By Vern Cahak

Tom Schofield was named Great Northern Conference Coach of the Year for the second consecutive season and members of his Antigo High School’s tri-championship football team were honored at a banquet hosted by the Antigo Gridiron Club on Nov. 3.

Gridiron Club president Dave Schroepfer was master of ceremonies for the event, held at North Star lanes.

Schofield coached the Red Robins to their second straight GNC title share with a 5-1 record and the first WIAA playoff victory since 2011. He commented on a season in which his team overcame a plague of injuries with some crucial victories, highlighted by a season-ending 27-25 win over Medford and a 56-20 drubbing of Fox Valley Lutheran in the playoffs.

Two Antigo players were selected to the All-Conference first team, six to the second team and three received honorable mention.

Linebacker Hunter Cornelius was a unanimous first team choice and was joined by defensive lineman Mitchell Schroepfer.

Accorded second team honors were Matt Winter, both as defensive back and quarterback; defensive linemen Marcus Schroepfer, Hunter Kirsch, John Schlieve, and Justin Koszarek, and running back Will Dixon.

Defensive back Luke Berner, defensive lineman Adam Schmidt and offensive lineman Mike Zabrowski received honorable mention.

Team captains are Kirsch, Berner, Dixon and Cornelius.

In addition to  the above listed players, Schofield awarded letters to Dominic Smith, Collin Meinert, Brennen Spencer, Tom Kendall,  Mitchell Wagner, Deakin Czerneski, Jack Shinners, Bradley Westen, Wade Farmer, C. J. Levis, Hunter Bolson, Frank Kneeland, Bobby Brown, Korbin Krueger, Jericho Kelly, Austin Arlen, Garett Held, Chris Arrowood, Jesse Jankowski, Matt Young, and Casey Lucas. Luis Hernandez, Derick Simonis and Brennen Anderson received participation awards.