Homer football head coach Justin Zank was named coach of the year for the Peninsula Conference, along with Houston coach Glenn Nelson.
The all-conference awards for football in the Division III conference were released last Wednesday. Zank and Nelson were named co-coaches of the year.
This is Zank’s first year at the helm at Homer High School. He previously coached the Head of the Bay Cougars, the team made up of students from schools in the three Russian Old Believer villages at the head of Kachemak Bay.
Zank led the Mariners to a 4-3 record in the conference. The team missed out on a Division III playoff spot after losing to the Nikiski Bulldogs 26-22 on Sept. 28. The Mariners had previously beaten Nikiski earlier this season.
Homer junior Josh Manwiller was named defensive player of the year for the conference. He was also named to the all conference first team as an offensive tackle. Manwiller was also named as a first-team inside linebacker.
Homer senior and quarterback Anthony Kalugin was named as a return specialist on the first-team special team. Homer’s Carter Tennison was named as a first-team wide receiver. Other Homer players recognized in the awards are: River Mann, Sean Pilant and Zach Condon.
Full results of all-Peninsula Conference voting are below:
Offensive Player of the Year: Galvin Mulhaney, Houston
Defensive Player of the Year: Josh Manwiller, Homer
Lineman of the Year: Kiderro Fono, Houston
Coaches of the Year: Glenn Nelson, Houston; Justin Zank, Homer
Assistant Coach of the Year: Jared Barrett, Houston
First-team offense:
Quarterback — Gavin Mulhaney, Houston; Halfback — Owen Mulhaney, Houston; Michael Mysing, Nikiski; Fullback — Kennedy Fono, Houston; Wide receiver — Mike Eiter, Nikiski; Carter Tennison, Homer; Tight end — Francis Mose, Houston; Tackle — Kiderro Fono, Houston; Josh Manwiller, Homer; Guard — Caileb Payne, Nikiski; Ezra Fono, Houston; Center — Jack Allison, Houston.
First-team defense:
Defensive line — Kiderro Fono, Houston; Jeremiah Barrett, Houston; Koleman McCaughey, Houston; Gavin Mulhaney, Houston; Outside linebacker — Owen Mulhaney, Houston; Gavin Mulhaney, Houston; Inside linebacker — Caileb Payne, Nikiski; Josh Manwiller, Homer; Defensive back — Tulupo Falaniko, Houston; Sam Berry, Nikiski; Collin Mullaly, Seward.
First-team special teams:
Kicker — Michael Mysing, Nikiski; Mike Eiter, Nikiski; Long snapper — Andrew Milligan, Seward; Return specialist — Anthony Kalugin, Homer; Utility player — Jordan Sewell, Seward.
Second-team offense:
Quarterback — Patrick Garcia, Ketchikan; Anthony Kalugin, Homer; Halfback — Brendon Roof, Ketchikan; Collin Mullaly, Seward; Fullback — Sam Berry, Nikiski; Wide receiver — AJ Malouf, Ketchikan; Carter Thomas, Ketchikan; Tackle — William McComish, Houston; James Milburn, Seward; Guard — River Mann, Homer; Sean Pilant, Homer; Center — Zach Condon, Homer.
Second-team defense:
Defensive line — Chris Harris, Ketchikan; Ezra Fono, Houston; Quentin Oskolkoff, Nikiski; Sean Pilant, Homer; Outside linebacker — Thomas Cronin, Seward; Shane Sullivan, Seward; Inside linebacker — Carter Thomas, Ketchikan; Kennedy Fono, Houston; Defensive back — Mike Eiter, Nikiski; Seth James, Ketchikan; Chad Quinn, Seward.
Second-team special teams:
Kicker — Denali Whitted, Houston; Punter — Owen Mulhaney, Houston; Return specialist — Shane Sullivan, Seward; Talupo Falaniko, Houston; Seth James, Ketchikan; Utility player — Jaryn Zoda, Nikiski.
