A total of seven Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Hawks received recognition as the 2023 Class A District 1 All-District Football Teams were released. HMS players on the all-district first team were Bradley Van Beek, James Gellerman and Ethan Wiersma. Hawks selected to the second team were Adam Schierholz and Ethan Huberg. Receiving honorable mention were Evan Eilers and Slayton McCarter. Van Beek, Wiersma, Schierholz, Huberg and Eilers are seniors. Gellerman and McCarter are juniors. HMS tied for sixth in the District with a record of 1-5. The complete list of All-District selections with grade follows:
FIRST TEAM
Bradley Van Beek, SR, James Gellerman, JR, Ethan Wiersma, SR, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn; Laytin Kock, SR, Tatum Wilken, JR, Jackson Marnach, SR, Jack Terpstra, SR, Ian Blowe, SR, Carter Wilken, SR, Ashton McCully, SR, Treyden Goodman, SR, Akron-Westfield; Jonah Petersen, SR, Kyler Bork, SR, Owen Schroeder, SR, Mitchell Schnepf, SR, Cody Evans, SR, Dawson Pick, SR, Jace Colling, JR, MMCRU; Will Harpenau, SR, Kale Pearson, JR, Cole McCarty, JR, Nolan Nilles, SR, Dylan Poeckes, JR, Gabe Wiltgen, SR, Gehlen Catholic; Gavin Sleezer, JR, Angel Barajas, JR, DJ Rodriguez, SR, Hayden Garlow, JR, Alta-Aurelia; Michael Block, SR, Cassidy Henricks, SR, Kayne Julius, JR, Dawson Kreykes, SO, Sibley-Ocheyedan; Derek Paulsen, JR, Justin Paulsen, SR, Mitchell Enger, SR, South O’Brien.
SECOND TEAM
Adam Schierholz, SR, Ethan Huberg, SR, HMS; Lane Hemmelrick, JR, Connor Wendel, SR, A-W; Brayson Mulder, SO, Michael Peterson, JR, MMCRU; Chance Kallsen, SR, Drake Hodgson, FR, Gehlen; Ridge Cargin, JR, Camden Reinert, SO, A-A; Noah Doeden, SR, Dominic Marco, SO, S-O; David Bottjen, SR, Willie Conley, SR, South O’Brien.
HONORABLE MENTION
Evan Eilers, SR, Slayton McCarter, JR, HMS; Kasey Nielson, SR, Tyler Wetrosky, SR, A-W; Grant Prescott, JR, Noah Galles, SR, MMCRU; Landen Reuter, SR, Dane Lehmann, SO, Gehlen; Zarek Napierala, JR, Brayden Westphal, JR, A-A; Dalton Wingate, SR, Gavin Stanton, SO, S-O; Justice Frerk, SR, Josh Gnade, SR, South O’Brien.
SPECIAL AWARDS
Offensive MVP: Jonah Petersen, SR, MMCRU.
Defensive MVP: Gavin Sleezer, JR, A-A.
Kicker: Jack Schoenfelder, SR, A-W.
Punter: Owen Schroeder, SR, MMCRU.
Specialist/Utility: Tatum Wilken, JR, A-W.
Lineman: Kasey Nielson, SR, A-W.
Head Coach: John Sievert, A-W.
Assistant Offensive Coach: Colin Youde, MMCRU.
Assistant Defensive Coach: Nick Jacobs, A-W.
FINAL DISTRICT RECORDS
Akron-Westfield 6-0
MMCRU 5-1
Gehlen Catholic 4-2
Sibley-Ocheyedan 2-4
Alta-Aurelia 2-4
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn 1-5
South O’Brien 1-5