skip navigation

WFCA announces 2023 All-State and Player of the Year Awards

11/14/2023, 9:30am CST
By Travis Wilson

Columbus running back Colton Brunell was named the WFCA Small School Offensive Player of the Year

The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association has announced its All-State, Player of the Year, and Assistant Coach of the Year Awards for 2023. The WFCA is producing separate Large School and Small School All-State Teams once again, with 11 players also identified as part of an 8-Player All-State Team.

The WFCA Coach of the Year honor, which is presented in conjunction with the Green Bay Packers, will be announced after the playoffs.

Previously announced WFCA All-Region Teams can be found here.

Franklin senior running back Terrance Shelton was chosen as the WFCA Large School Offensive Player of the Year. He has been a contributor at running back for Franklin for four seasons, including playing a key role in the team's 2021 Division 1 state championship. He took over as the leading rusher last season and has put together a strong senior campaign as well. Heading into the Division 1 state title game, he has rushed 231 times for 1,638 yards and 28 touchdowns, averaging 7.1 yards per carry despite very limited carries in the second half of most games. He's really picked it up in the playoffs, going for 194 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries against Muskego and 183 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries in a win over Sussex Hamilton.

Brock Arndt, a senior outside linebacker from Appleton North, was named the Large School Defensive Player of the Year after a First Team All-State junior campaign. Arndt was the co-Defensive Player of the Year in the FVA last year and a WFCA All-State selection as an inside linebacker. He's back at it again this year in a big way, earning Defensive Player of the year honors in the FVA once again while leading the Lightning with 70 tackles and six tackles for loss. "Brock is the best linebacker I have coached in 33 years," said head coach Rob Salm. "He may be the best high school linebacker I've seen play high school ball."

Columbus senior running back Colton Brunell received Small School Offensive Player of the Year recognition. Brunell is simply one of the best high school football players the state has ever seen. He recently broke the career rushing record in Wisconsin, as he finished his career with 7,416 yards, adding 106 rushing touchdowns. In his senior season, Brunell carried the ball 309 times for 2,298 yards and 32 touchdowns, as he went over 2000 rushing yards for the third time. Brunell is also a four-year starter at linebacker for the Cardinals, with 83 tackles and 11 tackles for loss this year and 303 tackles for his career.

Small School Defensive Player of the Year honors went to Rice Lake senior inside linebacker Easton Stone. Stone is a big reason the Warriors have advanced to the Division 3 state title game. Named the Middle Border Conference Defensive Player of the Year, he has 161 tackles heading into the state finals, with seven tackles for loss, two sacks, and two defensive touchdowns. A two-way player, he's also rushed for 13 scores for head coach Dan Hill.

Karter Butt of Edgar (running back and inside linebacker), Colton Brunell of Columbus (running back and inside linebacker), Koehler Kilty of Stratford (running back and outside linebacker), and Chase Matthias of Two Rivers (running back and inside linebacker) were the only two-way All-State selections.

Repeat selections on the WFCA All-State Teams included Arndt, Brunell (running back), Matthias (inside linebacker), Catholic Memorial offensive lineman Donovan Harbour, Mukwonago offensive lineman Nathan Roy, Kettle Moraine wide receiver Drew Wagner, Waunakee tight end Robert Booker, Arrowhead defensive lineman Jace Gilbert, Waunakee defensive end Wade Bryan, and Plymouth kicker Owen Plate.

The WFCA produced a 14-member, 8-Player Football All-State Team this year. Three Lakes/Phelps senior Tyler Janikowski was the 8-Player Football Player of the Year.

Marquette's James Becker was selected as the WFCA Assistant Coach of the Year, helping the Hilltoppers to the Division 1 state title game.




About the Author

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.

Football News

Tag(s): News Archive  News  Travis Wilson