, St. Edmond, K.

Defense

Luke Malm, GTRA, DL; Riley Vanderhoff, GTRA, DL; Kayden Bottorff-Beeson, Kingsley-Pierson, DL; Cal Harvey, Kingsley-Pierson, DL; Caleb Swedin, GTRA, LB; Coltin Fevold, St. Edmond, LB; Wyatt Klaschen, Kingsley-Pierson, LB; Grant Galles, St. Edmond, DB; Easton Nissen, Kingsley-Pierson, DB; Gavin Trapp, Kingsley-Pierson, U; Kinnick Henning, St. Edmond, U; Tayt Huff, Harris-Lake Park, Ret.; Trevor Tauber, Newell-Fonda, P.

Second Team

Offense

Dalton Klein, Remsen St. Mary’s, QB; Darius Rasmussen, Kingsley-Pierson, RB; Dayton Kneip, Remsen St. Mary’s, RB; Elijah Schroeder, Remsen St. Mary’s, RB; Gunnar Baron, Newell-Fonda, WR; Beau Johnson, Remsen St. Mary’s, WR; Will Farr, GTRA, TE/FB; Max Webster, St. Edmond, OL; Alexander McCoy, Kingsley-Pierson, OL; Ty Schuttpelz, Remsen St. Mary’s, OL; Sam Gerrietts, Remsen St. Mary’s, OL; Eli Schroeder, Kingsley-Pierson, U; Jaxson Nock, GTRA, K.

Defense

Jacob Nieland, St. Edmond, DL; Jack Seglem, Kingsley-Pierson, DL; Kieryn Schmid, Kingsley-Pierson, DL; Liam Gauley, Newell-Fonda, DL; Brady Harris, GTRA, LB; Jackson Bellcock, Newell-Fonda, LB; Lucas Sheehan, Remsen St. Mary’s, LB; Sam Doeschot, Kingsley-Pierson, DB; Becket Rahe, Harris-Lake Park, DB; Tre Galles, Remsen St. Mary’s, U; Karter Evans, Harris-Lake Park, Ret.

Honorable Mention

St. Edmond — Blake Bartlett, DL.

Newell-Fonda — Will Voyles; Levi Lindgren; Brayden Johnson.