Hawk senior makes school history

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

HOUSTON - It's very rare for a prep player to dominate at his position for three consecutive seasons.

Rare, but not impossible. Houston senior Chris Minsch has proved that.

For the third straight year, Minsch has been named 3A first-team all-state at offensive tackle by the Alaska State Football Coaches Association. Minsch is the first player in the history of the Houston program to be named first team all-state after three seasons.

&#8220That is huge. Especially for someone that big,” Houston head coach Norm Bouchard said. &#8220He's not a big, giant kid. To get that recognition is awesome.”

Even at the small school level, Minsch was considered an undersized offensive lineman during his high school career. Despite his size, 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds, Minsch is considered as one of the best lineman in the state.

&#8220He's a great technician who works very hard,” Bouchard said. &#8220When you look at him, you don't see an awesome physical specimen. But it is amazing how technically sound he is.”

Minsch said technique has been the key to his continued success.

&#8220I was tought how to do everything right,” Minsch said.

Minsch not only gave credit to the current cast of Hawk coaches, but also to former Houston head coach Mat Bredberg.

Bouchard said the respect for Minsch does not just come from the Houston sidelines. Opposing coaches consistently comment on how good Minsch is.

&#8220They have a lot of respect for him as a player, and technician,” Bouchard said.

In his first days as Hawk freshman Bouchard said Minsch was only about 5-7 and weighed 220 pounds.

&#8220He changed from being chubby to really strong,” Bouchard said. &#8220He lost about 60 pounds of fat and put on 30 pounds of muscle.”

When Minsch first started to play at Houston, he thought when his Hawk career was over he would be a lot bigger. So when he saw he didn't have the size many of the other players at his position had, he continued to work on his technique and quickness.

&#8220Last year I hit the weights pretty hard,” Minsch said. &#8220At least four times a week during and after school.”

The time spent off the field, Bouchard said allowed Minsch to become such a strong and technically sound player.

&#8220He's in the weight room all the time. There were at least 20 days last year where it was just he and I working out,” Bouchard said. &#8220He took the time to do that, and that's why he's all-state. He's a great kid who likes to work hard, and expects a lot out of himself.”

After earning all-state honors on offense after his sophomore and junior years, and excelling on the defensive line in those seasons, Minsch was immediately thrown into the list of lineman of the year candidates for his senior campaign. But to fill a team need, Minsch moved from his position at defensive tackle, back to middle linebacker for his final year.

&#8220If he played defensive line (this year), he'd probably have been lineman of the year. And that's something he's always wanted,” Bouchard said.

Before the beginning of the season, when Bouchard was considering moving him to linebacker, he talked to Minsch.

&#8220He said he didn't care. He wanted to fill the need for the team,” Bouchard said. &#8220That says a lot. He's a team player. He understood that he was giving up something that was important to him for the team.”

There was a transition period initially. Minsch said he needed to learn how to ready plays, play the angles and settle into pass coverage. But as he grew to understand the position Minsch began to appreciate what a linebacker can do. Now the position is his preference.

&#8220You get to hit harder,” Minsch said. &#8220You're running fast by the time you get to them, and you get to hit harder.”

Now Minsch is aiming to play, hopefully linebacker, at the collegiate level.

&#8220I want to work out really hard in the offseason,” Minsch said. &#8220Hopefully get a chance to play somewhere.”

Minsch is one of three Houston players named first-team, with four others garnering second-team honors.

Fellow lineman Clinton Banzhof was named first-team center. Banzhof and guard Jeremy Grube, a second-team all-state selection, may have been overshadowed by Minsch during their careers, but both very important parts of Houston's success, Bouchard said.

While Minsch immediately jumped to the varsity level, Bouchard said Banzoff worked his way up from the junior varsity squad.

&#8220Out of all the awards, I am most proud to give this one to him,” Bouchard said.

Like Minsch, Bouchard said, Banzhof was also praised by opposing coaches.

&#8220The other coaches said he was the best center they saw all year long,” Bouchard said. &#8220These are coaches from Soldotna and Eielson - two pretty good programs.”

Senior wide receiving David Monteil also was named to the first team.

Monteil was reason why Houston was able to have a balanced offensive attack, Bouchard said.

&#8220Teams couldn't just throw nine or 10 guys in the box,” Bouchard said.

Also earning second-team all-state honors were fullback Bradd Erickson, receiver Donovan Parker and long snapper Tyler Strickland.