Montezuma’s John Beck earns Coach of the Year honors a second time; players from Montezuma, BGM earn top honors

​       Montezuma Braves Head Football Coach, John Beck, listens to quarterback Owen Cook during a game against the HLV Warriors earlier this year. Beck helped lead the Braves to a 9-3 record and quarterfinal finish in the playoffs. Beck, who is in his second year as head coach, was named the Class 8P – District 7 All-District Coach of the Year for a second time at the helm of the team.

By J.O. Parker
 
       Coach of the Year honors went to Montezuma’s John Beck for a second straight year and players from both Montezuma and BGM brought home top awards following the release of the 2022 Class 8P – District 7 All-District Team honors.
        “While it is a great honor to get this award, it really is a reflection of the team and how hard they worked to win another district title,” said Beck. “They battled all year long, learned from their mistakes, and just continued to grow as a team. The team really bonded well this year, we had seniors and juniors taking the underclassmen under their wing. The leadership was fantastic and that showed throughout the season. The guys just got better all year long and made plays when we needed them. I am very proud of what they accomplished this year.”
      Beck went on to thank his coaching staff, Tim Burgess, Josh Kriegel, Cal Smith, Partner Maschmann and Michael Lyons, saying they are a great group of men who want what is best for our athletes.
     “They do a great job with their responsibilities and are always there for the boys,” added Beck. “I also would like to thank Brian Diaz for helping out up in the box as well as our stat crew and press box crew. I would also like to thank the fans, we always have a great game-night atmosphere. They say it takes a village, we really do have a great one supporting these athletes.”
       Beck, who is in his second year as a head coach at Montezuma, led the 8-Man Braves to a 9-3 record and a quarterfinal finish in the playoffs.          
    Montezuma’s Tod Geiger earned Offensive Line Player of the Year (POY) honors and Owen Cook was recognized with Kicker/Punter Player of the Year honors for a second straight year. Geiger and Cook were among seven Montezuma players who earned first team honors.
     BGM’s Jacob Mauer was recognized with Offensive Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors while his Bear’s teammate, Logan Heishman, earned Defensive Line Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors. Mauer and Heishman were among five BGM players who earned first team honors.
        Defensive MVP honors went to Baxter’s Jake Travis for the 2022 season.
        Following are the first, second and honorable mention players for the district:
Montezuma
First Team
OL – Tod Geiger, Junior, Montezuma
OL – Kennen Roadcap, Senior, Montezuma
Kicker – Owen Cook, Senior, Montezuma
WR – Masin Shearer, Senior, Montezuma
WR – Garrett Watts, Junior, Montezuma
LB – Brady Ogan, Senior, Montezuma
TE – Brett Plants, Sophomore, Montezuma
Second Team
DB – Carter Michalek, Sophomore, Montezuma
OL – Cruz DeJong, Junior, Montezuma
DL – Landon Morrison, Junior, Montezuma
Honorable Mention
DB – Eli Bustamante, Senior, Montezuma
DL – Martavious Knox, Senior, Montezuma
Baxter
First Team
LB – Jake Travis, Senior, Baxter
QB – Cody Damman, Senior, Baxter
DL – Trice Clapper, Senior, Baxter
WR – Trey Travis, Junior, Baxter
LB – Cael Shepley, Senior, Baxter
Second Team
OL– Aiden McFadden, Junior, Baxter
OL – Carter Smith, Sophomore, Baxter
WR – Evan Mahoney, Junior, Baxter
Honorable Mention
LB – Cainan Travis, Sophomore, Baxter
LB – Cody Samson, Junior, Baxter
BGM
First Team
QB – Jacob Maurer, Senior, BGM
WR – Shamus Keller, Senior, BGM
DL – Logan Heishman, Senior, BGM
DE – Cooper Winter, Senior, BGM
RB - Mason Maschmann, Junior, BGM
Second Team
WR – Dominic Coleman, Junior, BGM
OG – Layne Jocom, Senior, BGM
LB – Tate Martin, Senior, BGM
Honorable Mention
DL – Connor Cooling, Senior, BGM
C – Axton Bartachek, Senior, BGM
Grand View Christian
First Team
WR – Colin Woodbury, Senior, GVC
QB – Noah John, Junior, GVC
RB – Kaeden Burger, Junior, GVC
Second Team
LM – Blake Schroeder, Senior, GVC
WR – Austin Jordan, Sophomore, GVC
Honorable Mention
LM – Henry Dyer, Junior, GVC
DB – Malachi Seyler, Junior, GVC
Melcher-Dallas
First Team
RB – Logan Godfrey, Senior, Melcher-Dallas
DE – Lucas Harrington, Senior, Melcher-Dallas
Second Team
LB – Max Enfield, Senior, Melcher-Dallas
TE – Braydon Draeger, Junior, Melcher-Dallas
LB – Kael Caikoski, Junior, Melcher-Dallas
Honorable Mention
OG – Ryan Heaton, Sophomore, Melcher-Dallas
QB – Johnny Milburn, Sophomore, Melcher-Dallas
Twin Cedars
First Team
LB – Nathan Curry, Junior, TC
WR – Kasey Clark, Senior, TC
Second Team
QB – Dallas Smith, Sophomore, TC
LB - Brendan Connett, Junior, TC
Honorable Mention
DB – Noah Fee, Junior, TC
OL – Nathan Newman, Senior, TC
Woodward Academy, who finished 0-8, did not have any players receive special honors.