Montezuma’s John Beck is Coach of the Year

MONTEZUMA — Coach of the Year honors went to Montezuma’s John Beck for a third time in his four years at the Braves’ coaching helm.

Players from both Montezuma and BGM brought home top awards following the release of the 2024 Class 8P District 7 All-District Team honors.

“Again, I am really blessed with having great athletes and great staff,” said Beck.

“I look at this honor as an extension of that. The kids here at Montezuma are always coachable and great kids to work with. The staff on the sideline, as always, was fantastic!

“I have been in this position for four years and have always had great men around me. This year was no different. While we had some changes to the staff, I had multiple coaches step up and prepare our young men for what we needed to do every week. I am so thankful for them.”

Beck thanked his coaching staff, Mikey Lyons, Cal Smith, Partner Maschmann and Justin Richards, saying they are a great group of men who want what is best for the student athletes.

Helping out in the booth is Kane Barker and Gaige Arendt, with Greg Long, Buddy Boulton and Mike Fleming keeping game stats.

Harold Wheeler was the home-game announcer.

Beck thanked the fans for coming out each every week and supporting the team on the road and at home.

“We always have a great game-night atmosphere,” said Beck. “They say it takes a village. We really do have a great one supporting these athletes.”

Beck, who is in his fourth year as a head coach at Montezuma, led the 8-man Braves to a 10-2 record and a quarterfinal finish in the playoffs.

BGM’s Beau Burns earned Offensive Player of the Year honors. Offensive Lineman of the Year went to Montezuma’s Houston Van Roekel.

Defensive Player of the year was Belle Plaine’s Ty Alcott, and Defensive Lineman of the Year honors was Briar Simpson, of Montezuma.

Alex Becerril, a freshman newcomer at Montezuma, earned Kicker of the Year, while Twin Cedars’ Braxton Davis brought home Punter of the Year honors.

Montezuma finished the season with five players earning first team honors and three players earning second team honors. Two players on the Braves’ squad earned honorable mentions.

BGM had three players each on the first and second teams and two players who earned honorable mention honors.

Following are the first, second and honorable mention players for the district:

Montezuma

First team: AB/DB — Brady Boulton, junior; RB/LB — Brett Plants, senior; RB/LB — Broox Stockman, junior; WR/DB — David Rose, senior; OL/DL — Braxton Plants, junior.

Second team: WR/DB — Carter Michalek, senior; TE/DL — Breck Simpson, senior; WR/LB — Luke Erselius, junior.

Honorable mention: WR/DB — Luke Brennan, junior; TE/LB — Lars Taylor, senior.

Belle Plaine

First team: DB — Lane Vokoun, senior; TE — Sam DeMeulenaere, senior; LB — Wade Sankot, junior; DL — Will Sankot, junior.

Second team: Utility QB/TE — Aidan Timm, junior; DL — Derek Kressley, sophomore; OL — Gabe Kaplan, senior.

Honorable mention: OL — Daymien Graf, senior.

BGM

First team: DE — Landen Cooling, junior; LB — Tate Martin, senior; WR — Dakota Heishman, senior.

Second team: DB — Tucker Wright, senior; OL — Griffin Berry, senior; OL — Ben Cadden, junior.

Honorable mention: LB — Brooks Davis, senior; RB — Nathan Findlay, junior.

Moravia

First team: G/DE/DT — Blake Helmick, senior; TE — Declan DeJong, junior.

Second team: FB — Isaac Messamaker, senior; TE — Chase Hanes, sophomore.

Honorable mention: G — Hunter Nicholson, sophomore; TE/DE/DT — Hayden Ashby, sophomore.

Melcher-Dallas

First team: DT/G — Ryan Heaton, junior; QB/CB — Reece Chiabotta, sophomore.

Second team: QB/CB — Brody Johnson, senior; DE — Hunter Degard, freshman.

Honorable mention; WR — C.J. Smith, sophomore; T — Tucker Branson, sophomore.

Twin Cedars

First team: FB/LB — Gavin Clark, junior; RB/LB — Slater Thomas, freshman.

Second team: Utility — Holden Roberts, junior; RB/WR — Braxton Davis, senior.

Honorable mention: QB/FS — Dallas Smith, senior; RB/LB — Judson Beary, senior.

Des Moines Register All-Iowa

Montezuma senior Briar Simpson, OL, and junior Broox Stockman, LB, have been named to the Des Moines Register All-Iowa Football Teams.