All-state football: Mount Vernon's Tristan Wirfs worked hard to be one of the best

Tristan Wirfs has always been big and has used that to his advantage on the football field.

Mount Vernon's 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman realized he needed to get better and Mustangs Coach Lance Pedersen provided the push that helped Wirfs develop into a highly-touted Division I recruit.

Wirfs was named captain of the Iowa Newspaper Association Class 2A all-state football team. He was one of six Gazette-area players to earn first-team honors for the second straight year, joining Cedar Rapids Washington linebacker O'Rien Vance (4A), defensive back Jaivonn Willis (3A) of Washington, Iowa, offensive linemen Ethan Lape (2A's North Fayette Valley) and Jared Brinkman (Iowa City Regina of 1A) and HLV defensive lineman Kenny Kriegel (8-player).

'It's a really big honor,' Wirfs said. 'I think it's a really big accomplishment. It really means a lot.'

The University of Iowa signee credits a number of people for building him into a dominant lineman. His family, especially his mother, have supported him. He has grown up playing the game with longtime friends, who became his teammates.

Then, there are coaches, specifically Pedersen, who took over in 2014. Wirfs said Pedersen assisted with exposure. Pedersen was constantly in Wirfs' ear, emphasizing hard work and demanding more out of him.

'I knew being big wasn't just going to cut it,' said Wirfs, who returned an interception for a 16-yard TD and returned a block punt for a score. 'I knew I had to step it up if I wanted to play at the next level, like I always dreamed about. Coach Pedersen helped me with that. I think he saw something in me that I didn't see at the time. He just pushed me to be as good as I can be.'

Wirfs helped the Mustangs post a 9-3 record this season and 20 victories combined over the last two. The Mustangs made a second straight state semifinal appearance, earning a runner-up finish in 2015. Wirfs was joined on the first team by linebacker Jack Cochrane. The Mustangs had five total picks.

'It's been great, getting to grow up with these guys,' Wirfs said. 'The support that we have for each other and the support the community and school gives us has been incredible.'

Washington matched Mount Vernon with five total all-staters, including 4A first-team picks O'Rien Vance and Drew Dostal.

Vance has become one of the most dominant defensive forces in the state. The Iowa State recruit had 82 tackles, including 13 for loss and seven solo sacks. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble, returning it 15 yards for a score.

Vance saw his first varsity action in a playoff game as a freshman and took off from there. Washington Coach Paul James said Vance has been a key to the Warriors defense the last three years.

'He was hard to contain for offenses,' James said. 'Coach (Maurice) Blue did a good job of moving him around and doing different things with him but he was able to be a blitzer, pass rushing and read linebacker. He could do a lot of things. He just created a lot of havoc."

Dostal is the football player's version of a Swiss Army knife. He rarely, if ever, left the field for the Warriors. Dostal had 988 total yards of offense and 10 TDs, receiving, rushing and passing. He caught 43 passes for 744 yards and eight TDs.

Defensively, he had 28 tackles, returning one of four interceptions and one of two fumble recoveries for scores. Dostal returned two punts for touchdowns and averaged 40.8 yards as Washington's punter.

'He does whatever you ask of him,' James said of Dostal. 'He does it to the best of his ability.'

Iowa City West standout receiver Oliver Martin, Cedar Rapids Prairie running back Joe Meyer and Cedar Rapids Kennedy punter Nick Duehr also made the first team in 4A.

Martin was the state's top receiver with 1,272 yards on 85 catches, which is the second most in all classes. Martin also averaged 26.1 yards per kickoff return with a TD and 18.8 per punt return with a score, leading west to the 4A championship game for the first time since 1999.

Meyer helped Prairie turn things around, winning a district title and becoming one of the state's top offenses. Meyer was second in 4A with 1,518 rushing yards and was tops in 4A with 29 rushing TDs.

Cedar Rapids Xavier had seven players achieve all-state recognition, including four first-teamers. The quartet was led by offensive duo running back Maliki Wilson and quarterback Bryce Schulte.

