It was a team that seemingly entered the football season with a multitude of questions.
Cedar Rapids Xavier answered them all, and the Saints were duly rewarded Sunday.
Nine Xavier players received Class 4A all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. Five received first-team recognition.
Seniors Nate Westhoff, Trysten Vazquez and Alex Neal were first-team offensive selections; juniors Thomas Sundell and Aidan McDermott are on the top defensive unit.
Xavier finished 11-2 and reached the 4A championship game, dropping a triple-overtime decision to Lewis Central, 32-24.
Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Iowa City High led the list of Corridor 5A all-state picks, with seven and six, respectively. A big-school state semifinalist, City had first-team picks in Ben Kueter and Gable Mitchell; Ethan Mills and Jeron Senters represented Kennedy.
Iowa City West’s Mason Applegate, Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Gabe Burkle and Linn-Mar’s Luke Gaffney also were named to the 5A first team.
West Delaware (3A), Sigourney-Keota (1A) and Lansing Kee (8-Player) each had three first-team selections.
Sigourney-Keota had eight selections overall. Mount Vernon (2A) and North Linn (Class A) both had six.
Class captains are Xavier Nwankpa of Southeast Polk (Class 5A), Nick Miller of Lewis Central (4A), Landyn Van Kekerix of Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (3A), Kolson Kruse of Southeast Valley (2A), Casey Trudo of Van Meter (1A), Logan Knaack of Grundy Center (Class A) and Lane Spieker of Anita CAM (8-Player).
The teams were selected by sportswriters across the state, with input from coaches.
Full lists at:
www.thegazette.com
Cedar Rapids Xavier answered them all, and the Saints were duly rewarded Sunday.
Nine Xavier players received Class 4A all-state honors from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association. Five received first-team recognition.
Seniors Nate Westhoff, Trysten Vazquez and Alex Neal were first-team offensive selections; juniors Thomas Sundell and Aidan McDermott are on the top defensive unit.
Xavier finished 11-2 and reached the 4A championship game, dropping a triple-overtime decision to Lewis Central, 32-24.
Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Iowa City High led the list of Corridor 5A all-state picks, with seven and six, respectively. A big-school state semifinalist, City had first-team picks in Ben Kueter and Gable Mitchell; Ethan Mills and Jeron Senters represented Kennedy.
Iowa City West’s Mason Applegate, Cedar Rapids Prairie’s Gabe Burkle and Linn-Mar’s Luke Gaffney also were named to the 5A first team.
West Delaware (3A), Sigourney-Keota (1A) and Lansing Kee (8-Player) each had three first-team selections.
Sigourney-Keota had eight selections overall. Mount Vernon (2A) and North Linn (Class A) both had six.
Class captains are Xavier Nwankpa of Southeast Polk (Class 5A), Nick Miller of Lewis Central (4A), Landyn Van Kekerix of Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley (3A), Kolson Kruse of Southeast Valley (2A), Casey Trudo of Van Meter (1A), Logan Knaack of Grundy Center (Class A) and Lane Spieker of Anita CAM (8-Player).
The teams were selected by sportswriters across the state, with input from coaches.
Full lists at:
2021 Iowa high school all-state football teams announced
The Iowa Print Sports Writers Association named its 2021 all-state football teams. Cedar Rapids Xavier has nine all-staters, including five first-team picks.
www.thegazette.com
