Iowa all-state football 2022: Xavier, Mount Vernon have 6 first-team picks

Mount Vernon Coach Lance Pedersen was introduced to many of his current football players in middle school.

They were members of his fifth-grade health class. Pedersen said he has watched them grow as athletes and people over the last eight years. He also witnessed them develop into a unified force on the football field.

“A wonderful group of kids,” Pedersen said after the second-ranked Mustangs’ state runner-up finish to No. 1 Harlan on Friday. “Love all of them.”

The hard work and effort that helped produce Mount Vernon’s first unbeaten regular season in 20 years and first finals appearance since 2015 garnered postseason recognition. Seven Mustangs were named to the Class 3A all-state football teams selected by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.

Mount Vernon and Cedar Rapids Xavier (4A) led the way with six first-team picks, while Solon managed three first-teamers in 3A.

Offensive lineman Clark Younggreen, quarterback Joey Rhomberg, defensive lineman Brad Vislisel, linebacker Jackson Jaspers, safety Henry Ryan and Zatyk Holub nabbed first-team honors. Wide receiver Evan Brase was a second-team honoree. All played vital parts for Mount Vernon’s 12-1 record, doubling its win total from last season.

“It’s a very, very special group,” Pedersen said. “I’m so happy for those guys recognized. They were deserving of it. We are very proud of them.”

Rhomberg, a junior named as an offensive utility, amassed 2,753 offensive yards, passing for 2,543 yards and 25 touchdowns. He etched his name among the program’s single-season leaders, despite missing the 3A championship game due to injury. All three totals ranked second in 3A. Rhomberg completed 225 of 350 passes. Both are 3A bests.

“A lot of great stories.” Pedersen said. “It was great to see.”

Vislisel wreaked havoc at the line of scrimmage for Mount Vernon. He was second in 3A with nine sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss. The Mustangs had one of the top defenses in the class, posting five shutouts.

“He did a lot of good things,” Pedersen said. “When he wanted to, he could control the line of scrimmage.”

Jaspers led the team and ranked third in 3A with 80 solo tackles. He also returned an interception for a TD against Harlan. The versatile Ryan earned honors on defense, but moved to quarterback for the finals and almost guided the Mustangs to an upset.

“You can’t overlook what he did,” Pedersen said of Ryan. “What a great leader. He was amazing for us.”

Solon was represented on the 3A first team by defensive lineman Ben Kampman, linebacker Brett White and defensive back Blake Timmons.

The Saints were able to close out a perfect season, making a second straight finals appearance. Xavier won its fourth team title under head coach Duane Schulte, dropping defending state champion Council Bluffs Lewis Central, 45-38, in the final.

Xavier had 10 overall picks, placing four on the second team. Eight were seniors.

“For our program, these seniors demonstrate everything we strive for at Xavier,” Schulte said in an email. “They started in our youth programs, listened to their youth coaches, and then followed everything we asked them to do once they got here at Xavier. They are outstanding people as much as they are outstanding football players.”

Running back Michael Cunningham, receiver Aidan McDermott and lineman Ben Volk were Xavier’s first-teamers on offense, while Thomas Sundell, Jevin Rexroth and Josef Lemker were selected first team on defense. They were joined by Marion’s Alex Mota, University of Iowa commit.

McDermott and Sundell garnered first-team honors for the second straight season. Sundell, a linebacker, was second in 4A with 92 tackles and fourth with 16 tackles for loss. McDermott led 4A in punt return yards (269) and was an all-around contributor for the Saints.

McDermott had 916 total offensive yards and 16 TDs, including 804 and 12 receiving. In addition to being the team’s top returner, the South Dakota State signee led the Saints with five interceptions.

“Aidan and Thomas excel because they have determination,” Schulte said. “Something inside them makes them want to compete. It stems from their families and perhaps was pushed some more by coaches and teammates here at Xavier. Bottom line, they both hate to lose.”