The pair rewrote the Saints career record book. Schulte, a three-year starter, threw for 1,598 yards and 22 touchdowns to just two interceptions. He added 321 yards and 14 TDs on the ground, leading Xavier to the state semifinals for the second time in three seasons.

Wilson led 3A in rushing with 2,054 yards on 217 carries. He scored 20 TDs.

'In the history of Xavier, we've had some really good football players,' Xavier Coach Duane Schulte said. 'Many guys have deserved to be first-team all-state and these guys are certainly near the top of that pack.

'Their careers have been phenomenal. They did a great job.'

Xavier defensive back Josh Gerke and offensive lineman Sam Meyers received first-team honors. Gerke led the Saints with 45 1/2 tackles, including 41 solo, and four interceptions.

'(Gerke) became a really good defensive back as a senior. He really matured and just got better,' Schulte said. 'I can't say enough about Sam Meyers and his toughness, technique and being coachable.'

Brinkman, who has committed to play at Northern Iowa, was one of three Regals on the first team in 1A. Defensive back Jack Jensen, who had seven interceptions, and punter Sam Stein (41.9 per punt) earned top honors for Regina, which made its seventh straight state title game and placed second.

Class 4A 1st Team Offense

Wide receivers/Tight end: Oliver Martin, Iowa City West, sr.; Drew Hill, Ankeny, jr.; Carlton Todd, Waterloo West, sr.

Linemen: Mark Kallenberger, Bettendorf, sr.; Zach Ross, West Des Moines Dowling, jr.; John Yount, Ankeny Centennial, sr.; Wyatt Wriedt, North Scott, sr.; Peter Nank, West Des Moines Dowling, sr.

Quarterback: Rocky Lombardi, West Des Moines Valley, sr.

Running backs: Jacob Zachary, West Des Moines Dowling, sr.; Alphonso Soko, Muscatine, sr.; Joseph Meyer, Cedar Rapids Prairie, sr.

Utility: Devon Moore, Waterloo West, sr.

Kicker: Cole Hahn, West Des Moines Valley, sr.

Class 4A 1st Team Defense

Linemen: John Waggoner, West Des Moines Dowling, jr.; Bedale Naba, West Des Moines Valley, sr.; Ryan Mells, West Des Moines Dowling, sr.; Calvonta Stallings, Des Moines North, sr.

Linebackers: Jacob Hummel, West Des Moines Dowling, sr.; O'Rien Vance, Cedar Rapids Washington, sr.; Keegan Glaus, Bettendorf, sr.; Rory Walling, Des Moines East, sr.

Backs: Garrett Nichols, Ankeny Centennial, sr.; John Mahoney, West Des Moines Valley, sr.; Jack Koerner, West Des Moines Dowling, sr.

Utility: Drew Dostal, Cedar Rapids Washington, sr.

Punter: Nick Duehr, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, sr.

CLASS 4A CAPTAIN: Jacob Zachary, West Des Moines Dowling

Class 4A 2nd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Josh Van Roekel, Iowa City West, sr.; Jackson Coker, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, sr.; Andrew Todd, Cedar Rapids Washington, jr.

Class 4A 2nd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Rane Weiland, Cedar Rapids Washington, sr.

Linebackers: Johnson Mator, Cedar Rapids Kennedy, sr.; Tavian Rashed, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, sr.

Backs: Devontae Lane, Iowa City West, sr.

Class 4A 3rd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Gerry Alt, Cedar Rapids Washington, sr.

Running backs: Kameron Kramer, Western Dubuque, sr.

Class 4A 3rd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Dillon Shephard, Iowa City West, jr.; Kennen Stewart, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, jr.

Backs: Naeem Smith, Iowa City High, sr.

Punter: Tyler Hefflefinger, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, sr.

