March 28, 2024

Sweeney, Witt make all-district first team

I-35’s Middleton, Vogel on first team

Clarke senior Dalton Sweeney and junior Gordon Witt both earned first team all-district honors in Class 2A District 6 as announced this week.

Sweeney, a 5-11, 170-pound senior, made the first team offense as a utility player.

The versatile senior did a little bit of everything for the Clarke offense. Sweeney finished 35-of-101 passing for 446 yards and two touchdowns, rushed 100 times for a team-high 434 yards and 11 touchdowns and also caught four passes for 108 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, Sweeney finished second on the team in tackles with 63 total tackles and recorded a team-high five interceptions.

Witt, a 5-11, 160-pound junior, made the first team as a linebacker.

Despite being undersized for a linebacker, Witt led the district in tackles with 117 total tackles, including a state-leading 90 total tackles. He also recovered six fumbles this season.

Interstate 35 senior Alex Middleton earned first team honors on offense as a running back. The 5-10, 180 pound senior carried the ball 207 times for 988 yards and seven touchdowns.

Fellow Interstate 35 senior Briar Vogel was a first team selection at linebacker. Vogel finished with 55 total tackles, including five solo tackles for loss. Vogel also finished with an interception.

Clarke’s 6-6, 270-pound senior Drew Wishon made the second team as an offensive lineman. Interstate 35 6-2, 240-pound senior Bobby Heilman earned second team defensive lineman honors.

Clarke center Damon Helgevold, offensive lineman Nathan Bair and defensive back Gunner Sergeant-Elben earned honorable mention.

The Indians had 14 players earn academic all-district. Those players were Wishon, Yahia Aly, Helgevold, Reed Kale, Junior Morales, Dustan Van Loon, Lane Carson, Caleb Hanson, Isaac Lewis, Gable Reece, Sergeant-Elben, Rich Wilkins, Bair and Brandyne Olin.

Class 2A District 6

All-District

(* — unanimous)

First team offense — Brett Leshen, Albia, Sr., QB; Nick Yarkowsky, Albia, So., OL; Andrew Meek*, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr., OL; Tanner Perry, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr., OL; Patrick Girard*, CMB, Jr., OL; Wayne Doerscher*, Davis County, Sr., OL; Jackson Winegar, PCM, Sr., OL; Griffin Osing, Albia, Sr., RB; Grant Peterson, Bondurant-Farrar, Jr., RB; Spencer Bassett, Davis County, Sr., RB; Alex Middleton, I-35, Sr., RB; Zach Hugen*, Albia, Sr., WR; Sam Duffy, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr., WR; Bryce Kemp, CMB, Jr., WR; Drake Fuller, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr., Utility; Dalton Sweeney, Clarke, Sr., Utility; Cole Schlenker, Bondurant-Farrar, So., P.

First team defense — Zach Samson*, CMB, Sr., DL; Dalton Folkerts, Albia, Sr., DL; Isaac Hougland, Davis County, Sr., DL; Brandon Charls, PCM, Sr., DL; Cole Schlenker, Bondurant-Farrar, So., DL; Cole Bailey*, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr., LB; Gordon Witt, Clarke, Jr., LB; Blake McWililams, PCM, Sr., LB; Briar Vogel, I-35, Sr., LB; Bryce Leshen, Albia, So., LB; Blake Bayer*, Albia, So., DB; Dillon Stafford*, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr., DB; Austin Moorman*, CMB, Sr., DB; Zachary Ulhenhopp*, PCM, Jr., DB; Ryan Sarver, Albia, Jr., Utility; Dillon Stafford, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr., K.

Second team offense — Justin Utt, Davis County, Sr., QB; Connor Meislahn, Bondurant-Farrar, Jr., OL; Drew Wishon, Clarke, Sr., OL; Glenn Gillaspie, PCM, Sr., OL; Cory Morris, CMB, Jr., OL; Ryan Romanco, Albia, So., OL; Ben Kincart, Davis County, So., OL; Tucker Ksaisek, Bondurant-Farrar, Jr., RB; Ronnie Marshall, PCM, Jr., RB; Matt Baker, Albia, Jr., RB; Luke Sarver, Albia, Jr., WR; Brady Stover, CMB, So., WR; Connor Young, Davis County, Sr., WR.

Second team defense — Brenden Bassett, Albia, So., DL; Luke Cummings, PCM, Sr., DL; Connor Davidson, Davis County, Jr., DL; Bobby Heilman, I-35, Sr., DL; Hugh Sinclair, Albia, Sr., LB; Clayton Beck, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr., LB; Clayton Weltha, CMB, Jr., LB; Justin Beener, PCM, Sr., LB; Mac Chilton, Davis County, Jr., LB; Shadow Leshen, Albia, Sr., DB; Dalton McLerran, Bondurant-Farrar, Sr., DB; Ricky Reeve, PCM, Jr., DB; Clay Hamaker, Davis County, So., DB.

Clarke Coaches’ Awards

Offensive MVP — Dalton Sweney

Defensive MVP — Gordon Witt

Scout Team MVP — Hunter Simpson

Most Improved Player — Brandyne Olin

Indian Spirit Award — Jarrod Coe