During last year’s football banquet, head coach Erik Hermanson predicted the Clippers were going to turn around their 1-8 season the following year.
“We are going to do everything differently, everything we can from going to a perineal one-win team to being a winning team.”
And, with a 6-4 record this fall, the Clippers did. Other than Norwood-Young America, all their losses, WEM by 5 points, Randolph by 6 points and finally USC by 6 points—despite injuries that sidelined key players—all came down to their final possession.
“They put in the work, and they did that,” Hermanson said. “It was incredible and a joy to see and fun to be around.”
The Clippers took time to honor their achievements and set the tone for next season at an awards banquet held in the school commons on Sunday, November 17.
Senior wide receiver and kickoff return man Brennan Kortuem, in his first year in a Clipper uniform, was voted on by his teammates as the team’s most valuable player.
“I knew the legend of Brennan Kortuem,” Hermanson said. “As I was trying to talk him into coming out, I was hoping that as a star basketball player he could be on the team and we could try to not to get him hurt for coach (Mike) Meyer, and he could have some fun and maybe catch a couple of touchdowns.
But Kortuem ended the season with 53 catches for 848 yards and 10 touchdowns. His big kick returns, including one for a touchdown, along with five interceptions and 11 pass deflections, also contributed to the Clippers’ success.
But besides being a steady and productive athlete, Hermanson also praised Kortuem for his leadership.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever agreed with the award selection so much. He’s one of the most amazing kids and leaders that I’ve ever met. From the first day of the first time we got together, he was helping every young kid to the guys who have played forever. He just has the ability to lead, not only with his incredible plays, but with the way he carries himself and how he treats people. He made the team go. I am so glad we had him. I just wish it were for longer.”
For his effort, Kortuem was one of six Clippers who were named to the All-District team.
The Clippers chose sophomore Carson Lyons as the Back of the Year. The sophomore started the first two games as a wide receiver—and had nine catches for 75 yards—but took over at quarterback for the injured Blake Lyons starting with game three.
“Carson was in a tough spot, coming in for his brother after having worked as a receiver the last couple of years and all summer,” Hermanson said. “There was an incredible connection between those two kids.”
But the younger Lyons slid right into the leading role and racked up some amazing numbers, Hermanson said.
“I am convinced that Carson can do anything he sets his mind to do. He is pound-for-pound one of the most talented football players in the state. He could play any position we needed him to play. He is all about team and whatever it takes for us to get a victory.”
During the regular season, Lyons threw for 19 touchdowns and was not intercepted. All told, he completed 118 of 209 passes for 1544 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also kept the ball 35 times for 185 yards and four touchdowns.
“I would like to see anyone in the state put up numbers like that,” Hermanson said. “They show he is not only physically talented but mentally tough with an awesome feel for the game and an off-the-charts football IQ. He was the number 10 quarterback in the state, and he didn’t even play two games. Obviously, he has an amazing future choosing whatever position he wants to dominate at,”
With 44 solo tackles, 23 assisted tackles, two fumble recoveries and five interceptions and 10 pass deflections, as a defensive back, he also led the Clippers in defensive points to earn the team’s Torpedo Award.
For his effort, the younger Lyons was also a member of the All-District team while his brother was an All-District Honorable Mention.
“Blake put in as much work or more work than anyone getting ready for the season, and we were all crushed when he got hurt,” Hermanson said. “He still had great stats for the season, an amazing first couple games. He threw a couple of touchdowns, ran a couple of touchdowns, intercepted for a touchdown. It seemed like he made almost every tackle.”
For the little bit he played his senior year, Blake Lyons moved up in the Clipper record book to the third most all-time career pass completions (286), sixth most all-time career passing yards (2662) and the fourth most all-time career pass attempts (587). He also had two interceptions this year, one for the Clippers’ only defensive touchdown.
“Cleveland is one of the more pass-happy programs in the history of the state,” Hermanson said, “so being (on) that list is impressive. It was an amazing run he had this year. We all just wish it could have been more fun.”
While Caleb Possin carried the ball 89 times for 269 yards, his most visible role was as a kicker and punter. The junior made 30 of 35 PAT attempts and four of six field goals attempts. In Clipper history, his kicking was second only to Aaron Salmon (Immanuel Lutheran, 2018). He tied Carson Lyons with 44 solo tackles and also had 30 tackle assists. For his efforts, Possin earned the Special Teams Player of the Year award for the second year in a row. He was also named to the All-District team.