Class 3A 1st Team Offense

Wide receivers/Tight end: Donovan Holterhaus, Pella, sr.; Bennett Spry, Oskaloosa, sr.; Riley Pfiffner, Benton Community, sr.

Linemen: Cooper Lawson, Webster City, jr.; Trevor Downing, Creston/Orient-Macksburg, jr.; Sam Meyers, Cedar Rapids Xavier, sr.; Justin Wright, Davenport Assumption, sr.; Tyler Linderbaum, Solon, jr.

Quarterback: Bryce Schulte, Cedar Rapids Xavier, sr.

Running backs: Maliki Wilson, Cedar Rapids Xavier, sr.; Chase Shiltz, Creston/Orient-Macksburg, sr.; Robert Frederiksen, Webster City, sr.

Utility: Nick Finney, Pella, sr.

Kicker: Sean Hixson, Norwalk, jr.

Class 3A 1st Team Defense

Linemen: Caleb Saunders, Glenwood, jr.; Drew Wiley, Vinton-Shellsburg, sr.; Blake VanVeldhuizen, Oskaloosa, jr.; John Nagel, West Delaware, sr.

Linebackers: Lucas Warner, Pella, jr.; Colby Wadsworth, Boone, sr.; Craig Schwartz, Le Mars, sr.; Brock Tvedte, Spirit Lake, sr.

Backs: Jaivonn Willis, Washington (Iowa), jr.; Ryan Van Wyk, Pella, sr.; Josh Gerke, Cedar Rapids Xavier, sr.

Utility: Cole Loeffelbein, Glenwood, sr.

Punter: Tyreke Williams, Clear Creek Amana, sr.

CLASS 3A CAPTAIN: Nick Finney, Pella

Class 3A 2nd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Max Johnson, Cedar Rapids Xavier, sr.; Seth Townsend, Washington (Iowa), sr.

Kicker: Shane Scott, Cedar Rapids Xavier, sr.

Class 3A 2nd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Bryce Sinn, Washington (Iowa), sr.

Linebackers: Maurice Williams, Benton Community, jr.

Class 3A 3rd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Wide receivers/Tight end: Nolan Butkowski, Cedar Rapids Xavier, sr.

Running backs: Caleb Kehrli, West Delaware, so.

Class 3A 3rd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Jacob Coons, Solon, sr.

Backs: Joseph Tschantz, Center Point-Urbana, sr.

Class 2A 1st Team Offense

Wide receivers/Tight end: Luke Greiner, Monroe PCM, sr.; Shane Solberg, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, sr.; Dakota Jaeschke, Southeast Valley, sr.

Linemen: Tristan Wirfs, Mount Vernon, sr.; Ben Lingenfelter, Cherokee, sr.; Ethan Lape, North Fayette Valley, sr.; Carter Brehm, Union, jr.; Ethan Thomas, Monroe PCM, sr.

Quarterback: Brett Moser, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, sr.

Running backs: Trent Johnson, Dike-New Hartford, sr.; Isaiah Vaughan, Union, sr.; Spencer Cuvelier, Crestwood, sr.

Utility: Kody Case, South Central Calhoun, sr.

Kicker: Kyle Derner, Carroll Kuemper, jr.

Class 2A 1st Team Defense

Linemen: Levi Duwa, Mid-Prairie, sr.; Michael Ahrendsen, Union, sr.; Ben Latusek, Dike-New Hartford, sr.; Calvin Bright, Roland-Story, sr.

Linebackers: Derek Greiner, Williamsburg, sr.; Austin Rozeboom, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, jr.; Brock Hadacheck, Union, sr.; Jack Cochrane, Mount Vernon, sr.

Backs: Mitch Van Beek, Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, sr.; Zach Lester, Clear Lake, jr.; Ross Randall, West Marshall, sr.

Utility: Josh Fenske, New Hampton, jr.

Punter: Chase Netusil, Carroll Kuemper, sr.

CLASS 2A CAPTAIN: Tristan Wirfs, Mount Vernon

Class 2A 2nd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Wide receivers/Tight end: Cale Snedden, Mount Vernon, jr.

