They’re the best of the best.
They’re the biggest, the fastest and the strongest, with the best moves, the best arms and the best hands.
“They” are the stars of the 2024 high school football season, and there’s a bunch of great ones from our area, including players from West Linn (the top-ranked Class 6A team in the state), fourth-ranked Lake Oswego, fifth-ranked Lakeridge and Wilsonville (the top-ranked Class 5A team in the state).
Here’s a list of each team’s returning all-league and all-state players, with a couple brief quotes from the head coaches of the Lakers, Pacers, Lions and Wildcats.
LAKE OSWEGO
The 2024 Lakers feature two returning all-state players – junior running back LaMarcus “Bam” Bell and senior defensive lineman Lusiano Lopez – along with players who won all-Three Rivers League honors at seven positions.
That group includes Bell, Lopez, senior offensive lineman Noah Uecker, senior receiver Carson Schwindt, senior defensive lineman Oliver Macy, senior linebacker Riley Van Deusen and junior linebacker Liam Tobin.
Here’s what Lakers coach Steve Coury had to say about this year’s team leaders, Lopez, Macy and senior receiver/defensive back Liam Davis.
“Liam Davis and Oliver Macy are amongst our leaders,” Coury said. “They are experienced players who are tremendous leaders. And Lusiano Lopez is another returner who I believe is as good as anyone as a defensive lineman.”
LAKERIDGE
The Pacers open 2024 with three all-staters on hand – junior running back Ansu Sanoe, junior defensive lineman Noah Tishendorf and senior wide receiver Zyon Floyd - along with players who won all-TRL berths at 13 spots.
That group includes Sanoe, Tishendorf and Floyd (he was also honored at safety and kick returner), as well as junior offensive lineman Joe Weiler, senior defensive lineman Taiariitua Tovey senior defensive lineman Colin Fratzke, senior defensive lineman Jake Zawadski, junior linebacker Yahkyll Noil, senior safety Kayce Tinner, senior cornerback David Moore and senior long snapper Nolan Darcy.
Here’s what Lakers coach Steve Coury had to say about six of this year’s team leaders, including Zawadzki, Floyd, Fratzke, Tovey, junior wide receiver/defensive back Marcus Post and senior running back/defensive back Shanko Kornachuk.
“These guys love each other,” said Lakeridge coach Spencer Phillips. “Watching them build their friendship over the past couple of years has been fun. I am excited to watch them play together.”
WEST LINN
West Linn opens 2024 with the biggest cadre of returning all-stars around, including the following 2023 all-state picks: senior lineman Jake Normoyle; senior quarterback Baird Gilroy; senior receiver Danny Wideman, senior defensive lineman Baron Naone, sophomore defensive back Josiah Molden and senior defensive back Xavier Harris.
From the 2023 Three Rivers League honors, West Linn brings back players who were honored at 11 spots, including Normoyle (he was the TRL Lineman of the Year), Gilroy, Wideman (he was also honored at punt returner), Naone (he was also honored at tight end), Molden, senior offensive and defensive lineman Ryan Holmes, senior receiver Wyatt Smiley, junior linebacker Silas Reynolds.
Here’s what Lions coach Jon Eagle had to say about his returning all-state picks.
Wideman “(has) great instincts, hands and he knows where the end zone is.”
Gilroy brings “experience (and he) knows our system.”
Naone “(has) great hands, (he’s) physical and can run for a big man.”
Normoyle is “super physical (and a) vocal leader.”
Molden is a “super athletic cover man and receiver.”
Harris is a solid “cover man, athletic and smart.”
WILSONVILLE
Wilsonville, coming off its 2023 Class 5A state championship , is stacked with returning all-state selections, a group led by 5A Defensive Player of the Year Mark Wiepert, a senior defensive back (he was also a first-team all-state wide receiver) and senior wide receiver Nick Crowley.
“(He’s) just an overall special athlete,” said Wilsonville coach Adam Guenther, noting Wiepert’s Player of the Year selection and almost 1,500 receiving yards. “(He) can do it all. In my opinion, he is the best overall athlete in the state of Oregon. He has the potential to be the first Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year at the same time.”
Regarding Crowley – who will also play at cornerback - Guenther said “(He’s) one of the top receivers in the state. He runs great routes with crisp hands. He’s fun to watch.”
Wilsonville has plenty of other talent ready to roll, too, including: senior lineman Lincoln Mason; senior defensive end/tight end Emmitt Fee; senior linebacker/wide receiver Carter Christiansen; and junior running back/linebacker Roman Kealoha.
Here’s what Guenther had to say about each of those players.
Mason “(is our) top returning lineman on both sides of the ball He’s put on size and strength.”
Fee “has incredible hands and sense of the game. He is a football guy and loves the little things needed to be successful.”
Christiansen “has put on 20 pounds and has more speed than last year. He leads by example and is the dream team player.”
Kealoha is the “most overlooked player on the field. He had a great state championship game and will do big things this year.”
Also expected to play big roles are: senior lineman Nick Summers, senior Carter Markovich-Walch, senior wide receiver/defensive back Luke Carli, junior running back/defensive back Keona Tam, sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Ben Wiepert and junior running back/linebacker Riddick Molatore.
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