Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

After the graduation of a talent-rich senior class following a 10-1 season in 2019 West Branch knew it would need to lean on its senior leaders on both sides of the ball in 2020.

Jeff Bowie and Gavin Hierseman were each up to the task this fall.

Hierseman and Bowie both turned in strong senior seasons on their way to earning all-state honors on Tuesday from the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association.

Bowie was a Class 1A first-team all-state defensive line pick for the second consecutive season while Hierseman was a third-team selection, earning all-state honors for the first time.

An Iowa recruit, Bowie capped an incredible prep career with a strong senior season that featured 20.5 tackles including 11 tackles for loss.

A four-year starter, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Bowie was a force on both sides of the ball this season but did his best work at defensive end where he had 14 solo stops and four sacks.

Hierseman was the third-team selection at quarterback after throwing for better than 200 yards per game as a senior.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Hierseman completed 62 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,422 yards and 11 touchdowns in seven gamest this season.

Hierseman also rushed for 181 yards and five touchdowns helping West Branch to a 5-3 record.

2020 Iowa Print Sports Writers Association All-State Football

Class 1A

First Team

Offense

Quarterback – Cooper DeJean, Sr., OABCIG

Running back/fullback – Trevor Thompson, Sr., South Hamilton; Sam Sieren, Sr., Sigourney-Keota; Dalten Van Pelt, Jr., Van Meter

Tight end/wide receiver – Evan Taylor, Sr., Panorama; Easton Harms, Jr., OABCIG; Brayden Wollan, Sr., Underwood

Lineman – Colton Willis, Sr., South Hamilton; Jacob Leohr, Sr., Dike-New Hartford; Alex Buser, Sr., Waterloo Columbus; Easton Eledge, Jr., Underwood; Zach Smithart, Jr., Sigourney-Keota; Lincoln Olsen, Jr., Van Meter

Kicker – Jason Topete, Sr., West Sioux

Utility – Jack Pettit, Jr., Van Meter

Defense

Lineman – Aaron Graves, Jr., Southeast Valley; Chris Gardner, Sr., Underwood; Jeff Bowie, Sr., West Branch; Casey Trudo, Jr., Van Meter

Linebackers – Brennan Holder, Sr., South Central Calhoun; Kaleb Brouwer, Sr., Dike-New Hartford; Ethan Shever, Jr., OABCIG; Calvin Sieck, Sr., Van Meter

Defensive Backs – Dane Fuller, Sr., Dike New-Hartford; Ben Dunlap, Sr., Emmetsburg; Alex Feldmann, Sr., Waterloo Columbus; Brady Duwa, Sr., Sigourney-Keota

Punter – Kody VanEngelenburg, Sr., Sumner-Fredericksburg

Kicker returner – Cayden Jensen, Jr., ACGC

Utility – Beau Butler, Sr., South Hardin

Second Team

Offense

Quarterback – Domonic Walker, Sr., Panorama

Running back/fullback – Blake McAlister, Jr., South Central Calhoun; Griffin Diersen, Soph., OABCIG; Jack Menster, Soph., Cascade

Tight end/wide receiver – Griffin Greiner, Jr., Cardinal; Logan Thie, Sr., Mediapolis; Caden Budde, Sr., West Sioux

Lineman – Dalton DeWitt, Sr., Central Springs; Carson Pibal, Sr., South Central Calhoun; Caydon Christensen, Sr., Belmond-Klemme; Chris Schmidt, Sr., West Sioux; Max Gilliland, Sr., Van Meter; Cael Lyle, Sr., Pekin

Kicker – Caden Wareham, Sr., OABCIG

Utility – Nolan DeLong, Soph., Durant

Defense

Lineman – Levi Vanden Bos, Sr., Western Christian; Dane Johnson, Sr., Pocahontas; Luke Mulder, Sr., Pella Christian; Ted Weber, Sr., Cascade

Linebackers – Geo Ehrig, Sr., OABCIG; Payton Weehler, Sr., Mount Ayr; Gavin Cornelison, Jr., ACGC; Cody Boender, Sr., Pella Christian

Defensive Backs – Bailey Baccam, r., Western Christian; Brock Galetich, Sr., South Hamilton; Lucas Leiferman, Sr., Panorama; Wyatt Sieren, Sr., Sigourney-Keota

Punter – Blake McAlister, Jr., South Central Calhoun

Kicker returner – Trent Kkoelker, Sr., Dyersville Beckman

Utility – Drew Taylor, Sr., Panorama

Third Team

Offense

Quarterback – Gavin Hierseman, Sr., West Branch

Running back/fullback – Logan Cassady, Jr., Interstate 35; Drew Larsen, Sr., Dike New-Hartford; Cole Shirk, Sr., Emmetsburg

Tight end/wide receiver – Elliot Naughton, Jr., Dyersville Beckman; Caylor Hoffer, Jr., Denver; Cole Shirk, Sr., Emmetsburg

Lineman – Tegan Carson, Jr., Central Decatur; Jared Wasson, Jr., Panorama; Keaton Railsback, Jr., OABCIG; Victor Gonzalez, Jr., ACGC; Brayden Moffit, Sr., Sigourney-Keota; Luke Koepke, Jr., Denver

Kicker – Simon Wagner, Sr., Carroll Kuemper

Utility – Alex Ravlin, Soph., Underwood

Defense

Lineman – Ryley Snell, Jr., Interstate 35; Tage Henrichs, Sr., Sibley-Ocheyedan; Carter Hewitt, Sr., South Hamilton; Brady Hawkins, Sr., West Sioux

Linebackers – Jayden Soard, Jr., South Central Calhoun; Tristan Mulder, Sr., Western Christian; Dallas Westhoff, Jr., Waterloo Columbus; Samuel Bandstra, Sr., East Marshall

Defensive Backs – Peyton Schmitz, Jr., Sumner-Fredericksburg; Beau Jenness, Sr., Sibley-Ocheyedan; Trae Ehlen, Sr., Mount Ayr; Scott Pearson, Jr., Underwood

Punter – Treyton Bainbridge, Sr., Van Buren

Utility – Nathan Zupke, Sr., Sumner-Fredericksburg

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