The Westonka High School football team celebrated another memorable season at an awards banquet on November 16th 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 2025 Westonka White Hawks football season a memorable one.”

The varsity team finished 3-7 this year and were playing their best football of the season late in the year topping Providence Academy 28-27 in the Section 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, Kyle Ague, Brandon Brakstad, Brian Ibs, Doug Runke, Jack Parker, Greg Kimbrough, Joe Steinert, Dylan Lauer, and Zack Nauert. He also recognized the seventh-and eighth-grade coaching staff of Eric Rodelius, Eric Hensel, Travis Swendseid, Mike Schwartz, 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 Andrew Hoisington (OL/LB), Dawson Leinfelder (OL/DL), and Brandt Tebbs (WR/DB) earned All-District honors for their performance on the gridiron this season. Four other players—Seniors Cade Newell (QB) and Phil Pisarchuk (OL/DL), and juniors Owen Dillon (OL/DL) and Blake Reinbold (RB/WR/DB)—were All-District Honorable Mention selections.

Senior Brady Hughes 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 Brandt Tebbs was selected to the Individual Class 4A Academic All-State Football Team. He carries an outstanding 3.94 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 Sam Doerfler and Reinhardt Rieger, sophomores Wyatt Stepanek and Dane Sewell, juniors Justin Avenson and Owen Dillon, and seniors Andrew Hoisington and Phil Pisarchuk. Senior Mason Merritt earned the Iron Man Award for his overall performance on a variety of strength and speed 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 Senior Captain and Quarterback Cade Newell. “It is players like him why guys like me coach the game of football,” said Coach David.

Senior Wide Receiver/Defensive Back/Return Specialist Brandt Tebbs was chosen as the 2025 MVP, “We really couldn’t have asked for much more out of this player this season in all three phases of the game as he led us statistically in several categories on offense, defense, and special teams. He was a team captain, a 3-year starter, and a 3-year letter winner for us. Brandt finished his outstanding football career defensively with 249 total tackles, 14 TFL's, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception, and 10 pass deflections. Offensively, he finished with 21 receptions for 305 yards and 4 TD's as well as gained 69 yards rushing on 14 carries. Brandt also played a huge role on Special Teams over his three seasons on varsity finishing with 18 kick-off returns for 327 yards (15.3 average) and 6 punt returns for 86 yards (16.63 average),” said Coach David.

New Leaders Chosen
The team had 13 seniors who played and managed their final season of White Hawks football this year. This year’s senior class helped win 24 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 - Glenn Givens, Leif Hagen, team captain Andrew Hoisington, Brady Hughes, Emmitt Johnson, Ethan Keller, team captain Dawson Leinfelder, Mason Merritt, team captain Cade Newell, team captain Phil Pisarchuk, Gavin Ruegemer, John Seckinger, and team captain Brandt Tebbs.

“I cannot say enough great things about these seniors or thank them enough for their contributions these past four years,” David said of the 2025 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 twelve underclassmen that will be a part of the Leadership Council next year-Sophomores: Max French, Remi Nelson, Will Pioske, Dane Sewell, Wyatt Stepanek, and Everett Suter and Freshmen: Davis Banks, Henry Briggs, Connor Coleman, Marcus Lessor, Zach Schmidly, and Sam Trombley.

“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 Westonka,” said David.