Williamsburg reached the 2A championship game. Three Raiders earned accolades. Owen Douglas and Derek Weisskopf made the first team on defense. Douglas, a lineman, tallied 41.5 tackles, including 11 for loss and two sacks. Weisskopf, a Hawkeyes commit, tied for the 2A lead with six interceptions, returning one for a score. He also had 49.5 tackles. Weisskopf was the Raiders’ leading receiver with 37 catches for 628 yards and 12 TDs, including eight receptions for 164 yards and two scores in a 31-7 semifinal win over Dubuque Wahlert.

In Class 5A, Iowa City High utility Ben Kueter claimed first-team honors for a second consecutive year. He was joined by Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s defensive lineman Andrew Meyers.

Here are the 2022 Iowa Print Sports Writers Association all-state teams, as voted upon Sunday and released Tuesday.

Note: Class captains are denoted by an asterisk.

Class 5A

First Team Offense

QB — Jaxon Smolik, sr., West Des Moines Dowling

RB — Ty Cozad, jr., Muscatine; Brady Grisham, sr., Waukee Northwest; *Abu Sama, sr., Southeast Polk

WR — Cooper Nicholson, sr., West Des Moines Dowling; Jacob Simpson, jr., Johgnson; Ayden Price, sr., West Des Moines Valley

OL — Kyle Rakers, jr., West Des Moines Dowling; Owen Westemeyer, sr., West Des Moines Valley; Jacob Peters, jr., Cedar Falls; Cael Winter, sr., Waukee Northwest; Kadyn Proctor, sr., Southeast Polk; Joe Kingston, sr., Ankeny

UT — Caden McDermott, sr., Pleasant Valley; J.J. Kohl, sr., Ankeny

PK — Max Bartachek, sr., Waukee

First Team Defense

DL — Ralston Rumley, sr., West Des Moines Dowling; Andrew Meyers, sr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy; Ryan Kuennen, sr., West Des Moines Valley; Joey Van Wetzinga, soph., Pleasant Valley

LB — Cole Garwood, sr., Urbandale; Ben Kueter, sr., Iowa City High; Draven Woods, jr., Southeast Polk; Rusty Van Wetzinga, sr., Pleasant Valley

DB — Mahki Wilson, sr., Pleasant Valley; Jake Anderson, sr., West Des Moines Dowling; Cole Rogers, sr., Southeast Polk; Jamison Patton, sr., Ankeny

UT — Nick Wells, sr., Sioux City East; Aron Gonkaryon, sr., Des Moines North

P — Jake Hulstein, sr., Cedar Falls

Ret — Brady Wavrunek, sr., Sioux City East

Second Team Offense (area only)

RB — Makelle Taylor, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie; Carter Henderson, sr., Linn-Mar

WR — Akili Mattox, sr., Iowa City High; Christian Janis, sr., Iowa City West

OL — Keaton Roskop, jr., Linn-Mar; Cael Deflieger, sr., Cedar Rapids Prairie

Second Team Defense (area only)

LB — Calvin White, jr., Cedar Rapids Kennedy

DB — Drew Larson, jr., Iowa City High

Ret — T.J. Jackson, sr., Linn-Mar

(Complete all-state teams)

Class 4A

First Team Offense

QB — Braylon Kammrad, sr., Lewis Central

RB — Jaxon Cherry, jr., Webster City; *Jonathan Humpal, sr., Lewis Central

RB — Michael Cunningham, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

WR — Drew Kingery, sr., Indianola; Dillon Ranck, sr., Norwalk; Aidan McDermott, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

OL — Caden Hotz, jr,. Waverly-Shell Rock; Landon Glover, sr., Carlisle; Parker Matiyow, sr., Lewis Central; Ben Volk, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier; Nathan Schneckloth, sr., North Scott; Julian Perez-Hall, sr., Burlington

