Neitzel named All-Western Iowa defensive captain

OMAHA — Creston/O-M senior Luke Neitzel is one of the honorary captains for the Omaha World-Herald’s All-Western Iowa football teams announced Sunday.

The newspaper selected 24-player first and second teams in two divisions: Class 4A/3A and Class 2A/1A/A. It also picked 18-player first and second tams in the Eight-Man division.

The newspaper also selected first and second teams in its All-Western Iowa volleyball teams.

In all, five players from Creston/O-M’s football team were selected. Neitzel is the 4A/3A captain for the defense. At safety, the 6-2, 185-pound senior had seven interceptions and finished third on the team with 56 tackles. As a quarterback, he ran for 1,260 yards and 20 touchdowns, and threw for anothger 708 yards and eight scores with only four interceptions.

This is Neitzel’s third year on the All-Western Iowa team, and second year for running back Bryce McIlravy.

The World-Herald’s Western Iowa region does not extend as far as area schools Mount Ayr, East Union and Murray.

Area players selected to the football and volleyball teams by the World-Herald:

WESTERN IOWA FOOTBALL

Class 4A/3A

First team — OL: Keaton Hulett, Creston/O-M, Sr.; LB: Trevor Frain, Creston/O-M, Jr.; DB: Luke Neitzel, Creston/O-M, Sr. Captain: Neitzel.

Second team — RB: Bryce McIlravy, Creston/O-M, Sr.; OL: Cole Tanner, Creston/O-M, Sr.

Class 2A/1A/A

First team — RB: Cole Bonde, Bedford, Sr.

Second team — DL: Noah Thornton, Bedford, So.

Honorable mention — Brad Baudler, Nodaway Valley; Dylon French, Bedford; Zach Plymesser, Nodaway Valley; Kain Queck, Nodaway Valley; Kolten Sefrit, Bedford; Michael Stender, Nodaway vAlley; Colton Townsend, Bedford.

Eight-Man

First team — P: Nick Spring, Corning, Jr.

Second team — DL: Todd Stoaks, Lenox, Jr.; DB: Mason Peterson, Lenox, Sr.

Honorable mention — Keegan Longabaugh, Corning; Blaine Williams, Corning.

W. IOWA VOLLEYBALL

Class 5A/4A/3A

Honorable mention — Natalie Mostek, Creston.

Class 2A

Honorable mention — Sydney Reeves, Nodaway Valley; Shelby Venteicher, Nodaway Valley.

Class 1A

First team — Hitter: Kayla, Lindenmeyer, Bedford, Sr.; Haley Raymond, Bedford, Sr.

Second team — Hitter: Ella Akin, Corning, Sr.

Honorable mention — Caitlyn Damewood, Corning; Madison Douglas, Lenox; Marie Palmer, Corning; Savanna Thornton, Bedford.