Jets, Trojans rack up Great Lakes 8 West honors
IRON MOUNTAIN — After a back-and-forth battle on Friday that saw the North Central 8-player varsity team escape Crystal Falls with a 45-34 victory over Forest Park, it’s no surprise that a good portion of the Great Lakes 8 West Conference honors went to Jets and Trojans when awards were released Tuesday.
North Central senior Lane Gorzinski took home the top offensive honor, being named Great Lakes 8 West Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Jets’ head coach Leo Gorzinski also received an individual award, taking home conference Coach of the Year honors.
Forest Park senior Nikolas Stephens rounded out the individual awards, taking home the Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Forest Park senior Grayson Sundell (running back) was named to the First Team offense alongside North Central sophomore Kaden Malone (wide receiver), Trojans’ senior Matthew Showers (lineman), Forest Park senior Kevin Giuliani (lineman) and Jets’ senior Spencer Willa (lineman).
Lane Gorzinski’s name also popped up on the first team defense as a linebacker. He was joined on the list by Willa (lineman), Kevin Giuliani (lineman), Showers (lineman), North Central’s Aidyn Burton (defensive back) and Forest Park sophomore Vic Giuliani (defensive back).
Forest Park sophomore Dax Huuki (running back) was named to the second team offense alongside Forest Park junior Trent Kannich (hybrid).
Trojans’ senior Brody Starr received second team defense honors as a linebacker while Detrich Rasner was named to the All Conference specialists squad as a kicker.
North Central’s Malone received return specialist honors.
The entire list of awards, as voted on by coaches in the conference, are listed below.
Great Lakes 8 West
All Conference Awards
Offensive Player of the Year — Lane Gorzinski, North Central, senior
Defensive Player of the Year — Nikolas Stephens, Forest Park, senior
Coach of the Year — Leo Gorzinski, North Central
First Team Offense
Quarterback — Austin Gordon, Ontonagon, senior
Running Backs — Grayson Sundell, Forest Park, senior; Nate St. Onge, Lake Linden-Hubbell, senior
Wide Receiver — Caden Besonen, Ontonagon, senior; Kaden Malone, North Central, sophomore
Hybrid — Bode Lynott, Gogebic, senior
Lineman — Matthew Showers, Forest Park, senior; Kevin Giuliani, Forest Park, senior; Spencer Willa, North Central, senior
First Team Defense
Linebackers — Wyatt Aspinwall, Gogebic, senior; Evan Oja, Ironwood, senior; Lane Gorzinski, North Central, senior
Lineman — Spencer Willa, North Central, senior; Kevin Giuliani, Forest Park, senior; Matthew Showers, Forest Park, senior
Defensive backs — Aidyn Burton, North Central, senior; Vic Giuliani, Forest Park, sophomore; Caden Besonen, Ontonagon, senior
Hybrid — Jayden Verrett, Gogebic, sophomore
Second Team Offense
Quarterback — Brendan McCullough, Ironwood, junior
Running Backs — Dax Huuki, Forest Park, sophomore; Caden Besonen, Ontonagon, senior
Wide Receivers — Tyler Axford, Lake Linden-Hubbell, sophomore; Brody Bobula, Ontonagon, freshman; Ben Kaurala, Gogebic, senior
Hybrid — Trent Kannich, Forest Park, junior
Lineman — Eli Hewitt, Gogebic, junior; Copper Anderson, Gogebic, senior; Alex Drew, Lake Linden-Hubbell, senior
Second Team Defense
Linebackers — Brody Starr, Forest Park, senior; Leland Hollenbeck, Gogebic, junior
Lineman — Madden Sommer, Ironwood, junior; Matt Switzer, Gogebic, junior; and
Rex Strong, Ontonagon, senior
Defensive Backs — Josh Daavettila, Lake Linden-Hubbell, sophomore; Aiden Partanen, Gogebic, junior; Brody Bobula, Ontonagon, freshman
Hybrid — Danny Mikus, Lake Linden-Hubbell, senior; Eli Ruotsala, Ironwood, junior
All Conference Specialists
Kicker — Dietrich Rasner, Forest Park, sophomore; Leland Hollenbeck, Gogebic, junior
Punter — Patrick Perron, Gogebic, senior
Return Specialist — Kaden Malone, North Central, sophomore
Honorable Mention
Forest Park — Nate Bradish, senior
Gogebic — Patrick Hokans, junior
Ironwood — Landon Buerger, senior
Lake Linden-Hubbell — Brady Axford, sophomore
North Central — Kayden Dobson, sophomore
Ontonagon — Jack Nelson, junior
Report compiled by Daily News sports editor Sean Chase.