UT — Kyler Gerardy, jr., North Scott; Jack Laughlin, sr., Carlisle

PK — Boston Hensley, sr., Lewis Central

First Team Defense

DL — McCrae Hagarty, sr., Waverly-Shell Rock; Wyatt DeWitt, jr., Indianola; Maddux Borcherding-Johnson, sr., Norwalk; A.J. Petersen, sr., North Scott

LB — Asa Newsom, sr., Waverly-Shell Rock; Jes Krcil, sr., Carlisle; Payton Ludington, sr., Lewis Central; Thomas Sundell, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

DB — Caleb Klein, sr., Western Dubuque; Reed Pfaltzgraff, jr., Bondurant-Farrar; Curtis Witte, jr., Lewis Central; Jevin Rexroth, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

UT — Alex Mota, sr., Marion; Josef Lemker, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

Ret — Javion Jondle, sr., Fort Dodge

P — Broderick Lee, jr., Mason City.

Second Team Offense (area only)

QB — Graham Beckman, jr., Iowa City Liberty

RB — Grant Glausser, jr., Western Dubuque

WR — Garrett Gregoire, sr., Iowa City Liberty

OL — Seth Williams, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

UT — Ronan Thomas, jr., Cedar Rapids Xavier

Second Team Defense (area only)

DL — Caelum Jones, sr., Cedar Rapids Xavier; Dantrell Skinner, jr., Iowa City Liberty

LB — Brock Sherman, sr., Clear Creek Amana

DB — Ben Wymer, sr., Decorah; Watts McBride, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington

Ret — Michael Blank, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington

UT — Eddie Becu, jr., Cedar Rapids Xavier; Chase Mahoney, sr., Cedar Rapids Washington

(Complete all-state teams)

Class 3A

First Team Offense

QB — Teagon Kasperbauer, sr., Harla

RB — Brady Miller, sr., North Polk; *Lance Coon, jr., Humboldt; Brevin Doll, jr., Adel ADM

WR — Max Weaton, sr., Fairfield; Cade Sears, jr., Harlan; Colton Rasmussen, jr., Atlantic

OL — Luke Reth, sr., West Delaware; Kaleb McCullough, sr., Humboldt; Ben Gard, sr., Adel ADM; Jace Gubbles, sr., Harlan; Korver Hupke, sr., Independence; Clark Younggreen, sr., Mount Vernon

UT — Aiden Flora, jr., Adel ADM; Joey Rhomberg, jr., Mount Vernon

PK — Stephen Leinen, sr., Harlan

First Team Defense

DL — Ben Kampman, jr., Solon; Vince Benetti, sr., Adel ADM; Gunner Schmitz, sr., Harlan; Brad Vislisel, sr., Mount Vernon

LB — Brett White, jr., Solon; Garrett Assmann, sr., Harlan; Mitch Johnson, sr., Independence; Jackson Jaspers, jr., Mount Vernon

DB — Blake Timmons, sr., Solon; Aidan Hall, sr., Harlan; Henry Ryan, sr., Mount Vernon; Kylar Fritz, sr., Sioux Center

UT — Zatyk Holub, sr., Mount Vernon; Will Orness, sr., Humboldt

P — Sam Holloway, sr., Adel ADM

Ret — Tony Valenzuela, sr., Hampton-Dumont/CAL

Second Team Offense (area only)

RB — Will Ward, sr., West Delaware

WR Evan Brase, jr., Mount Verno

OL — Aiden Doyle, sr., Solon

UT — Cole Werner, sr., Center Point-Urbana

Second Team Defense (area only)

DL — Brennen Blegen, jr., Benton Community

DB — Sean Stahle, sr., Solon

UT — Kyle Kress, sr., Center Point-Urbana

(Complete all-state teams)

Class 2A

First Team Offense

QB — Zach Lutmer, sr., Central Lyon-GLR

RB — Braden McShane, jr., New Hampton; *Tadyn Brown, sr., Clarinda; Graham Eben, jr., Central Lyon-GLR

