Post Messenger Recorder -

The Belleville Wildcats football team recently held their end of season get together, where several members of the team were presented with awards and the seniors were recognized by Coach Mike Nolden.

Nolden had this to say regarding the seniors, "Seniors, thank you for always being you. I loved the fact that I could show up to practice every day knowing exactly what we were going to get out of you guys. Sometimes it was very challenging to keep you guys focused on football with your joke telling, discussions on food, girls, or anything else you guys would chat about in off periods but that's what made you guys special. Every one of you have the ability to have as fun as humanly possible and to push every single boundary that you can find, but I knew that when it was go time all of you could flip that switch to go get the job done. That ability will follow you whereever you go in life. Life has its serious moments, but you have to find ways to keep yourself happy. I hope through your time playing football, at both the youth and high school, that you've recognized some other lessons that you can hold onto for the rest of your lives. Every one of you has the potential to make huge impacts on this world, but it's up to you on how you go about achieving that potential. If you guys can handle life the way you've handled football the last 4 years I have no doubt in my mind that all 12 of you will reach that potential. Belleville is forever indebted to you guys and what you have done for not only our school, but also our whole community. I hope that you guys stay in touch with not only me but the rest of the coaching staff throughout your lives. Just because our time through football has come to an end, I hope we can continue to build our relationships. If any of you guys ever want to come help coach, just let me know. Thank you."

Awards

2022 SWAL All-Conference: Brady Durni, Honorable Mention Inside Linebacker; Landry Yarbough, Honorable Mention Outside Linebacker; Logan Derke, 2nd Team Running Back, 2nd Team Inside Linebacker; Isaac Erb, 2nd Team Offensive Line; Nate Meier, 2nd Team Defensive End; DeMarcus Conner, 2nd Team Punt Returner and Defensive Back, and 1st Team Wide Receiver; Jake Fahey, 1st Team Kicker and Outside Linebacker; Andrew Ace, 1st Team Wide Receiver and 1st Team Defensive Back; Kaden DeSmet, 1st Team Wide Receiver and 1st Team Defensive Back; Ryker Swenson, 1st Team Defensive Tackle; Brett Olson, 1st Team Offensive Line; Aidan Keyes, 1st Team Quarterback and Offensive Player of the Year; Mike Nolden, 2022 SWAL Coach of the Year.

Photo courtesy of Tierney Keyes

Wildcats Academic All State: Nate Meier, Aidan Keyes, and Jacob Jenkins.

All Region: Aidan Keyes, Quarterback; DeMarcus Conner ,Wide Receiver; Kaden DeSmet, Defensive Back.

All State: Kaden DeSmet, Honorable Mention Defensive Back; DeMarcus Conner, Honorable Mention Wide Receiver; Aidan Keyes; 1st Team Quarterback.

Academic All State: Nate Meier, Jacob Jenkins, Aidan Keyes.

Team Awards: Ryker Swenson, Scout Team Player of the Year; Brett Olson, Lineman of the Year; DeMarcus Conner, Special Teams Player of the Year; Logan Derke, Most Improved; Jake Fahey, Defensive MVP; Aidan Keyes, Offensive MVP.

Record Plaques: DeMarcus Conner, Al Toon Award Finalist; Kaden DeSmet, Single Season and Career Interceptions; Andrew Ace, Single Season and Career Receptions; Aidan Keyes, Single Season Pass Attempts, Pass Completions, Passing Yards and Passing Touchdowns.