Class 1A Semifinalist West Branch Lands Five Players on IPSWA All-State Team
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
Traditional Class 1A power West Branch completed its most successful season in more than a decade with its first state semifinal appearance since 2011 earlier this month.
On Tuesday the Bears continued to be rewarded for their 11-1 semifinal season.
West Branch had five players named to the Class 1A Iowa Print Sports Writers Association all-state teams highlighted by a trio of first-team selections.
Seniors Aiden Dingbaum and Andy Henson and junior Logan Wright were all named to the 1A first team while Tye Hughes and Wyatt Fiderlein were each second-team selections.
Dingbaum was named to the first team offense as a lineman after a strong senior season in which he helped pave the way for a Bear offense that averaged more than 207 rushing yards, 340 total yards and 42 points per game.
The 5-foot-11, 240-pound Dingbaum also ranked sixth on the team with 33 tackles including 7.5 for loss.
Wright and Henson each were named to the Class 1A first team defense after staring on a West Branch defense that held opponents to 191 total yards and 12.7 points per game.
A third-team all-state selection last season, Henson was a first-team selection as a linebacker after leading West Branch with 62.5 tackles including 36 solo stops.
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Henson had nine tackles for loss and two sacks and recovered a fumble.
Among the best two-way players in the state Henson rushed for 1,484 yards and 30 touchdowns and also caught 15 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown.
Wright was named to the first team as a defensive lineman after a breakthrough season in which he ranked fifth on the team with 36 tackles.
The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Wright led the Bears with 18 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Hughes was named the second-team quarterback in Class 1A after leading a West Branch offense that scored 34 or more points eight times.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Hughes completed 64 percent of his passes while throwing for 1,530 yards and 13 touchdowns with just three interceptions.
Hughes also rushed for 491 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Fiderlein was a second-team selection as a kicker after making 52-of-62 PAT attempts and connecting on 3-of-4 field goal attempts.
Regina junior Jack Clark was a second-team pick as a defensive lineman.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Clark ranked second on the team with 46.5 tackles and led the Regals with six tackles for loss and four sacks.
2022 Iowa Print Sports Writers Association All-State Football
Class 1A
First Team
Offense
Quarterback– Dylan Wiggins, Sr., West Sioux
Running bac/fullback– Carter Bultman, Sr., West Sioux; Nolan DeLong, Sr., Durant; Ben Gordon, Jr., Van Meter
Tight end/wide receiver– Ryan Walters, Sr., South Hardin; Brady Lynott, Sr., West Sioux; Will Gordon, Sr., Van Meter
Linemen – Hunter Meyer, Sr., MFL Mar Mac; Mason Knipp, Jr., Waterloo Columbus; Clayton Gradert, Sr., West Sioux; Tobey Steen, Sr., Pella Christian; Aiden Dingbaum, Sr., West Branch; Michael Steinfeldt, Sr., Van Meter
Kicker – Jack Fancher, Sr., Pella Christian
Utility – Alex Ravlin, Sr., Underwood; Ben Gilliland, Sr., Van Meter
Defense
Linemen – Will Textor, Sr., Dike-New Hartford; Keegan McMillan, Jr., West Sioux; Logan Wright, Jr., West Branch; Michael Banks, Sr., Van Meter
Linebacker– Kade McElwaine, Jr., MFL Mar Mac; Nick Reinicke, Sr., Dike-New Hartford; Carson Hartz, Sr., Waterloo Columbus; Andy Henson, Sr., West Branch
Defensive back– Peyton Ritzer, Sr., Pella Christian; Jake Moore, Jr., Sigourney/Keota; Carter Durflinger, Sr., Van Meter; Ben Egan, Sr., Mediapolis
Punter– Drew Miller, Jr., Mediapolis
Returner – Austin Kunkle, Sr., ACGC
Utility – Isaac Kacmarynski, Sr., Pella Christian; Porter Doggett, Jr., Van Meter
Second Team
Offense
Quarterback – Tye Hughes, Sr., West Branch
Running bac/fullback – Ethan Schoville, Sr., Denver; Wyatt Powell, Jr., MFL Mar Mac; Cole Clarahan, Sr., Sigourney/Keota
Tight end/wide receiver – Dane Polich, Sr., Woodward/Granger; Mason Boothby, Jr., Underwood; Karson Elwood, Jr., Treynor
Linemen – Logan Beaty, Jr., Denver; Connor Knudtson, Sr., Waterloo Columbus; Evan Vittetoe, Jr., Sigourney/Keota; Ashton McMillan, Sr., West Sioux; Derek Heynen, Sr., Western Christian; Payton Jacobe, Jr., ACGC
Kicker – Wyatt Fiderlein, Sr., West Branch
Utility – DJ Vonnahme, Jr., Carroll Kuemper; Anthony Isley, Sr., Mediapolis
Defense
Linemen – Martez Wiggley, Sr., Aplington-Parkersburg; Gavin De Hough, Sr., Western Christian; Mateo Angel, Sr., Van Meter; Jack Clark, Jr., Regina
Linebacker – Oliver Potter, Jr., Woodward-Granger; Evan Dorn, Jr., Denver; Jack Clarahan, Sr., Sigourney/Keota; Kaedon Lindsay, Sr, West Central Valley
Defensive back – Boston DeVault, Sr., Nodaway Valley; Braxten Johnson, Sr., Dike-New Hartford; Gavin Reed, Sr., Waterloo Columbus; Aydn Netten, Sr., Van Meter
Punter – Braedon Draper, Sr., Panorama
Returner – Karter Decker, Sr., MFL Mar Mac
Utility – Chett Mohr, Jr., Mediapolis; Cole Kindred, Jr., Sigourney/Keota
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