Quarterback: Drew Adams, Mount Vernon, jr.

Kicker: Terrhyn Jacoby, Mid-Prairie, jr.

Class 2A 2nd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Spencer Daufeldt, West Liberty, so.; Josh Guenther, North Fayette Valley, sr.; Clayton Kraus, Monticello, jr.

Backs: Mitchell Snitker, Waukon, jr.; Dylan Stech, Union, sr.

Punter: Sam Stelken, Dyersville Beckman, sr.

Class 2A 3rd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Luke Butikofer, North Fayette Valley, sr.; Ben Subbert, Williamsburg, jr.

Running backs: Ricky Vargas, Mid-Prairie, sr.; Jason Wardenburg, Williamsburg, sr.

Kicker: Ben Palmer, Dyersville Beckman, sr.

Class 2A 3rd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Dylan Larson, North Fayette Valley, sr.

Linebackers: Sam Moore, Mount Vernon, sr.

Backs: Tate Hovden, North Fayette Valley, sr.

Class 1A 1st Team Offense

Wide receivers/Tight end: Levi Jungling, Pella Christian, sr.; Ben Gesink, Western Christian, sr.; Robby Sweers, Clayton Ridge, sr.

Linemen: Jared Brinkman, Iowa City Regina, sr.; Mason Neisen, Denver, sr.; Caden Fenchel, Western Christian, sr.; Coy Kirkpatrick, Madrid, sr.; Jeramy Randol, Panorama, sr.

Quarterback: David Kacmarynski, Pella Christian, sr.

Running backs: Peter Kilburg, Bellevue, sr.; Michael Santi, Madrid, sr.; Ben Granstra, Western Christian, jr.

Utility: Tyson Kooima, Western Christian, sr.

Kicker: Jaden Snyder, West Lyon, jr.

Class 1A 1st Team Defense

Linemen: Jackson Flagel, Pella Christian, sr.; Mason Lyons, Bellevue, sr.; Colton Dietz, West Branch, sr.; Jacobi Vittenbogaard, Western Christian, sr.

Linebackers: Daniel Bishop, Hinton, sr.; Bo McMahon, Denver, jr.; Alex McDowell, Maquoketa Valley, sr.; Sawyer Phillips, Pleasantville, sr.

Backs: Jay Small, Hinton, sr.; Jack Jensen, Iowa City Regina, sr.; Sam Joerger, Denver, jr.

Utility: Dylan Boles, Van Meter, sr.

Punter: Sam Stein, Iowa City Regina, sr.

CLASS 1A CAPTAIN: Levi Jungling, Pella Christian

Class 1A 2nd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Jacob Barnhart, West Branch, jr.

Quarterback: Jace Moore, Clayton Ridge, sr.

Running backs: Luke Lenoch, West Branch, sr.; Rodney Schwartzhoff, South Winneshiek, jr.

Class 1A 2nd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Manning Kuboushek, South Winneshiek, jr.

Backs: Jacob Grawes, West Branch, jr.

Punter: Chase Rath, Highland, sr.

Class 1A 3rd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Cooper Greiner, Sigourney-Keota, sr.

Quarterback: Michael Conlon, Iowa City Regina, jr.

Running backs: Avery Moore, Sigourney-Keota, sr.; Isaac Vollstedt, Iowa City Regina, jr.

Class 1A 3rd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Reagan Ries, Iowa City Regina, sr.; Noah Boender, Sigourney-Keota, sr.; Brian Sadler, Jesup, jr.

Backs: Bill Burton, Highland, sr.

Class A 1st Team Offense

Wide receivers/Tight end: Joel Vaske, Algona Garrigan, sr.; Blake Langhurst, Lisbon, sr.; Austin Allard, Akron-Westfield, sr.

