Forest Park’s Sam McKissack (31) rushes while being defended by Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Kirby Koskela (52) during a MHSAA 8-player Division 2 regional semifinal game on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2021, in Lake Linden, Mich. (Adam Niemi/The Daily Mining Gazette)

Four players from the area made the All-U.P. Dream Team, as selected by the U.P. Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.

Ontonagon’s Jaden Borseth, Mason Totzke, Eric Abramson and Lake Linden-Hubbell’s James Milkey were selected to the Dream Team.

The selections were made during the organization’s 72nd annual meeting on Nov. 10.

LL-H’s Ben Tampas and Kirby Koskela were First Team selections on offense and defense, respectively.

But the year belonged to North Central (12-0) for accolades ahead of its Division 2 state finals matchup against Colon (11-1) on Saturday.

The Jets swept the 8-player special awards. Junior quarterback Luke Gorzinski was named Offensive Player of the Year. Senior defensive lineman Wyatt Raab was named Defensive Player of the Year. Senior offensive lineman Lane Nehring was named the Mitchell Snyder Lineman of the Year.

Five players from North Central were named to the Dream Team. Senior WR/TE Alex Naser was named to First Team.

The Jets were named Team of the Year and head coach Leo Gorzinski was named Coach of the Year.

LL-H senior WR/TE Marcus Sutherland received special mention. Senior offensive lineman Troy Corrigan received honorable mention.

U.P. Sportswriters

and Sportscasters Association

2021 All-U.P. 8-player Selections

Special Awards

Offensive Player of the Year — Luke Gorzinski, North Central

Defensive Player of the Year — Wyatt Raab, North Central

Team of the Year — North Central

Coach of the Year — Leo Gorzinski, North Central

Mitchell Snyder Lineman of the Year — Lane Nehring, North Central

Dream Team

Offense

OL — Lane Nehring, North Central, 6-0, 275, Sr.

OL — Timmy Bendick, Forest Park, 6-0, 265, Sr.

QB — Luke Gorzinski, North Central, 5-10, 175, Jr.

RB — Josh Sullivan, Pickford, 6-0, 168, Sr.

RB — Sam McKissack, Forest Park, 6-0, 175, Jr.

WR/TE — Eric Edwards, Newberry, 6-2, 195, Sr.

WR/TE — Carter Johnson, Rapid River, 6-3, Jr.

Athlete — Jaden Borseth, Ontonagon, 6-5, 195, Sr.

Athlete — EJ Suggitt, Rudyard, 6-0, 227, Sr.

Defense

DL — Wyatt Raab, North Central, 5-9, 190, Sr.

DL — Mason Totzke, Ontonagon, 6-0, 300, Jr.

DE — Micaiah Peramaki, Munising, 6-0, 210, Jr.

DE — Eric Abramson, Ontonagon, 6-5, 180, Sr.

LB — Johnny Nutkins, Newberry, 6-2, 185, Sr.

LB — Chase Carlson, Norway, 6-1, 185, Sr.

DB — Tate Besteman, Rudyard, 6-8, 200, Sr.

DB — James Milkey, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 5-10, 160, Jr.

Special Teams

K — Jaden Walters, North Central, 5-10, 190, Jr.

P — Aiden Richards, Norway, 6-3, 170, Sr.

Returner — Alex Naser, North Central, 5-8, 170, Sr.

First Team

Offense

OL — George Edington, Pickford, 6-6, 240, Sr.

OL — Devon Groleau, Stephenson, 5-9, 170, Jr.

QB — Connor Rintamaki, Newberry, 5-9, 165, Sr.

RB — Ben Tampas, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 6-0, 185, Sr.

RB — Jestin Matusewic, Ironwood, 5-11, 180, Sr.

WR/TE — Jesse Duran, Munising, 6-4, 188, Sr.

WR/TE — Alex Naser, North Central, 5-8, 170, Sr.

Athlete — Zach Frusti, Superior Central, 5-8, 150, Sr.

Defense

OL — Zach Burton, Newberry, 5-10, 205, Jr.

OL — Kirby Koskela, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 6-0, 225, Jr.

OL — Damyn Smith, Rapid River, 6-2, 280, Sr.

OL — Brayden Altoft, Pickford, 6-2, 190, Jr.

LB — Jacob Mattson, Munising, 5-7, 182, Jr.

LB — Maximus Mattson, North Dickinson, Sr.

DB — Marco Juarez, Newberry, 5-9, 150, Jr.

DB — Lucas Swetich, Superior Central, 5-8, 130, Jr.

Special Teams

K — Jacob Nolan, Rudyard, 6-1, 168, Jr.

P — Ben Molag, Superior Central, 6-0, 158, Jr.

Returner — Matthew Rahilly, Newberry, 6-0, 175, Fr.

Special Mention (2 or more votes)

Ashton Wymer, Munising, 5-5, 238, Jr. (OL); Blake Lundquist, Rapid River, 5-11, 155, Soph. (QB); Josiah Peramaki, Munising, 6-0, 192, Jr. (RB); Cam Petreson, Rudyard, 6-0, 186, Soph. (RB); Aiden Bickel, Rudyard, 5-6, 163, Soph. (WR/TE); Marcus Sutherland, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 6-2, 175, Sr. (WR/TE); Matthew Rahilly, Newberry, 6-0, 175, Fr.. (WR/TE); Cason Smith, Cedarville, 5-11, 175, Jr.; Niko Gibellina, Stephenson, 6-3, 185, Sr. (DB); Cody Dabb, Ironwood, 6-2, 180, Jr. (DB).

Honorable Mention

Nathaniel Barnes, Carney-Nadeau, 6-1, 230, Sr. (OL); Troy Corrigan, Lake Linden-Hubbell, 5-8, 170, Sr. (OL); Canaan Elson, Stephenson, 5-7, 145, Sr. (OL); Drew French, Engadine, 6-2, 260, Sr. (OL); Max Nason, North Central, 6-0, 210, Soph. (OL); A.J. Richmond, Superior Central, 5-5, 195, Sr. (OL); Joe Smith, Rapid River, 6-4, 280, Sr. (OL); Spencer Coldrun, Stephenson, 5-9, 145, Jr. (QB); Zach Harrison, Pickford, 6-0, 205, Sr. (QB); Peyton Imhoff, Carney-Nadeau, 6-0, 145, Sr. (QB); Carter Tietz, North Central, 5-10, 160, Sr. (WR/TE); Ean Brady, Rudyard, 5-6, 152, Sr.; Tommy Udd, Gogebic, 6-0, 240, Sr. (d-line); Jack Matrella, Gogebic, 6-0, 170, Sr. (DB); Will Curtis, Forest Park; Colt Glasheen, North Dickinson; Caden Tietz, North Central, 5-9, 160, Sr. (WR/TE).