“Caleb was a huge part of our team this year,” Hermanson said. “His punting was steady and reliable, always getting us out of jams. At linebacker, he was our leading tackler, and on offense our second leading rusher. As a captain for next year, we are hoping he is one of the leaders in the weight room and totally takes over and dominates on the field next fall as a senior. He can do this if he sets his mind to it.”
For the second year in a row, junior Mason Kluntz took home the Lineman of the Year award. He was also named as a member of the All-District team. As a defensive end. He made 22 solo tackles and 22 assisted tackles and recovered two fumbles.
“We take a lot of pride of your line, and I am very proud of our line this year and how it has improved over the last few years,” assistant coach Matt Miller said. “We have a lot of good linemen. They worked super hard and really came together and were super reliable.”
“He did the lifting. He had the dedication; he’s always here,” Hermanson said. “He’s a guy we don’t even talk to, we don’t even think about. After Matt and Larry (Walechka) coach him in practice and tell him once, it is getting done that way. Being that reliable, and that steady and that talented is an absolute blessing for us. I hope right now we can plug Mason in to that starting tackle spot and D end spot and just know it’s going to be done right and done really well.”
Senior Kale Kelley won the Clipper Award, which is earned by the player who best exhibits a high work ethic, a positive attitude and willingness to do whatever is best for the team.
“The Clipper Award isn’t about stats,” said assistant coach Kyle Atherton. “It is about the player who does all the small intangibles other players don’t. They stay after practice to help clean up. He made all the defensive calls. He was trying to keep everyone up and positive, ‘everything is going to be ok.’ He did everything we ask for and has been doing it for a long time.”
Switched from receiver to running back this year, Kelley still caught 28 passes for 259 yards and one touchdown. He led the team in rushing with 91 carries for 410 yards. As a defensive back, he had 26 solo tackles, 22 tackle assists and three pass deflections. For those efforts, he was a member of the All-District team.
“Kale was an awesome part of the team for five years,” Hermanson said. “He was a great captain this year leading us to a season that changed the culture of CHS football. His dedication to the weight room in the off season helped him never leave the field as he was a key member of O, D and special teams. He will be missed.”
Also earning a spot on the All-District team was senior Nick Simonette. At 6-3, 235 pounds, he was a lightning rod on the line.
“Nick is part of that class of this year’s seniors who had to start as eighth graders, had to go through Covid football, one of the worst things ever, being our line, our biggest, strongest guy every year,” Hermanson said. “He got gamed planned against by the other teams. They were always putting their best couple guys on him to make sure he didn’t beat them, and he did everything he could to make everyone better around him. And that’s the true definition of a leader and a captain.”
The Rookie of the Year award went to Jackson Shouler. The sophomore had to fill in for injured players, first at linebacker and then on the line. He ended the season with 30 solo tackles and 37 assists and three pass deflections.
“He played a big role on offense and defense for us,” said Miller. “Before the year, I told him he was the sixth lineman. In the 10 years I’ve coached, I’ve never made it through the year with all 10 linemen, so the sixth lineman is so important. He has to be ready to play. He came in the second game of the year, and we relied on him.”
“Jackson was one of those guys who was really dedicated to our morning program, doing the yoga and doing the lifting” Hermanson said. “It made the difference in him going from a freshman getting no time to playing all the time. We were counting on him not getting banged up and having to come out. Also, besides being a really good linebacker and having to play all the positions on the line, he was an elite long snapper. Every team would take Jackson in a second to be a long snapper. That was a huge part: the combination of him, (holder) Kale and Caleb getting all those extra points.”
Hermanson also recognized Shouler’s mother, Jess Shouler.
“When his mom sang the National Anthem, we were 2-0,” Hermanson quipped. “Next time we’re in a big game, expect a call.”
Senior Noah Hermel, the team’s center, earned the Unsung Hero award.
“I go through and figure out the award,” said assistant coach Walechka. “This year it was not the easiest because we have so many guys who did so much. But the one guy who especially did a lot for us, did his thing, didn’t complain, and played the second hardest position on the team…quarterback is number one, and center is the second hardest. It’s not easy. You have to take command, and you are boss in the huddle.”