Linemen: Jordan Hook, Grundy Center, jr.; Darlyn Marquez, West Sioux, jr.; Mitchell Smith, Saint Ansgar, sr.; Matt Seres, Hudson, jr.; Jacob Walters, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, sr.

Quarterback: Hunter Lott, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, jr.

Running backs: Bryce Flater, Grundy Center, sr.; Gibson Behr, Algona Garrigan, sr.; Carter Downer, East Buchanan, sr.

Utility: Jake Lynott, West Sioux, jr.

Kicker: Rodrigo Barajas, Council Bluffs St. Albert, sr.

Class A 1st Team Defense

Linemen: Kyler Schott, North Linn, sr.; Luke Waters, Council Bluffs St. Albert, jr.; Nathan Graves, Hudson, sr.; Mason Skovgard, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, sr.

Linebackers: Grant Buscherfeld, Algona Garrigan, sr.; Jordan Weiland, West Hancock, sr.; Chase Winkel, Algona Garrigan, sr.; Thomas Mussig, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, sr.

Backs: Ben Boerjan, Saint Ansgar, sr.; Jake Ohl, East Buchanan, jr.; Carson Louscher, South O'Brien, jr.

Utility: Erik Knaack, Gladbrook-Reinbeck, sr.

Punter: Brady Gothier, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto, sr.

CLASS A CAPTAIN: Thomas Mussig, Gladbrook-Reinbeck

Class A 2nd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Jordan Hettinger, East Buchanan, sr.; Dominique Ward, Montezuma, sr.

Class A 2nd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Chance Baburek, Belle Plaine, sr.; Jon Wedgewood, Montezuma, sr.

Class A 3rd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Logan O'Connor, Lisbon, jr.

Quarterback: Jayce Knight, BGM, sr.

Class A 3rd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Tanner Sloan, Alburnett, jr.; Price Hall, BGM, sr.

Linebackers: Logan Price, Montezuma, sr.; Eric Weiss, BGM, sr.

8-Player 1st Team Offense

Wide receivers: Derek Schurke, Ar-We-Va, sr.; Connor Harms, Midland, sr.

Linemen: Jake Crozier, Twin Cedars, sr.; Isaac McAlister, Coon Rapids-Bayard, sr.; Jayson Krakow, Iowa Valley, sr.

Quarterback: Jake Danner, Ar-We-Va, sr.

Running backs: Austin Svoboda, Don Bosco, jr.; Trevor Gunderson, Harris-Lake Park, jr.; Bennett Goettsch, Iowa Valley, sr.

Utility: Derek Ehrhardt, Elkader Central, sr.

Kicker: James Fitzgerald, Springville, sr.

8-Player 1st Team Defense

Linemen: Jordan Kyle, Harris-Lake Park, sr.; Walker Eben, Don Bosco, sr.; Kenny Kriegel, HLV, sr.

Linebackers: Wyatt Blazek, Turkey Valley, sr.; Drew Buckholdt, Exira-EHK, sr.; Trace Embray, Twin Cedars, sr.

Backs: Parker Powers, Fremont-Mills, sr.; Jovonte Squiers, Lone Tree, sr.

Utility: Sam Phillips, Fremont-Mills, sr.

Punter: Nathan Karsjens, Ackley AGWSR, sr.

8-PLAYER CAPTAIN: Jake Danner, Ar-We-Va

8-Player 2nd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Wide receivers: Nick Sylvester, Elkader Central, sr.

Linemen: Dawson Swails, Lone Tree, sr.

8-Player 2nd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Backs: Cody Hackman, Turkey Valley, sr.

Punter: Wyatt Kaplan, HLV, sr.

8-Player 3rd Team Offense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Kelby Reicks, Turkey Valley, sr.

Quarterback: Alex Martens, Midland, sr.

Running backs: Austin Smith, Midland, jr.

8-Player 3rd Team Defense

(Gazette area only)

Linemen: Drew Reinhart, Elkader Central, sr.

Linebackers: Ted Hilgerson, Elkader Central, sr.