WAC HONORS
BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Great Bend’s Western Athletic Conference champion dominated the all-league voting behind WAC Offensive Player of the Year Koy Brack, WAC Defensive Player of the Year Dalton Miller and Coach of the Year Erin Beck.
The Panthers finished 8-3 with a 28-21 loss to Maize High in the 5A quarterfinals. Great Bend (4-0) won the school’s ninth WAC football championship.
“The biggest thing we set is team goals and what you accomplish as a team,” said Great Bend coach Erin Beck. “If we achieve our goals, you’ll receive great recognition on the all-league team. The honors our players earned is well deserved.”
The 6-2 Brack passed for 2,203 yards and 22 touchdowns while averaging 201 yards per game.
“Koy Brack was the best player offensively in the league,” Beck said.
Miller earned WAC Defensive Player of the Year with 94 tackles, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries. His game-changing touchdowns on defensive plays swung the momentum against Dodge City and Garden City.
“Our two guys, Miller and Blake Penka were neck-and-neck,” Beck said. “The coaches liked Miller as a game-changer, a player who plays with instincts. He reads his keys, runs to the football and takes perfect angles for tackles. Dalton Miller is deserving of the award.”
First-team Panther offensive players were center Kaden Schroeder, right guard Payton Doll, tailback Gage Fritz and receiver Alex Schremmer. The Panthers averaged 395 yards per game. Fritz gained 1,184 yards and scored eight touchdowns. Schremmer broke single-season records with 1,178 yards, 15 touchdowns and a game-high 205 yards receiving.
First-team defensive players were linebacker Blake Penka and nose guard Pablo Martinez. Penka had 96 tackles, 13 for loss. Martinez had 65 tackles, 13 for loss.
Second-team choices were receivers Peyton Duvall and Calan Haberman, right tackle Andrew Wettengel, linebacker Joey Souipset, linebacker Brock Blessing, defensive end Alan Miramontes and defensive tackle Eric Vasquez.
ALL-WAC FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
GREAT BEND—QB—Koy Brack, 12; WR—Alex Schremmer, 11; TB—Gage Fritz, 11; RG—Payton Doll, 12; C—Kaden Schroeder, 12
DODGE CITY—QB—Beau Foster, 11; RB—Jaiel Johnson, 12; WR—John Johnson, 11; OL—Aaron Nelson, 11
HAYS HIGH—QB—Palmer Hutchison, 12; RB—Hayden Brown, 11
GARDEN CITY— OL—Refujio Chairez, 11
LIBERAL—QB—Syris Dunlap, 11
ALL-WAC FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
GREAT BEND—S—Dalton Miller, 11; LB—Blake Penka, 12; NG—Pablo Martinez, 12
GARDEN CITY—DB—Carlos Acosta, 12; LB—Reece Morss, 12; LB—Kaleb Lapointe, 12
DODGE CITY—LB—Jashon Taylor, 11; DL—Marcos Fisher; DL—Evan Darville, 12
HAYS HIGH—DB—Keaton Markley, 12; DL—Logan Schulte, 12
Offensive Player of Year—Koy Brack, Great Bend
Defensive Player of Year—Dalton Miller, Great Bend
Coach of Year—Erin Beck, Great Bend
SECOND TEAM OFFENSE
GREAT BEND—WR—Peyton Duvall, 11; WR—Calan Haberman, 12; RT—Andrew Wettengel, 12
HAYS HIGH—WR—William Sennett, 12; OL—Jack Fort, 12, OL—Luke Fletcher, 11
DODGE CITY—WR—ALden Knedler, 10; OL—Mark Arzaga, 12
GARDEN CITY—OL—Darrick Wells, 10; WR_Ryan Jarner, 12
LIBERAL—WR—Lee Hatcher, 11; WR—Hunter Hatcher, 11; RB—Braxton Hyde, 11
SECOND TEAM DEFENSE
GREAT BEND—LB—Joey Soupiset; LB—Brock Blessing; DE—Alan Miramontes; DL—Eric Vasquez
DODGE CITY—DB—Dejon Delgado, 11; DB—Cedric Rosales, 11; DL—Sam Mead, 12; LB—Tom Bermudez, 11
HAYS HIGH—DL—Chase Brous, 12; LB—Gavin Myers, 9
LIBERAL—LB—Jose Aguliera, 12
