Colony seniors lead All-Railbelt list

For the third season in a row Rhett Magner and Dominick Bellotte have been named first-team All-Railbelt Conference.

Magner, who was named first-team return specialist as a sophomore and first-team defensive back and return specialist as a junior, earned first-team honors on offense, defense and special teams. The Colony senior was named first-team quarterback, defensive back and return specialist.

Magner is fourth in the state with 997 yards passing on 58 completions and has the state’s best touchdown-to-interception ratio with 18 touchdowns and just one interception.

Bellotte, also a Colony senior, was named to the first-team offensive line for the third straight season and to the first-team defense for the second straight season.

Colony seniors Shawn Olivera, Kyle Coffman and Justin Schwartzbauer also were named to the first team for the second straight season — Olivera at running back, Coffman at linebacker and Schwartzbauer at wide receiver. Schwartzbauer was also named to the first team as a defensive back.

Colony juniors Austin Manelick (linebacker) and Tim Egger (kicker) were also named first team.

In all, the Knights had 19 selections on the all-conference list, released Tuesday. Railbelt coaches voted for the teams via teleconference on Monday.

Colony head coach Randy Magner said he was happy to see Olivera and Coffman receive recognition for the second straight year and happy to see Manelick earn notice for his play at outside linebacker, but disappointed Knight defensive end Ricky Cunningham didn’t receive more attention.

“I don’t know why that was,” Magner said. “Teams couldn’t run to his side.”

North Pole placed a conference-high 12 selections on the first-team and four Patriots received special awards.

After a record-breaking season, North Pole running back Perry Monzulla was named the conference’s offensive player of the year. Fellow Patriot Cam Culver was named defensive player of the year and North Pole’s Andrew Stefan edged out Bellotte for the lineman of the year honors.

“It was close,” Magner said of the battle between Stefan and Bellotte for lineman of the year honors.

In other honors, Magner and Colony assistant coach Jamie Mayo received recognition. Magner was named co-head coach of the year with Patriot head coach Buck Nystrom.

“I certainly appreciate it,” Magner said. “I’m in pretty good company with Buck.”

Mayo earned assistant coach of the year honors for the third time, for directing Colony’s defense.

“It seems like every year Colony’s defense is in the top five of the state,” Magner said. “No matter how well we do, even when we don’t go that far.”

Palmer and Wasilla each placed two players on the first team. Runnnig back Devon Conroy and linebacker Steel Tubbs represented the Moose, while defensive lineman Chris Johnson and defensive back Matt Crane represented the Warriors.

Coffman (tight end) Egger (punter), Billy Collins (running back, outside linebacker), Chris Walsh (offensive tackle), Cunningham (defensive end), Randele Harvey (defensive back) and Frank Gamboa (long snapper) each received second-team honors for the Knights.

Crane (wide receiver, return specialist), Jake Wade (running back), Mason Richards (running back), Eric Zehdner (offensive guard), Travis Erickson (inside linebacker) and Jeff Champion (defensive back) each received second-team honors for the Warriors.

Tubbs (fullback), Conroy (defensive back) Chris Fritz (defensive line), Jake Huen (offensive guard, inside linebacker) and Ian Heindel (long snapper) each received second-team honors for Palmer.

All-Railbelt Conference

First team offense

Position Name School

Quarterback Rhett Magner Colony

Running back Perry Monzulla North Pole

Running back Shawn Olivera Colony

Running back Devon Conroy Palmer

Fullback Jamie Hurlburt North Pole

Wide receiver Justin Schwartzbauer Colony

Wide receiver Bryant Saldarriaga West Valley

Tight end Cam Culver North Pole

Offensive tackle Jeremy Warwick North Pole

Offensive tackle Andrew Stefan North Pole

Offensive guard Justin Ballek North Pole

Offensive guard Dominick Bellotte Colony

Center E.J. Martinez North Pole

First team defense

Defensive end Justin Ballek North Pole

Defensive end Sid Johnson Lathrop

Interior lineman Jeff Conley North Pole

Interior lineman Dominick Bellotte Colony

Interior lineman Chris Johnson Wasilla

Inside linebacker Kyle Coffman Colony

Inside linebacker Cam Culver North Pole

Outside linebacker Austin Manelick Colony

Outside linebacker Steel Tubbs Palmer

Defensive back Charles Spencer North Pole

Defensive back Rhett Magner Colony

Defensive back Justin Schwartzbauer Colony

Defensive back Matt Crane Wasilla

First team specialist

Kicker Tim Egger Colony

Punter Brian Stuvek Lathrop

Return specialist Rhett Magner Colony

Long snapper John Thies Lathrop

Special awards

Lineman of the year Andrew Stefan North Pole

Utility player of the year Ben Richardson Lathrop

Offensive player of the year Perry Monzulla North Pole

Defensive player of the year Cam Culver North Pole

Asst. coach of the year Jamie Mayo Colony

Co head coach of the year Randy Magner Colony

Buck Nystrom North Pole

Second team offense

Quarterback Derrick Stevenson Lathrop

Running back Billy Collins Colony

Running back Jake Wade Wasilla

Running back Mason Richards Wasilla

Running back James McKinney West Valley

Wide receivers Jacob Barthelemy North Pole

Wide receivers Matt Crane Wasilla

Fullback Steel Tubbs Palmer

Tight end Kyle Coffman Colony

Offensive tackle Chris Walsh Colony

Offensive tackle Bo Dinstel West Valley

Offensive guard Kevin Kornack North Pole

Offensive guard Eric Zehnder Wasilla

Offensive guard Jake Heun Palmer

Center Nathan Graetz Lathrop

Second team defense

Defensive end Ricky Cunningham Colony

Defensive end Bo Dinstel West Valley

Interior lineman Chris Fritz Palmer

Interior lineman Kyle Miller North Pole

Interior lineman Jeremy Warwick North Pole

Interior lineman Bryce Cook Lathrop

Inside linebacker Travis Erickson Wasilla

Inside linebacker Jamie Hurlburt North Pole

Inside linebacker Jake Huen Palmer

Outside linebacker Billy Collins Colony

Outside linebacker Kyle Holthaus Lathrop

Defensive back Jon Nelson North Pole

Defensive back Randale Harvey Colony

Defensive back Paul Meredith Lathrop

Defensive back Devon Conroy Palmer

Defensive back Jeff Champion Wasilla

Defensive back Jacob Mackey West Valley

Second team specialist

Kicker Devon Conroy Palmer

Kicker Joel Hubbard West Valley

Punter Matt Santana West Valley

Punter Tim Egger Colony

Return specialist Devon Conroy Palmer

Return specialist Matt Crane Wasilla

Long snapper Frank Gamboa Colony

Long snapper Ian Heidel Palmer