Lions earn post-season honors

Eleven members of the Clear Lake Lions have received First Team All-District honors in Class 3A, District 3 balloting.

Named to the First Team All-District Offense was: running back Cody Maulsby, a senior; wide receiver Gavin Sheakley, a senior; offensive linemen Wiley VanHorn, a senior, and Mitchell Jordan, a junior; and kicker Logan Kracht, a junior.

Six Lions were among the First Team All-District Defense: defensive linemen Steven Akers and Brice Wilcke, both 

seniors; outside linebacker/defensive end Bryson Hamilton, a senior; inside linebacker Pete Swenson, a junior; defensive back Chandler Diercks, a junior; and utility player Carson Farmer, a senior.

Juniors Chase Lester, Connor Nosbisch and Carter Hand, as well as sophomore Brock Adams, received Honorable Mention.

Maulsby finished among the district leaders in a number of categories.  He was second in scoring (84 points-- 72 rushing and 12 receiving).  Humboldt Brady Ross led the district with 102 points.  Maulsby was among the top five in rushing (136 carries for 727-yards) and receiving (18 catches for 283-yards). 

Sheakley was second in the district in receiving with 18 catches for 329-yards and three touchdowns.  He was also among four players in the district with four interceptions.  He, along with teammates Ernie Miszewski and Chandler Diercks, were the top three in the district in punt returns.  Sheakley had five returns for 71-yards, a 14.2 average.  Miszewski led the category with eight returns for 123-yards (15.4 average) and Diercks had three for 45 (15-yard average).

Kracht had an impressive 85.7 percent average in field goal kicking.  He converted on six of seven attempts, with his longest kick being 42-yards.  He also ranked among the leaders in punting, with 27 punts traveling 927-yards (34.3 average). He had the longest punt in district play with a 75-yarder.  He was 12/28 in extra points for 78.6 percent.

Akers had 12 solo and 22 assisted tackles in the district season, while Wilcke was credited with eight solo and 21 assisted tackles. Hamilton jade 20 solo and 32 assisted tackles.  Swenson had 24 solo tackles and assisted in 45.  Diercks made 20 solo and 20 assisted tackles for the Lions.

As a team, the Lions ranked second in both offensive output and defensive effectiveness.  The Lion offense accumulated 1,698 yards rushing and 1,248 passing for a total of 2,946 yards.  Iowa-Falls/Alden topped the District with 3,028.  On defense, the Lions were extremely effective controlling the running game, giving up just 759 yards.  The next closest team in that category was Webster City, which gave up ,311 yards on the ground.  The Lions surrendered 1,214 yards through the air for a total of 1,973 yards.  Waverly-Shell Rock edged the Lions to lead the district with a total of 1,967 (1,502 rushing, 465 passing).

“We felt we finished the season well,” said Clear Lake Head Coach Fred Wieck.  “After a 3-2 start we were able to put a five-game win streak together.  We had great leadership from our seniors and a lot of youth coming back.  We will miss the seniors, and we look forward to the future.”

Academic All-District

The District also recognizes outstanding student-athletes with an Academic All-District Team.  Clear Lake players named to the Class 3A District 3 Academic All-District team were: seniors Bryson Hamilton, Luke Schiller, Treslyn Allison and Carson Farmer, along with juniors Jack Abbas, Chase Lester, Carter Hand and Alex Webb.