Zank, Manwiller headline peninsula names on All-Conference football list

Published 10:30 pm Tuesday, October 8, 2019

All-conference football awards were announced Wednesday for the Division III Peninsula Conference, with several local names being recognized.

Homer’s Justin Zank was awarded co-Coach of the Year, along with Houston’s Glenn Nelson. In his first year at Homer, Zank coached the Mariners to a 4-3 record and only lost out on a Div. III playoff spot with a tough loss to Nikiski in week 7. In that game, the Mariners took a 22-14 lead into the fourth quarter but fumbled the ball away, allowing the Bulldogs to capitilize with the go-ahead touchdown in the final minute.

Also for Homer, junior Josh Manwiller earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and was also named as a first-team offensive tackle. Manwiller led the Mariners in total tackles with 61 this year, and had one interception.

For Nikiski, senior Michael Mysing was named a first-team halfback, senior Michael Eiter was named a first-team wide receiver, junior Caileb Payne was named a first-team offensive guard and inside linebacker, and senior Sam Berry was named as defensive back.

Seward’s only first-team member was senior Collin Mullaly, who earned a spot as a defensive back.

All-Peninsula Conference

Offensive Player of the Year: Galvin Mulhaney, Houston

Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Manwiller, Homer

Lineman of the Year: Kiderro Fono, Houston

Coach of the Year: Glenn Nelson, Houston; Justin Zank, Homer

Assistant Coach of the Year: Jared Barrett, Houston

First-team offense:

Quarterback — Gavin Mulhaney, Houston; Halfback — Owen Mulhaney, Houston; Michael Mysing, Nikiski; Fullback — Kennedy Fono, Houston; Wide receiver — Mike Eiter, Nikiski; Carter Tennison, Homer; Tight end — Francis Mose, Houston; Tackle — Kiderro Fono, Houston; Josh Manwiller, Homer; Guard — Caileb Payne, Nikiski; Ezra Fono, Houston; Center — Jack Allison, Houston.

First-team defense:

Defensive line — Kiderro Fono, Houston; Jeremiah Barrett, Houston; Koleman McCaughey, Houston; Gavin Mulhaney, Houston; Outside linebacker — Owen Mulhaney, Houston; Gavin Mulhaney, Houston; Inside linebacker — Caileb Payne, Nikiski; Josh Manwiller, Homer; Defensive back — Tulupo Falaniko, Houston; Sam Berry, Nikiski; Collin Mullaly, Seward.

First-team special teams:

Kicker — Michael Mysing, Nikiski; Mike Eiter, Nikiski; Long snapper — Andrew Milligan, Seward; Return specialist — Anthony Kalugin, Homer; Utility player — Jordan Sewell, Seward.

Second-team offense:

Quarterback — Patrick Garcia, Ketchikan; Anthony Kalugin, Homer; Halfback — Brendon Roof, Ketchikan; Collin Mullaly, Seward; Fullback — Sam Berry, Nikiski; Wide receiver — AJ Malouf, Ketchikan; Carter Thomas, Ketchikan; Tackle — William McComish, Houston; James Milburn, Seward; Guard — River Mann, Homer; Sean Pilant, Homer; Center — Zach Condon, Homer.

Second-team defense:

Defensive line — Chris Harris, Ketchikan; Ezra Fono, Houston; Quentin Oskolkoff, Nikiski; Sean Pilant, Homer; Outside linebacker — Thomas Cronin, Seward; Shane Sullivan, Seward; Inside linebacker — Carter Thomas, Ketchikan; Kennedy Fono, Houston; Defensive back — Mike Eiter, Nikiski; Seth James, Ketchikan; Chad Quinn, Seward.

Second-team special teams:

Kicker — Denali Whitted, Houston; Punter — Owen Mulhaney, Houston; Return specialist — Shane Sullivan, Seward; Talupo Falaniko, Houston; Seth James, Ketchikan; Utility player — Jaryn Zoda, Nikiski.