WR — Gavin Phillips, sr., Des Moines Christian; Tate Petersen, sr., Monticello; Reece Vander Zee, jr., Central Lyon-GLR

OL — Braeden Lehmkuhl, sr., Estherville ELC; Vince Hoefling, sr., Ida Grove OABCIG; Sam Schaper, sr., West Marshall; Jack Goerdt, sr., Dubuque Wahlert; Jac VanWyhe, sr., Central Lyon-GLR; Trevor Dieren, jr., Central Lyon-GLR

UT — Peyton Hart, sr., West Marshall; Preston Ries, jr., Monticello

PK — Anderson Trejo, jr., West Lyon

First Team Defense

DL — Tyler Voss, sr., Spirit Lake; Austin Pfantz, sr., West Marshall; Owen Douglas, sr., Williamsburg; Evan Kruger, sr., Central Lyon-GLR

LB — Dawson Bond, sr., Red Oak; J.P. Weber, sr., Dubuque Wahlert; Kayden Van Berkum, sr., Central Lyon-GLR; Griffin Diersen, sr., Ida Grove OABCIG

DB — Kellen Moore, sr., Forest City; Richard Daugherty, sr., Greene County; Derek Weisskopf, jr., Williamsburg; Josh Elbert, sr., Central Lyon-GLR

UT — Caden Vellinga, sr., West Marshall; Kaleb Hambly, sr., Clear Lake

P — Zach Callahan, sr., Dubuque Wahlert

Ret — Ryan Brosius, sr., Dubuque Wahlert

Second Team Offense (area only)

RB — Braden Hartley, sr., Mid-Prairie

UT — Carson Huedepohl, sr., Williamsburg

Second Team Defense (area only)

DB — Cain Brown, sr., Mid-Prairie

Ret — Nick Koch, sr., North Fayette Valley

(Complete all-state teams)

Class 1A

First Team Offense

QB — Dylan Wiggins, sr., West Sioux

RB — Carter Bultman, sr., West Sioux; *Nolan Delong, sr., Durant; Ben Gordon, jr., Van Meter

WR — Ryan Walters, sr., South Hardin; Brady Lynott, sr., West Sioux; Will Gordon, sr., Van Meter

OL — Hunter Meyer, sr., MFL MarMac; Mason Knipp, jr., Waterloo Columbus; Clayton Gradert, sr., West Sioux; Tobey Steen, sr., Pella Christian; Aiden Dingbaum , sr., West Branch; Michael Steinfeldt, sr., Van Meter

UT — Alex Ravlin, sr., Underwood; Ben Gilliland, sr., Van Meter

PK — Jack Fancher, sr., Pella Christian

First Team Defense

DL — Wil Textor, sr., Dike-New Hartford; Keegan McMillan, jr., West Sioux; Logan Wright, jr., West Branch; Michael Banks, sr., Van Meter

LB — Kade McElwaine, jr., MFL MarMac; Nick Reinicke, sr., Dike-New Hartford; Carson Hartz, sr., Waterloo Columbus; Andy Henson, sr., West Branch

DB — Peyton Ritzer, sr., Pella Christian; Jake Moore, jr., Sigourney-Keota; Carter Durflinger, sr., Van Meter; Ben Egan, sr., Mediapolis

UT — Isaac Kacmarynski, sr., Pella Christian; Porter Doggett, jr., Van Meter

P — Drew Miller, jr., Mediapolis

Ret — Austin Kunkle, sr., Guthrie Center ACGC

Second Team Offense (area only)

QB — Tye Hughes, sr., West Branch

RB — Wyatt Powell, jr., MFL MarMac; Cole Clarahan, sr., Sigourney-Keota

OL — Evan Vittetoe, jr., Sigourney-Keota

PK — Wyatt Federlein, sr., West Branch

Second Team Defense (area only)

DL — Jack Clark, jr., Iowa City Regina

UT — Cole Kindred, jr., Sigourney/Keota

Ret — Karter Decker, sr., MFL MarMac

(Complete all-state teams)

