Wasilla sophomore, Palmer senior earn top Railbelt awards

WASILLA — He’s only a sophomore, but Wasilla’s Mosiah Renk already ranks among the top players in the Railbelt Conference.

Earlier this week, Renk was named the Railbelt Conference Utility Player of the Year during the conference’s annual coaches meeting at Wasilla High.

“Mo is kind of an all-around star. He does a lot of everything,” Wasilla head coach Kent Rilatos said.

Renk has been a standout on offense, defense and special teams for a Warriors squad that advanced to the postseason for the first time since 2011. But it took a rapid ascent in the depth chart to set up Renk’s opportunity to thrive with the Warrior varsity. Renk actually started the season as a junior varsity running back. The Warriors featured two seniors with experience in the backfield, Devin Otto and Zach Garnett. But it didn’t take long before the Wasilla coaching staff knew there was no way the Warriors could leave Renk on J.V.

Renk finished the regular season with 603 yards rushing and 190 receiving. That production came with only 46 carries and seven receptions. In total, Renk has 793 yards from scrimmage and is averaging 15 yards per touch. He has 10 rushing touchdowns, five touchdown catches and has returned a kickoff for a score.

On defense, Renk is averaging more than a dozen total tackles per game.

Palmer senior Ben Button also grabbed a major award, earning Railbelt Lineman of the Year honors.

“We felt like he had a great year on both sides of the ball,” Palmer head coach Rod Christiansen said.

Button stood out at offensive guard and nose guard for the Moose.

“He’s an outstanding athlete,” Christiansen said of Button, who captured a state title in wrestling last season for Palmer. “Blocking on the offensive side, he’s real quick. On defense, he’s quick and tough. He has a strong lower body, and a real good motor. He keeps going and going and going.”

Button is the fifth Palmer player to earn conference lineman of the year honors since 2003, joining Junior Aumavae (2003), Everest Moore (2007), Ben Self (2011) and Cole Frohling (2012).

The Lathrop Malemutes bagged three of the top awards. Glenn Maiden, the state leader in passing yards, was named offensive player of the year. Maiden’s teammate, Marcus Brown, was named defensive player of the year. Lathrop’s Richard Tuck was named assistant coach of the year.

Rilatos was named Railbelt Head Coach of the Year.

“It’s a great honor,” Rilatos said. “But it’s more of a reflection of our team, our assistant coaches. It’s really an honor that should be bestowed across the team.”

Renk and Button were among five Valley players to earn first-team status at multiple positions. Button was a first-team selection at offensive guard and defensive line. Renk was named first-team at linebacker and running back.

Palmer’s Adam Christiansen (linebacker and long snapper) and Chase Ferris (running back and kick returner), and Colony’s Steven Bilafer (quarterback and punter) were also named first-team at more than one position.

The number of all-conference selections for each squad is based on the team’s regular season finish in the Railbelt standings. With its second-place finish, Wasilla earned seven spots on the first team. Senior running back Devin Otto, senior offensive tackle Dahlton Wasinkari, senior defensive lineman Theron Bingelli, senior defensive lineman Kyle Klein and senior defensive back Zack Garnett joined Renk on the first team. Sophomore kicker Carson Reed was also named first-team as a specialist.

Palmer and Colony each had five spots on the first team. In addition to Button and Christiansen, senior offensive tackle and senior running back Chase Ferris earned first-team honors for the Moose. Senior linebackers Logan Conway and Zach Doan, senior tight end Robert Nash and senior offensive tackle Mike Haire joined Bilafer on the first team for the Knights.

All-Railbelt Conference

Offensive Player of the Year:

Glenn Maiden, Lathrop.

Defensive Player of the Year: Marcus Brown, Lathrop.

Lineman of the Year:

Ben Button, Palmer.

Coach of the Year:

Kent Rilatos, Wasilla.

Assistant Coach of the Year: Richard Tuck, Lathrop.

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Glenn Maiden, Lat; Steven Bilafer, Col; Zach Lester, WV; Running back — Travis Phillips, Lat; Devin Otto, Was; Mosiah Renk, Was; Chase Ferris, Pal; Josh Cummings, WV; Prince Cooks, WV; Wide receiver — Nathan Barnett, Lat; Tight end — Robert Nash, Col; Tackle — Dahtlon Wasinkari, Was; Nick Benshetler, Pal; Mike Haire, Col; Guard — Ben Button, Pal; Zach Wall, WV

First-team defense:

Defensive line — Theron Bingelli, Was; Kyle Klein, Was; Ben Button, Pal; Linebacker — Marcus Brown, Lat; Daniel Jeong, Lat; Scotty McKinstry, Lat; Adam Christiansen, Pal; Logan Conway, Col; Zach Doan, Col; Deacon Demario, WV; Defensive back — Nathan Barnett, Lat; Ryan Purdue, Lat; Zack Garnett, Was.

First-team special teams:

Long snapper — Adam Christiansen, Pal; Punter — Steven Bilafer, Col; Kicker — Carson Reed, Was; Kick returner — Chase Ferris, Pal.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Blake Marks, Was; Running back — Logan Conway, Col; Wide receiver — Daniel Holtry, Lat; Sergio Salcido, Lat; Tucker Looney, Col; Brandon Joyner, WV; Tight end — Graydon Powell, Pal; Offensive line — Kurt Busness, Was; James McLeod, Was; Ryker Carrington, Pal; Bryan Sauers, WV; Eric Eds, WV; Center — Adam Christiansen, Pal;

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — Detrate Hardney, Lat; Jamari Whiteside, Lat; Alex Hargis, Col; Jaquin Martines, WV; Nick Benshetler, Pal; Linebacker — Omar Chapman, Lat; Hunter Hermans, Was; Kristian Palanik, Was; Defensive back — Garrius Maiden, Lat; Caleb Wolfe, Was; Darion Angol, Pal; Chase Ferris, Pal; Tucker Looney, Col; Justin Callahan, Col; Jordan Nero, Col; Charles Suddeth, WV; Xavier Jones, WV;

Honorable mention offense:

Quarterback — Justin Roth, Pal; Running back — Zack Garnett, Was; Wayne Hershman, Pal; Jared Layton, Pal; Wide receiver — Ryan Perdue, Lat; Derek Kolb, Col; Jarod Ruffing, Col; Offensive line – Jordy Smith, Lat; Anthony Hattal, Lat; Jacob Aday, Lat; Daniel Jeong, Lat; Raden Anthony, Was; Ben Frick, Was; Conor Nolan, WV.

Honorable mention defense:

Defensive line — Devin Millington, Lat; DJ Morrow, Was; Austin Sodorff, Was; Lance Freeman, Col; Joshua Katzmarek, Col; Jordan Silva, WV; Sebastian Christian, WV; Linebacker — AJ Kollander, Pal; Austin Farris, Pal; Branden Jakiemiec, Col; Elijah Blackweasel, WV; Defensive back — Fabian Pelayo, WV; Justin Lee, Was; Layne Morrison, Was; Wyatt McGann, Pal; Robert Nash, Col; Kyle Thomas, WV.

Honorable mention special teams:

Kicker/Punter — Wyatt Marshall, WV.