The Great Lakes Eight conference has selected its players of the year and all-conference awards for the 2023 season, with seven local players recognized by the league with nine awards.
Senior Joe Kelley was named first team all-conference for his skills as an offensive and defensive lineman. Both he and Pickford’s Hayden Rader shared that designation.
Munising had a total of five players winning seven awards with Superior Central adding two players receiving two awards. Pickford had the most first team all-conference awardees, but tied with Newberry with 12 total player awards. The Panthers, who were undefeated until the last game of the season, also won Team of the Year with Head Coach Josh Rader winning Coach of the Year.
Local student athletes are italicized.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Tommy Storey, Pickford DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Matthew Rahilly, Newberry COACH OF THE YEAR: Josh Rader, Pickford TEAM OF THE YEAR: Pickford 1st TEAM
QB: Cam Peterson, Sr. Rudyard RB: Tommy Storey, Jr, Pickford RB: Aiden Bickel, Sr Rudyard WR: Jack Dusseault, Jr. Munising WR: Cale Maciag, Sr, Pickford Hybrid: Matthew Rahilly, Newberry OL: Joe Kelley, Sr Munising OL: Jack Cifelli, Jr. Rudyard OL: Hayden Rader, Jr Pickford DE: Cam Peterson Sr. Pickford DE: Gabe Luck, Sr Newberry DT: Joe Kelley, Sr Munising DT: Hayden Rader, Jr Pickford LB: Carter Deatsman, Jr Munising LB: Aiden Bickel, Sr Rudyard LB: Eli MacDonald, Jr Pickford DB: Gunner Bennin, Soph Pickford DB: Eli Sprague, Sr Rudyard Hybrid: Matthew Rahilly, Jr Newberry K: Stephen Kirschner, Rudyard P: Kennedy Depew, Newberry Ret: Matthew Rahilly, Newberry 2nd TEAM
QB: Gavin Nutkins, Sr. Newberry RB: Reese Cotey, Sr Munising
RB: Kennedy Depew, Sr Newberry WR: Jacob Mohar, Newberry WR: Kallen Lawlor, Sr Rudyard Hybrid: Damon MacDowell, Jr Rudyard OL: Ethan Pavey, Jr Newberry OL: Gabe Hamilton, Soph Newberry OL: Grady Smith, Sr Rapid River DE: Ian Browne, Jr. Pickford DT: Grady Smith, Sr Rapid River LB: Jacob Mohar, Jr Newberry LB: Eddie Forslund, Jr. Rapid River DB: Tyler Nelson, Sr Munising DB: Landen Mayer, Rudyard Hybrid: Cale Maciag, Sr Pickford HONORABLE MENTION
QB: Bryce Lundquist, Sr Rapid River RB: Gunner Bennin, Soph Pickford WR: Connor Kee, Sr Rapid River Hybrid: Ian Browne, Jr Pickford Hybrid: Evan Horowitz, Rapid River OL: Eli MacDonald, Jr Pickford OL: Charlie Lyons, Sr. Brimley OL: Eli Penny, Sr Superior Central DL: Brien Nelson, Sr Newberry DL: Jason Kanerva, Sr. Superior Central DB: Gavin Besau, Sr. Brimley Hybrid: Reese Cotey, Sr Munising
