INDIAN RIVER – Aidan Fenstermaker’s remarkable high school football career ended in a state semifinal loss to Pickford.
With his senior season compete, the Inland Lakes star is being recognized for what he accomplished on the gridiron this fall.
Fenstermaker, a star quarterback and safety, was recently named the Ski Valley Conference’s football player of the year for a second consecutive season. Fenstermaker picked up the huge accolade after leading the Bulldogs (11-1, 5-0 Ski Valley) to another 8-player conference championship as well as a regional crown. Whether it was his legs or his arm, he dominated opponents throughout the campaign.
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Fenstermaker led the way for Inland Lakes on the Ski Valley offense first team and defense first team. Joining him on the first team offense were teammates Andre Bradford (skill) and Avery Enos (lineman).
Other Cheboygan-area players making the Ski Valley offensive first team were Pellston’s Brach Taylor (skill) and Onaway’s Levi Rigot (lineman).
On the defensive side, Inland Lakes’ DJ Buhr (lineman), Alyx Willis (lineman), Mitch Crawford (linebacker) and Wyatt Hanel (secondary) each made the first team, as well as Pellston’s Lucas Livermore (lineman). On special teams, Pellston’s Brett Bonter was named as a first team punter.
Players earning Ski Valley honorable mention recognition were Onaway’s Jonas Benson, Andrew Gulley and Austin Wheply, along with Pellston’s Austin Downey.
Inland Lakes claimed a fourth straight SVC crown, while Gaylord St. Mary finished second in the league.
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Notable football players on All-Ski Valley team
Player of the Year: Aidan Fenstermaker, Inland Lakes
Offensive Player of the Year: Drake Koepke, Bellaire
Defensive Player of the Year: Daniel Jacobson, Gaylord St. Mary
First Team Offense: Aidan Fenstermaker, Inland Lakes, Quarterback; Andre Bradford, Inland Lakes, Skill; Brach Taylor, Pellston, Skill; Avery Enos, Inland Lakes, Offensive Line; Levi Rigot, Onaway, Offensive Line
First Team Defense: DJ Buhr, Inland Lakes, Defensive Line; Alyx Willis, Inland Lakes, Defensive Line; Lucas Livermore, Pellston, Defensive Line; Mitch Crawford, Inland Lakes, Linebacker; Wyatt Hanel, Inland Lakes, Defensive Back; Aidan Fenstermaker, Inland Lakes, Defensive Back
Honorable Mention: Austin Downey, Pellston; Jonas Benson, Onaway; Austin Wheply, Onaway; Andrew Gulley, Onaway
Special Teams: Brett Bonter, Pellston, Punter
Cheboygan Chiefs hockey drops first two games
PAINESDALE/NEGUANEE – It was a tough start to the season for the Cheboygan Chiefs hockey team, which suffered a 12-0 loss at Painesdale-Jeffers on Friday, Nov. 15, and then a 6-0 setback at Negaunee on Saturday, Nov. 16.
In the matchup against Negaunee, Jackson Bancroft stopped 46 shots to lead the Chiefs (0-2).
Cheboygan takes on Midland Dow in its home opener at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Schryer, Cheboygan 7th grade boys win at Kingsley
KINGSLEY – Reid Schryer’s 14 points helped lift the Cheboygan Intermediate/Middle School 7th grade boys basketball team to a 34-25 victory at Kingsley on Monday.
The Chiefs received nine points apiece from Brayden Runstrom and Tate Baller. Brody Redmond had two.
Ben Schulz tallied 12 points for the Cheboygan 8th grade boys, who suffered a 27-24 loss. Braden Rauch netted five points, Landon Blaisdell recorded three, and Brett Baker and Duncan Spies each had two.
Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf atjgreenleaf@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter@sportsCDT