“Noah is the example of the example that we want to tell every young kid when we have a football meeting,” Hermanson said. “If you want it and are willing to put in the work, you’re going to be successful. He went from not being on the team, to a guy who was on the team but only played in practice to being a guy who started and was so reliable and so successful, we never even had to talk to him. He went in and did the job.”
Also earning All-Conference Honorable Mentions were Bode Bartell, Tanner Simonette, Braeden Smith and David Draheim.
“Bode is at his best when we need him the most,” Hermanson said. “He only had 14 catches because we had a lot of weapons to spread the ball around to, but out of 14 catches, four of them were touchdowns, so he is a big-play guy. We expect him to step up and take over the number one receiver role next year and. as a captain, to be a leader in every aspect of our program’s continued improvement.”
Tanner Simonette, a sophomore, is a basketball-type, highly skilled athlete, Hermanson said. He hauled in 25 catches for 239 yards and five touchdowns.
“Tanner has, from day one, had to play against the other team’s biggest, best and strongest players,” Hermanson said. “They have always been two or three years older. This year he showed us that he is going to be returning the favor to the opposing team for the next couple years. Tanner has put in the work and now he is going reap the rewards. Look for great things from him the next two years.”
Smith, also a sophomore, is yet another basketball-type, super-skilled athlete, Hermanson said. His 13 receptions for 239 yards were good for three touchdowns.
“That number is only going to go up,” Hermanson said. “With his size and speed, he is an explosive player. When he got the ball, it was special. Braeden would catch it and take off. Those were the times on the hill we could hear everyone ‘ooh’ and ‘aah.’ He is going to put on a show for the next two years as a match-up nightmare for other teams. On defense he can cover and set the edge.”
Draheim, a junior, was an offensive lineman and defensive end. He had 14 solo tackles and 16 tackle assists, forced and recovered one fumble and blocked one kick before an injury kept him off the field for the last three games.
“David’s a super talented guy,” Hermanson said. “I am expecting Mason and David to be fighting it out for the lineman of the year in the district next year. He’s the kind of guy who can play college football. He was so steady, reliable, talented and good all year. As soon as David was out, we were scrambling, and we weren’t as good and reliable as we were when we had him. Hopefully next year as one of the captains, David can help this team improve on this year.”
Besides the award winners, also earning letter were seniors Alex Johnson; juniors Max Esser, Gavin Karles, Alex Kortuem, Brylee Ross and Daniel McClune; sophomores Sam Ternes, Henry Boelter, Garet Peterson and Wyatt Williams; freshmen Carsyn Ryg, Zander Hoechst, Garrett Heldberg, Austin Anderley, Owen Lloyd, Ethan Hoehn, Wyatt Krenik, Harry Fuller, Adam Rain and Aiden Giese; and eighth grader Jack Mons.
“Alex is part of those seniors who seem like he has been with us forever because he started with us early,” Hermanson said. “He might be the greatest example of improvement we’ve ever seen. We weren’t sure what lineman position he would ever play, but he kept showing up, kept lifting, and kept working. He was a guy who you could rely on. He played his best game at the end of his senior year, where at left tackle, the hardest spot, he was trying to protect the quarterback’s blind side.”
“Max has every ability that we need, especially at linebacker,” Hermanson said. “The only thing that held him back this year was injuries. If he hadn’t sprained his ankle, I think I would be reading off some impressive numbers for Max. He puts in work in the weight room. There is no reason he can’t be an absolute defensive monster for us next year.”
“The same thing we said about Max, we were expecting Gavin to play so much with all the other great juniors, but just on a brutal cheap shot, he got hurt and had to sit out for weeks,” Hermanson said. “That’s the hardest thing about football: when there is somebody you know who can help you and is a talented kid has to sit out. So hopefully, he puts in the work in the weight room and is going to play all the time next year as a senior.”
“Alex’s brother cast a pretty big shadow as a receiver, but we’re expecting him to hold his own next year, and I can’t wait to see it,” Hermanson said. “He only got real minutes on special teams with the varsity but was one of the JV’s biggest receiving threats. We are looking for him to step up and do the same thing on varsity next fall.”
“I don’t know how much football Brylee had seen or played before he was able to play for us, but when you talk about improvement, he was incredible,” Hermanson said. “He was a huge part of the team from how he improved to simple things like ball handling to making some of the great catches he did in practice and just helping cover and helping us in practice to put together the year we did. We will need him again.”
