Prep volleyball: Warriors sweep the visiting SoHi Stars

HOUSTON — The Soldotna Stars dominated on the field, so it’s probably not so much of a surprise that the Stars dominated the All-Northern Lights Conference first team.

Soldotna, a winner of a third straight small-schools state title with a 28-6 win over Kodiak on Saturday, placed 13 players on the All-NLC team, giving the Stars far batter representation than any of the other five teams in the small-schools conference.

“A team like Soldotna, as dominant as they were, they’re going to get the kids they want on there,” Houston head coach Norm Bouchard said of the all-conference list that was released Saturday afternoon. “But it’s not like they just got it, they went out there and earned it.”

A trio of Bouchard’s Hawks also earned first-team all-conference honors.

Senior wide receiver Bryan Mason and senior tight end Jon Stinson were named first-team all-conference on the offensive side of the ball, and senior Anthony Origer garnered first-team honors as a defensive lineman.

“Anthony Origer is one of the hardest working kids we’ve had in a long time,” Bouchard said. “I’m really excited that he had the opportunity to get that first-team honor.”

Mason led the conference in virtually every receiving category this season, making him a lock for first-team honors, Bouchard said.

Mason snagged 25 catches for 372 yards and five touchdowns. Mason did that despite playing in only five full games. The senior missed Houston’s game with Kenai, and Bouchard said Mason played only eight offensive downs against Ketchikan and five offensive plays against Delta.

“Considering he only played in five games, he did really well,” Bouchard said.

Bouchard said Stinson was rewarded with a first-team honor at tight end because of his all-around play at the position.

“We used him to both block and catch,” Bouchard said of Stinson, who was also third on the team with eight receptions. “In our conference not many teams use the tight end to its utmost ability like we do.”

Soldotna’s domination of the All-NLC list did cost a few Hawks who Bouchard thought were deserving of first-team honors — most notably senior quarterback Jordan Webb.

Statistically, Webb was the top signal caller in the conference, completing 62 of 142 passes for 793 yards and nine touchdowns, but he has to settle for second-team honors.

“He had the numbers to be the best quarterback in the conference, and I still think he is,” Bouchard said. “But at the same time the other guy runs a great offense, does a great job with it and doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.”

Soldotna’s Zayan Aberkan was named first-team at the position.

Webb was one of six Houston players named to the second team.

Running back Kyle Sumner, offensive guard Randy Shaffer and kicker Ryan Contreras were named second-team offense. Shaffer was named twice on the list, also receiving second-team honors at long snapper.

On the other side of the ball, Mason was named second-team at defensive back and Justin Bowman was recognized on the defensive line.

Justin Crowley was named honorable mention at both offensive guard and linebacker, but Bouchard said the senior should have been at least a second-team selection.

“He was a great football player for us, a lot better than honorable mention,” Bouchard said. “It’s unfortunate he’s not getting his due reward. But he did it for his teammates, not for the accolades.”

Center Colin Sowards, outside linebacker Micah Ranum and defensive back Daniel Munoz were named honorable mention, in addition to Webb (punter) and Shaffer (defensive line).

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

Northern Lights All-Conference teams

Offensive player of the year — Anthony Griglione, Soldotna.

Lineman of the year — Ross Courtney, Soldotna.

Defensive player of the year — Gary Anthony, Kodiak.

Coach of the year — Galen Brantley Jr., Soldotna.

Assistant coach of the year — Sarge Truesdell, Soldotna.

First-team offense

Quarterback — Zayan Aberkane, Soldotna; Halfback — Anthony Griglione, Soldotna; Billy Kiefer, Kenai; Fullback — Brady Quinn, Homer; Wide receiver — Bryan Mason, Houston; Tight end — Jon Stinson, Houston; Tackle — Nate Strieby, Soldotna; Donny Dormady, Kenai; Guard — Ross Courtney, Soldotna; Adam Byrne, Skyview; Center — Conner Rogan, Kodiak; Long snapper — Tyler McGillivray, Soldotna; Kicker — Justice Elson, Soldotna; Return specialist — Phil Bennett, Soldotna.

First-team defense

Outside linebacker — Kyle Wood, Soldotna; Anthony Griglione, Soldotna; Inside linebacker — Braden Price, Soldotna; Gary Anthony, Kodiak; Defensive backs — Zayan Aberkane, Soldotna; Billy Kiefer, Kenai; Alex Woodell, Kodiak; Interior lineman — Ross Courtney, Soldotna; Connor Rogan, Kodiak; Justin Frink, Homer; Anthony Origer, Houston; Punter — Brady Quinn, Homer; Utility player — Chase Jenson, Soldotna.

Second-team offense

Quarterback — Jordan Webb, Houston; Halfback — Gary Anthony, Kodiak; Kyle Sumner, Houston; Fullback — Chris Nolden, Soldotna; Wide receiver — John Hughes, Kenai; Tight end — Justin Frink, Homer; Tackle — Chris Dunn, Kodiak; Keith Holm, Soldotna; Joe Ramirez, Skyview; Guard — Randy Shaffer, Houston; Michael Atonio, Kodiak; Center — Richie Ziehmer, Kenai; Long snapper — Randy Shaffer, Houston; Kicker — Ryan Contrares, Houston; Return specialist — Nick VanMatre, Kodiak.

Second-team defense

Outside linebacker — Nick Rouswell, Kenai; Matt Meade, Skyview; John Hughes, Kenai; Raphael Matautia, Kodiak; Jeremiah Carr, Homer; Inside linebacker — Adam Byrne, Skyview; Brady Quinn, Homer; Defensive back — Bryan Mason, Houston; Nick VanMatre, Kodiak; Phil Bennett, Soldotna; Josh Gilbert, Homer; Cole Jacobsen, Homer; Interior lineman — Kenny Mahan, Skyview; Justin Bowman, Houston; Dakota Elsey, Soldotna; Peter Hendrickson, Homer; Michael Atonio, Kodiak; Punter — Raphael Matautia, Kodiak; Utility player — Mitch Wyatt, Homer.

Honorable mention offense

Quarterback — Matt Meade, Skyview; Halfback — Kyle Wood, Soldotna; David Craig, Homer; Matt Tyrell, Homer; Fullback — Nick Rouswell, Kenai; Markus Quint, Skyview; Anthony Atonio, Kodiak; Wide receiver — Peter Hendrickson, Homer; Tight end — Joe Shirley, Soldotna; Michael Thornton, Skyview; Tackle — Patrick Lane, Homer; Guard — Karl Swanson, Homer; Justin Crowley, Houston; Center — Kenny Mahan, Skyview; Colin Sowards, Houston; Long snapper — Mitch Wyatt, Homer; Kicker — Mark Walsworth, Homer; Jeff Narlock, Kenai; Return specialist — Anthony Resetarits, Homer;

Honorable mention defense

Outside linebacker — Micah Ranum, Houston; Inside linebacker — Justin Crowley, Houston; Defensive back — Dalton Chappell, Kenai; Auston Tennis, Skyview; Daniel Munoz, Houston; Interior lineman — Kyle Wisnewski, Kenai; Randy Shaffer, Houston; Punter — Jordan Webb, Houston; Anthony Griglione, Soldotna; Utility player — Cameron Borchgrevink, Kenai; Brad Lapp, Skyview.