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By Paul Lecker
MarshfieldAreaSports.com
The Stratford football team won its first outright Marawood Conference title since 2007 and reaped the rewards as it had six players named at seven positions to the first team of the 2016 All-Marawood Conference Football Team, which was voted on by the nine conference coaches following the conclusion of the regular season.
Senior Kamren Bornbach was named conference Back of the Year and was a first-team selection at both fullback/tight end and inside linebacker for the Tigers.
Bornbach led the conference in scoring with 114 points (16 touchdowns, 13 extra-point kicks, one field goal, and one two-point conversion) and was second in the Marawood with 771 rushing yards out of his fullback position.
Bornbach, along with senior Kyler Haupt at defensive end/outside linebacker, senior Ethan Fabry at defensive line, and junior Aiden Hoffman at inside linebacker were also first-team picks for the Stratford defense that allowed an average of just 117 yards and 4 points per game as the Tigers went a perfect 8-0 in conference play.
Senior offensive linemen Tanner Weinfurtner and Tyson Kauffman, and receiver Cole Hoffmann were also first-team picks for Stratford.
Juniors Luke Barten (defensive line) and Dilan Dehlinger (defensive back) were second-team selections for the Tigers, along with Fabry at offensive line.
“I’m real proud of our players all year,” Stratford coach Jason Tubbs said. “Winning the conference is a great accomplishment. The line played well all year. Kam being Back of the Year shows how hard and dedicated he was his whole career. There will be a lot of big shoes to fill next year after losing out great senior class.”
Auburndale finished 4-4 in the conference and reached the WIAA playoffs, the team’s No. 1 goal before the season began.
Junior defensive end Jake Peplinski and senior defensive back Aaron Willfahrt were named to the first-team defense for the Apaches, with junior Cameron Ertl earning second-team honors at both wide receiver and defensive back, and senior Luke Olsen was named to the second team at offensive line.
“Jake played outside linebacker and did a nice job setting the edge,” Auburndale coach Eric Custer said. “We moved him from defensive end and he was very uncomfortable with it at first, but now is very happy with the decision.
“Aaron received the most votes at defensive back, and even though he didn’t have a lot of gaudy numbers (two interceptions), teams were throwing away from him, which is a compliment. He’s a very smart, athletic kid.”
2016 All-Marawood Conference Football Team
First Team
Offense
Quarterbacks: Donavon Free, jr., Marathon; Taylor Brayton, sr., Rib Lake/Prentice.
Receivers: Bailey Herkert, jr., Pittsville; Cole Hoffmann, sr., Stratford.
Fullback/tight end: Nathan Stoffel, so., Marathon; Kam Bornbach, sr., Stratford.
Line: Tanner Weinfurtner, sr., Stratford; Bryce Seubert, sr., Marathon; Tyson Kauffman, sr., Stratford; Michael Lang, jr., Marathon; Zach Makovsky, jr., Rib Lake/Prentice.
Running backs: Mitchell Putnam, sr., Marathon; Alec Hafferman, sr., Edgar; Hunter Swan, sr., Rib Lake/Prentice.
Kicker: Josh Burish, jr., Edgar.
Defense
Ends/outside linebackers: Bryce Seubert, sr., Marathon; Alec Hafferman, sr., Edgar; Kyler Haupt, sr., Stratford; Jake Peplinski, jr., Auburndale.
Line: Ethan Fabry, sr., Stratford; Kaden Callaway, sr., Marathon.
Inside linebackers: Kam Bornbach, sr., Stratford; Aiden Hoffman, jr., Stratford.
Defensive backs: Aaron Willfahrt, sr., Auburndale; Donavon Free, jr., Marathon; Mitchell Putnam, sr., Marathon.
Punter: Peter Newbury, jr., Chequamegon.
Second Team
Offense
Quarterback: Luke Denniston, jr., Pittsville.
Receivers: Drew Rohde, sr., Rib Lake/Prentice; Eli Wurl, jr., Tomahawk; Cameron Ertl, jr., Auburndale.
Line: Seth Schilling, sr., Edgar; Ethan Fabry, sr., Stratford; Bryce Imhoff, jr., Edgar; Luke Olsen, sr., Auburndale; Henry Myers, jr., Pittsville.
Defense
Ends/outside linebackers: Kai Vedder, so., Rib Lake/Prentice; Henry Myers, jr., Pittsville; Austin Hilgart, sr., Chequamegon; Jake Ruid, jr., Tomahawk; Tyler Dammonn, jr., Pittsville.
Line: Garrett Richardson, sr., Rib Lake/Prentice; Reece Heidmann, jr., Edgar; Luke Barten, jr., Stratford.
Inside linebackers: Hunter Swan, sr., Rib Lake/Prentice; Zach Hanke, sr., Marathon; Tyler Matysik, sr., Edgar; Drew Rohde, sr., Rib Lake/Prentice.
Defensive backs: Dilan Dehlinger, jr., Stratford; Karson Butt, so., Edgar; Cameron Ertl, jr., Auburndale; Peter Newbury, jr., Chequamegon.
Honorable Mention
Auburndale: Collin Hawkins, Ryan Isaacson, Josh Gabel, Cale Jacoby.
Chequamegon: Brice McClay, Robert Renken, Sawyer Anderson, Dawson Weik.
Edgar: Brett Schuette, Cade Littleton, Shawn Bunkelman, Colton Heil.
Marathon: Riley Rhyner, Hunter Seubert, Richie Seubert, Zach Anklam.
Phillips: Brandon Huettl, Christian Makovsky, Dakota Haberman, Tanner Riley.
Pittsville: Nick Hibbard, Josh Zogelman, Todd Parker, Kody Kauth.
Rib Lake/Prentice: Trayvon Sutherland, Colt Logan, Trace Brayton, Peter Ulrich.
Stratford: David Marquardt, Kade Ehrike, Jordan Becker, Eli Drexler
Tomahawk: Easton Phalin, Eli Wurl, William Russell, Kole Woodall.
Co-coaches of the Year: Mark Krommenacker and Jeremy Brayton, Rib Lake/Prentice.
Back of the Year: Kam Bornbach, Stratford.
Lineman of the Year: Bryce Seubert, Marathon.