Numerous candidates for All-Suburban Player/Coach of Year
The All-Suburban Player of the Year race looked like a one-man show heading into the year, after Brookfield East junior Sam Santiago-Lloyd won the plaudit last year in a unanimous vote. But with Santiago-Lloyd hobbled by injuries this year, the race for POY becomes a little more wide open. Here's a look at some candidates.
Bear in mind, this is for the Now Newspapers coverage area, which does not include Lake Country or Waukesha.
Rayvon Bartlett Jr. (senior), Greenfield. After transferring from Wauwatosa West, Bartlett has been a huge boost to the Hustlin' Hawks, who are looking to repeat as Woodland Conference champ. Barlett had passed for 1,045 yards with 12 touchdowns heading into Week 6, and he's also rushed for 477 yards and six more scores. He's the most dangerous dual threat in the area.
Cade Garcia (junior), Whitefish Bay. The quarterback shook off injury to keep the Blue Dukes train rolling, as Bay has become a serious player for the North Shore Conference title despite a rebuilt squad that figured to be very young this season. An opening week loss to Brookfield Central that came down to overtime in a 50-43 outcome looks more impressive each week as Central rolls up victories. Gracia has thrown for 923 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Zach Heckman (junior), Brookfield Central. Central has been a powerhouse this year and looks like the favorite in the Greater Metro heading into a showdown with Marquette for first place this week. Heckman has 14 rushing touchdowns and 778 yards to his name thus far.
Bryce Miller (junior), New Berlin Eisenhower. Another revelation has been Eisenhower's quarterback, who made his mark when he rallied his team from a 28-0 deficit to get back to even in the fourth quarter against Plymouth in Week 1. The Lions lost that game but have won each one since as they head into the toughest part of their schedule. Miller has thrown for 915 yards and 13 scores.
Sam Santiago-Lloyd (senior), Brookfield East. I mean, we shouldn't completely count him out, right? The All-Suburban Team gets chosen after the playoffs, so if Santiago-Lloyd gets healthy, he remains one of the area's best two-way players and could help his team to a tremendous finish.
Coach of the Year
Louis Brown, Franklin. The Sabers were supposed to be a little bit of a hurt after graduating an amazing senior class, and a Week 1 loss to Mukwonago seemed to suggest as much. But four straight wins later -- despite the loss of the No. 1 and No. 2 quarterback at one point -- the Sabers are in the driver's seat in the Southeast Conference with a big battle looming in two weeks against Kenosha Indian Trail. The team's Week 5 win over Oak Creek was its most impressive to date.
Chad Hofmann, Messmer/Shorewood. After three years since returning to the Woodland East, the Greyhounds are pushing for a league title, having made a successful journey from a program that couldn't compete for years and ultimately detoured to the Midwest Classic. The Greyhounds have won a couple league games in exciting fashion.
Jed Kennedy, Brookfield Central. The Lancers have emerged as a Greater Metro powerhouse after surviving a wild Week 1 game against Whitefish Bay in overtime. Kennedy's team will take on Marquette in what could be a GMC title game this weekend.
Matt Kern, New Berlin Eisenhower. Like Brown's team, Kern's Lions lost their first game of the season but showed well in rallying from 28 points down in the fourth quarter. Since, Eisenhower has gone unbeaten, with a big-time battle looming for Woodland West supremacy against Pewaukee on Friday.
Brian Sommers, University School. With a roster of just 20 players, USM (5-0) has nonetheless put itself in position to compete for the Midwest Classic title, which a huge battle looming against Lake Country Lutheran on Friday. The Wildcats have landed impressive wins over Racine Lutheran and St. Francis.
Jake Wolter, Whitefish Bay. The Blue Dukes endured an emotional 2015, with coach Jim Tietjen diagnosed with cancer and ultimately passing away after the season. Wolter was the interim coach last year, and this year he has the full-time title, and he's led a young and "rebuilding" Blue Dukes team into contention for the North Shore crown at 3-0 in league play and 4-1 overall.