Ternes had some time behind center and completed five of 11 pass attempts for 57 yards.
“Sam is all about team and will be playing the entire game next fall at many different positions,” Hermanson said. “On O and D he will be called upon to play all over the field and he has the ability and dedication to do it.’
“Henry started lifting too, and I think he kind of got addicted to it,” Hermanson said. “It helped him be a lot more successful. I think the success he had in JV and in practice this year proved to himself that he can be a real player and really help his, so I am excited to him after a whole another winter of putting in that work.”
“We were hoping Carsyn would play JV on the line, but with people getting banged up, he was starting in a second-round playoff game and not only able to survive, but he was out there making a name for himself and really representing the younger graders, so the sky is the absolute limit for Carsyn because he is a real talented kid who can play football.”
Hoechst got hurt at Waterville, the second game of the year, and was on crutches all the rest of the season.
“Zander did all the lifting, and as freshman, we thought he might even been playing for how strong he was, how smart and hardworking” Hermanson said. “If he can work on that comeback, work as hard as he did last year, I know he’s really going to push people for spots and be a valuable part of this team.”
Heldberg is a basketball-type, super-skilled athlete, Hermanson said. He had two catches for 18 total yards.
“Garrett has all the tools of size, speed and athletic ability to help us next year on varsity,” Hermanson said. “We need him in the weight room so he can be strong enough to play against older kids.”
As he was a freshman, we weren’t quite sure what position Austin was going to play,” Hermanson said, “but in practice, he played almost everything. Those are the kind of guys we need on the scout team to help show us what the other team is going to do and get the varsity ready. He learned so much about football doing that. As he grows, he will have younger guys come up and help him with that, and he’ll know how to appreciate them, so I know he’s going to be one of our leaders.”
“At summer camp, I wanted Jack up with the team because he has the quarterback smarts and the quarterback leadership, and he definitely is going to have the physical tools to be the next guy applying the Cleveland quarterback stats, and I am so excited to work with Jack and see what the future has for him.”
With a GPA of 3.5 during the season, earning Academic All-District awards were the Lyons brothers, the Kortuem brothers, Johnson, Kelley, Hermel, Esser, Karels, Kluntz, Tanner Simonette, Shouler, Lloyd, Mons, Giese and Hoechst.
District coaches named Atherton, who focuses on defense, as the District Assistant Coach of the Year.
“Our coaching staff is incredible,” Hermanson said. “I don’t know if there is another one like it as far as everyone back here is a head coach. Larry is in charge of special teams. What he says goes. Matt is amazing in that he is everyone up here’s right-hand man. He is the one we all go to when we think what about this with what we’re doing. I’m lucky enough to run the offense, something I’ve wanted to do since elementary school and especially with this many talented kids to work with, but coaches don’t win games. Players win games. But luckily at the district, I was able to nominate and all coaches agreed that our defensive game plan and the things we did differently against each team was so different and was such a great job and should be recognized.”
Hermanson said football is an absolute team game, the only where you really need every person, every player, so he was grateful to all who participated, especially the seniors.
“Every guy on the team is so important. We can’t put into words how we feel about them and how incredible they were: the work they put in, the joy to be around them…how fun it was this year. It has been fun even in the past when we were floundering, but this year was absolutely heaven. I want to thank the players and parents so much. Seniors, I can’t thank you enough for your leadership. You guys are the ones who turned this program around. Now it is up to the younger guys.”
The lifting program starts on Monday, December 2.
“That’s when next season starts,” Hermanson said. “We hope you enjoyed your offseason.”
Above: Award winners: Nick Simonette (All District), Caleb Possin (All District, Special Teams Player of the Year), David Draheim (All District Honorable Mention), Carson Lyons (All District, Back of the Year, Torpedo Award), Tanner Simonette (All District Honorable Mention), Kale Kelley (All District, Clipper Award), Bode Bartell (All District Honorable Mention), Jackson Shouler (Rookie of the Year), Mason Kluntz (All District, Lineman of the Year), Brennan Kortuem (MVP, All District), Noah Hermel (Unsung Hero), Blake Lyons (All District Honorable Mention) and Braeden Smith (All District Honorable Mention).
