April 24, 2024
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Five local athletes named All-State by coaches association

By Ty Reynolds

Fulton's Keegan VanKampen celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Chicago Raby in the Class 1A first-round playoff game. VanKampen was named first-team all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. (Earleen Hinton/Shaw Media)

Five Sauk Valley area seniors were included in the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association All-State teams, released Tuesday.

Fulton running back/linebacker Keegan VanKampen and Erie-Prophetstown quarterback Kolby Franks were first-team selections in Class 1A and 2A, while Forreston running back/defensive back Matthew Beltran was also a first-teamer in 1A.

Newman running back/linebacker Ethan Van Landuit was an honorable mention pick in 2A, and Sterling defensive lineman Junior Farnham was an honorable mention selection in 5A.

Erie-Prophetstown quarterback Kolby Franks (5) runs the ball against Clifton Central in their Class 2A first-round playoff game. Franks was named first-team all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.

For a full list of all the teams, visit https://www.shawlocal.com/friday-night-drive/news/2021/11/16/ihsfca-all-state-teams-announced/

Three Rivers names all-conference teams

The Three Rivers Conference announced its football all-conference teams Tuesday, with 11 local athletes earning first-team honors.

In the TRAC East, Newman seniors Marcus Williams (RB), Will Rude (DL), Ethan Van Landuit (LB) and Jacob Donald (P) were all named to the first team.

Fellow Comet seniors Eliot Noble (C), Garrett Williams (T), and Owen McBride (TE & DB) were second-team picks, as were Bureau Valley seniors Jaden Michlig (RB & LB) and Carter Haney (DL).

Honorable mention selections from Newman were Chris Accardi (sophomore C), Hayden Witt (junior T), Van Landuit (senior RB), Noble (senior DL), Brennen Cook (senior LB), JJ Castle (junior LB), Nolan Britt (junior DB) and Cody Donna (senior DB).

BV’s honorable mention players were Haney (senior G), Ayize Martin (junior T & DL), Jon Dybeck (sophomore T), Brock Foster (senior E & DB), Nevin Bolin (senior flex), Levi Hardy (senior RB & LB), and Connor Scott (sophomore LB).

In the West Division, Erie-Prophetstown’s Jaesan Gaylord (senior T), Nick Ballard (senior DL), Trevor Cobo (senior DB) and Jase Grunder (junior return specialist) were all unanimous selections, while E-P seniors Connor Sibley (RB) and Mason Misfeldt (flex & LB), and Grunder (LB) were also first-teamers.

Morrison’s lone first-team pick was sophomore punter Carson Strating.

Local second-teamers were E-P’s Clay Hockaday (junior G & DL), Kolby Franks (senior QB) and Sibley (senior LB), along with Morrison’s Aaron Freeman (senior T), Strating (sophomore RB), Tyler Shambaugh (senior DL) and Chase Newman (sophomore DB).

Honorable mention picks from the area were E-P’s Max Vahle (senior C), Ballard (senior T), Cobo (Senior E), and Elijah Friedrichsen (senior DL).

Newman's Ethan Van Landuit dives forward for a few extra yards during Saturday's Class 2A first-round playoff game against Mercer County in Aledo.

Newman's Ethan Van Landuit dives forward during a Class 2A first-round playoff game against Mercer County. Van Landuit was named honorable mention all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. (Myles Newberry)

Sterling's Jason Farnham celebrates a tackle for a loss Friday, September 3, 2021 as the Warriors host the Montini Broncos for their first home game of the season.

Sterling's Junior Farnham celebrates a tackle for a loss against Montini earlier this season. Farnham was named honorable mention all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.