The Mound Westonka High School football team celebrated another memorable season at an awards banquet on November 17th at Gale Woods Farm.

Head coach Nick David opened the banquet by saying, “I am very proud of and thankful to all of the players, coaches, water boys, student managers, cheerleaders, parents, fans, game workers, and all the others that helped make the 2024 Mound Westonka White Hawks football season a memorable one.”

The varsity team finished 6-4 this year and were playing our best football of the season late in the year routing Delano 47-0 in the Section 6AAAA Quarterfinals. “It was truly a season to remember with several games that had our fans at the edges of their seats during the entirety of the game,” David said. “The passion and emotion that this team played with was second to none.”

Coach David took time at the banquet to recognize his fellow varsity coaches: Mike Wallace, Jared Chapman, Brian Ibs, Doug Runke, Kyle Ague, Brandon Brakstad, Jack Parker, Greg Kimbrough, Joe Steinert, Matt VonBerge, Jimmy Kleinsasser, Kurt Bowe, Mike Schwartz, and Zack Nauert. He also recognized the seventh-and eighth-grade coaching staff of Eric Rodelius, John Wardlow, Travis Swendseid, Greg Sullivan, Kendall Langert, and Dave Leinfelder, as well as the Westonka Youth Football coaches.

“These coaches did a terrific job of preparing our team for game days and getting our players to understand that there is so much more to football in what it can teach you than just the X’s and O’s,” David said. He also gave special thanks to his wife, Melissa, and the entire “Coaches’ Wives Club.”

White Hawks Earn Skyway All-District Honors
White Hawks student-athletes received several Skyway District Football awards. Seniors Cole Drill (QB), Carter Kleinsasser (TE/LB), and Dylan Sloan (OL/DL) earned All-District honors for their performance on the gridiron this season. Eight other players—Seniors Dylan Holappa (OL/DL), JT Kimbrough (WR/DB), Max Kraay (WR), Cole Munsterteiger (H-Back/LB), John Seemann (OL/DL), and juniors Andrew Hoisington (H-Back/LB), Dawson Leinfelder (OL/DL), and Brandt Tebbs (WR/DB)—were All-District Honorable Mention selections. Carter Kleinsasser was also selected as the Skyway Bronze Subdistrict Most Valuable Linebacker.

Senior Mason Sebasky was named to the All-District “Why We Play” Team for exhibiting the following qualities: true love for football; commitment and loyalty to school, team, and community; willingness to sacrifice for the team; integrity; courage of convictions; goal-oriented approach; sharp focus and strong competitive drive; excellent work ethic; willingness to accept challenges; mental toughness; strong football skills; and strong leadership.

Pride On Display
In addition to stats recorded under the Friday night lights, the players’ efforts off the field were given equal recognition at the banquet. Individual players were recognized by their coaches for their efforts in practice and in the weight room, for volunteering with the youth football program, and for being positive role models in the community.

Senior Cole Drill was selected to the Individual Class 4A Academic All-State Football Team. He carries a perfect 4.00 Cumulative GPA and excelled on the football field this past season.

The Lifter of the Year Awards, which recognizes hard work in the weight room, went to freshmen Will Pioske and Wyatt Stepanek, sophomores Justin Avenson and Max Olesinski, juniors Andrew Hoisington and Phil Pisarchuk, and seniors Cole Drill and Cole Munsterteiger. Senior JT Kimbrough earned the Iron Man Award for his overall performance on a variety of strength and speed/agility tests.

Among the multiple team awards given out by coaches at the banquet was the White Hawks PRIDE Award. The PRIDE Award is given to the White Hawks Football player who has most exemplified the concept of team, and who, through the behind the scenes dedication, effort, and caring for his teammates, has provided the glue that binds them as one. This player plays with the most Purpose, built strong Relationships, Improved Daily, showed Discipline, and consistently displayed high Effort and Energy throughout the season. This year’s award went to Grayson Van Nelson. “It is players like him why guys like me coach the game of football,” said Coach David.

Senior Quarterback Cole Drill was chosen as the 2024 MVP, “We really couldn’t have asked for much more out of this player this season on the offensive side of the ball as he had a record setting year at Quarterback and was among the leaders in our district in several offensive categories. He was first on our team in scoring, first on our team in rushing attempts and yards, and just put up some absolute gaudy stats every week in the passing game. Cole finished his outstanding football career 206 of 364 passing (55.5%) for 2,580 yards and 23 passing TD's. He also had 192 rushes for 1,074 yards and 9 rushing TD's. As far as I know, Cole is the only player in the history of Mound Westonka football to have over 1,000 yards passing and rushing. On Special Teams, he had 49 punts for 1,671 yards (34.1 Avg.) with 14 of his punts landing inside the 20 yard line.

New Leaders Chosen
The team had 17 seniors who played and managed their final season of White Hawks football this year. This year’s senior class helped win 29 varsity games during their four years and have set a precedent for what is expected out of our White Hawks Football program for years to come!

The coaches gave special recognition to graduating seniors - team captain Cole Drill, George Eberhart, Dylan Holappa, JT Kimbrough, team captain Carter Kleinsasser, team captain Max Kraay, Roman Larsen, Angelo Lopez, team captain Colton Max, team captain Cole Munsterteiger, team captain Mason Sebasky, John Seemann, Henry Slater, Dylan Sloan, Joe Sluka, team captain Grayson Van Nelson, and team captain Eric von Holtz.

“I cannot say enough great things about these seniors or thank them enough for their contributions these past four years,” David said of the 2024 senior class.

Next year’s team captains will be announced before winter break as the White Hawks Football program adopted a new, more rigorous process for selecting captains a few years ago. The White Hawks also have ten underclassmen that will be a part of the Leadership Council next year: Sophomores: Owen Dillon, Carter Holappa, Anders Mjelstad, Max Olesinski, and Blake Reinbold and Freshmen: Cayden Kleinsasser, Will Mytling, Will Pioske, Everett Suter, and Andrei VanKempen.

“We will look to these ten players as well as our newly elected team captains to lead us as we continue on with the process of building a section and state championship football program here at Mound Westonka,” said David.