Class A

First Team Offense

QB — Colin Gordon, jr., Grundy Center

RB — Jackson Dewald, sr., Westwood; *Michael Turner, sr., Tri-Center; Justin Knaack, jr., Grundy Center

WR — Cael Bridgewater, sr., North Linn; Eric McGill, jr., Woodbury Central; Tate Jirovsky, jr., Grundy Center

OL — Cody Fox, jr., East Buchanan; Grant Brix, jr., Logan-Magnolia; Ryan Hackbart, sr., Saint Ansgar; Brighton Kudje, sr., West Hancock; Keevyn Jacobsma, sr., Hartley HMS; Patrick Brown III, sr., Grundy Center

UT — Mitchell Smith, jr., West Hancock; Corder Noun Harder, jr., Lynnville-Sully

PK — Keaton Logan, sr., Le Mars Gehlen

First Team Defense

DL — Mason Harter, sr., Wapsie Valley; Chase Copeland, sr., Woodbury Central; Lance Berends, sr., Hartley HMS; Trent Cakerice, jr., Grundy Center

LB — Max McGill, sr., Woodbury Central; Rylan Barnes, sr., West Hancock; Kyle Squires, sr., Lynnville-Sully; Clay Saak, jr., Grundy Center

DB — Beau DeRocher, sr., Hinton; Keaten Bonderson, sr., Le Mars Gehlen; Kooper Ebel, sr., Hartley HMS; Nick Denning, jr., Avoca AHSTW

UT — Conner Maston, sr., Lynnville-Sully; Jaydon Knight, sr., Mount Ayr

P — Cohen Kamaus, sr., Lisbon; Ret — Triston Miller, sr., Columbus Community

Second Team Offense (area only)

WR — Grayson Carolan, sr., Alburnett

OL — Landon Stolte, sr., Lisbon; Noah Walthart, sr., East Buchanan

UT — Hunter Bowers, jr., East Buchanan

Second Team Defense (area only)

DL — Landon Helmrich, jr., North Linn; Josh Howe, sr., Alburnett

DB — Michael Schrier, sr., North Tama

UT — Tanner Thurn, jr., East Buchanan

(Complete all-state teams)

8-Player

First Team Offense

QB — Cael Ortmann, sr., Remsen St. Mary’s

RB — Charlie Simpson, sr., Easton Valley; *Isaac Grundman, sr., Lenox; Simeon Reichenbach, sr., WACO

WR — Masin Shearer, sr., Montezuma; Ryan Willman, sr., Remsen St. Mary’s

OL — Tracye Miller, sr., Lenox; Tate Dierking, jr., Southeast Warren; Gavyn Jessen, sr., Anita CAM

UT — Evan Kearney, sr., Iowa Valley; Mason Dicks, sr., Newell-Fonda

PK — Owen Cook, sr., Montezuma

First Team Defense

DL — Hayden Felkey, sr., Easton Valley; Colton Leichty, jr., WACO; Sam Foreman, sr., Anita CAM

LB — Paxten VanHouten, sr., Fremont-Mills; Drew Diers, sr., WACO; Jaxon Bunkers, sr., Remsen St. Mary’s

DB — Mason Miller, sr., WACO; Alex Schroeder, sr., Remsen St. Mary’s

UT — Rowan Carlson, sr., Tripoli; Max Hough, sr., Ruthven GTRA

P — Kalvin Brown, sr., Lamoni

Ret — Lucas Fehr, sr., West Bend-Mallard

Second Team Offense (area only)

QB — Jacob Maurer, sr., BGM

RB — Brandon Cushion, sr., West Central

WR — Garrett Watts, jr., Montezuma

Second Team Defense (area only)

LB — Oliver Schmitt, jr., Turkey Valley

DB — Calvin Bodensteiner, sr., Turkey Valley

(Complete all-state teams)