By DOUG DONNELLY
Noah Bauman became the first player in Whiteford football history today to be named Associated Press First Team All-State for three consecutive seasons.
Bauman, a senior, was a four-year starter for the Bobcats who started a school-record 43 straight games. He was a first team All-State lineman for three straight years.
His teammate, Cole Giesige, joined him on the First Team Division 7-8 squad, released today. Giesige made the team at running back. Bobcat quarterback Shea Ruddy was named to the second team at quarterback.
Giesige was among the state leaders in touchdowns with while Bauman anchored an offensive line that cleared the way for Giesige to rush for 1,353 yards and the team to average 6.8 yards per rush and have 64 rushing touchdowns. Ruddy passed for 1,230 yards and ran for another 786 yards.
Bauman is also the first Tri-County Conference player to win First Team honors three times. He not only excelled at offensive lineman, but he also had an outstanding year on defensive, making 55 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, nine sacks and four fumble recoveries. He returned one of those recoveries for a touchdown.
The Bobcats lost to state champion Hudson in the Division 8 semifinal at Adrian College. Hudson swept the Division 7-8 awards with running back/defensive back Nick Kopin winning player of the year and coach Dan Rogers winning coach of the year honors.
Kopin had a great season for the Tigers, rushing for 1,616 yards and scoring 18 touchdowns. In the state finals he rushed for 131 yards, scored both Hudson touchdowns and was a key defensive player for the Tigers. He was one of three Tigers to win All-State honors. The others included lineman Cameron Kimball and linebacker Payton Rogers.
Sand Creek’s John Alexander (RB) and Summerfield’s Nathan Herrmann (DB) earned second team honors from the Associated Press. Summerfield’s Brandon Thompson made the honorable mention list.
Alexander rushed for 1,645 yards, averaging 9.1 yards per carry, and scored 22 overall touchdowns. He averaged 32.3 yards per kick return.
Herrmann made 41 tackles at his defensive back slot for Summerfield and had three interceptions. Thompson started the season at wide receiver, catching 14 passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns, then moved to running back and rushed for 1,086 yards, including a school-record 325 yards in one game.
Britton Deerfield had two players honored by Associated Press in the 8-Player All-State football squad announced Monday. Nico Johnson was a first team choice as an athlete after rushing and passing for 1,000 yards and Connor Alcock made the second team at linebacker.
Here’s a complete list of TCC athletes to be First Team All-State by the Associated Press:
Running backs
Mike Servoss, Britton, 1974
Jamie LaRocca, Summerfield, 1977
Jim Slatick, Britton, 1979
Phil McCaskey, Morenci, 1983
Mike Holmes, Sand Creek, 1985
Scott VanDeVelde, Sand Creek, 1987
Josh Bailey, Sand Creek, 1991, 1992
Matt Eggleston, Britton-Deerfield, 1998
George Flanner, Whiteford, 2006
Josh Golkiewicz, Summerfield, 2013
Mathew Sexton, Clinton, 2014, 2015
Will Alexander, Sand Creek, 2020
Cole Giesige, Whiteford, 2021
Quarterbacks
Pat McIntyre, Sand Creek, 1977
Mike Crots, Summerfield, 1986
Chad Edison, Morencei, 1988
Eric Boring, Sand Creek, 1989
Rob Dancer, Britton, 1990
Jason Boring, Sand Creek, 1992
Receivers
Neil Herriman, Sand Creek, 1977, 1978
Bill Stahl, Summerfield, 1978
Rob Bentley, Morenci, 1990
Nick Ivan, Britton, 1990
Mike Holmes, Sand Creek, 1984
Mike Shadewald, Sand Creek, 1996
Josh DuPree, Whiteford, 2007
Robert McIntyre, Whitmore Lake, 2008
Zach Brewer, Madison, 2009
Eric Cogan, Summerfield, 2009
Steve Schankin, Summerfield, 2012
Placekicker
Fred Kutzke, Whiteford, 1993, 1994
Punter
Chris Palms, Sand Creek, 2000
Torin Merillat, Morenci, 2014
Lineman
Doug Armstrong, Britton, 1974
Jerry O’Connor, St. Thomas, 1975
Craig Wagenshutz, Britton, 1975
Mike McIntyre, Sand Creek, 1978
Dan Hoffman, Morenci, 1983
Jason Derby, Sand Creek, 1987, 1988
John Iott, Whiteford, 1989
Gary Ford, Sand Creek, 1991
Chad Damon, Sand Creek, 1992
Jeff McVay, Morenci, 1996
Travis McDowell, Morenci, 1997
Jason Briggs, Britton-Deerfield, 1998 1999
Blake Brosamer, Britton-Deerfield, 1999, 2000
Lucas Tesznar, Whiteford, 2016, 2017
Noah Bauman, Whiteford, 2019, 2020, 2021
Linebackers
Dustin Reckner, Morenci, 1995
Dustin Scharer, Sand Creek, 1996
Nick Wohlfarth, Whiteford, 2002
Matt Williams, Sand Creek, 2004, 2005
Jake Gilstorff, Summerfield, 2010
Josh Reau, Britton-Deerfield, 2012
Harley McCaskey, Morenci, 2017
Ethan Eyler, Summerfield, 2020
Defensive back
Rico Sambiago, Summerfield, 1980
Mike Nieman, Summerfield, 1989, 1990
Chris Mansfield, Morenci, 1996
Alex Thomas, Morenci, 2014
All-Purpose/Athlete
Chase Blake, Summerfield, 2010
Coach
Ed Schindler, Whitmore Lake, 2002
Ernie Ayers, Sand Creek, 2006
TRI-COUNTY CONFERENCE 