Nine named to all-district first team

Forget that 3-6 record, as far as New Hampton football coach Scott Frerichs is concerned, the nine players who earned all-Class 2A, District 3 first-team honors are absolutely deserving of their awards.
“We finished third in our district, and honestly, we’re not that far away from being 6-3, 7-2 and in the playoffs,” Frerichs said. “When you think about it, we’re a called touchdown and a fourth-down pass — if either one is different — from making the playoffs.”
New Hampton’s first-team players included offensive lineman Noah Fenske, running back Tristan Sweitzer, tight end Tanner Lane, defensive lineman Dillon Roberson, linebackers Keegan Kane and Carter Ferrie, defensive back Mason Cleveland, kicker Austin Hemann and “utility” player Evan Rosonke.
Fenske also was named the district’s lineman of the year.
Defensive back Wyatt Stochl, split end Max Babcock and lineman Bryce Maloy were all named honorable mention.
And the Chickasaws had a district-leading 22 players — Connor Rochford, Cleveland, Babcock, Austin Flugum, Brayden Anderson, Stochl, Conner Gorman, Kane, Ryan Pickar, Max Schwickerath, Rosonke, Nick TeKippe, Mitch Pickar, Jacob Reicks, Maloy, Hemann, Roberson, Nolan Knutson, Connor Hackman, Ryan Anderson, Ferrie and Will Clark — make the all-district academic team. Players must have at least a 3.5 grade-point average to be included on that team.
“It’s something I don’t want to get overlooked,” Frerichs said. “I believe that says something about the kind of kids we have. They’re student-athletes and they understand what has to come first.”
The full story may be found in the Nov. 13 Tribune.