Trending
By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
PIAA champion Bishop Guilfoyle Academy landed six players on the Class 1A Pa. Football Writers' All-State Team, which was announced Friday.
Offensively, Chase Kissell (QB), Hamilton Gates (WR), Jake Kissell (TE) and Joe Eckenrode (OL) were recognized while Taurean Consiglio (LB) and Tyson Lestochi (DB) made it defensively.
All selections from the Pa. Football Writers' All-State Team are first-team selections.
"It's always great at the end of the year for guys to be recognized across the state," Bishop Guilfoyle coach Justin Wheeler said. "We all knew these guys were good for our area, but when you start comparing them to the kids across the state, you realize it's something to be really proud of what they were able to do this year and get the recognition for it."
In addition to the group of BG players, Glendale's Landen McGarvey (DL) and Northern Bedford's Aaron Bowers (ATH) were selected to the team. Regional Class 1A selections included Northern Cambria quarterback Ty Dumm, Moshannon Valley's Gavin Lovell and Windber's Lucas Oleska.
In Class 3A, two players from Penn Cambria were selected after the Panthers won their first-ever District 6 football championship and advanced to the PIAA semifinals.
Gavin Harrold was picked as an athlete, and Preston Farabaugh was voted in as an offensive lineman.
"The season that we had, playing deep into the playoffs, enabled a lot of people to get to see how good of football players those guys are," Penn Cambria coach Nick Felus said. "Both of them are an integral part of our success these past four years. Both have a great work ethic, put the time in and are very deserving of this honor. We're very happy for them."
In addition to the two players from Penn Cambria, Central senior wide receiver Jay Hoenstine was also picked to the 3A squad.
In Class 5A, Hollidaysburg was represented by senior Wyatt Maines, who was voted onto the team as an offensive lineman after leading the Golden Tigers to an undefeated regular season for the first time in school history.
The all-state recognition for Consiglio and Lestochi came after Consiglio had stepped away from football before rejoining the Marauders in the middle of last season and Lestochi put on the pads for the first time since he was a child.
"Tyson hadn't played football since second or third grade," Wheeler said. "This is his first year playing and to be all-state in his first year, I do credit his position coaches and assistant coaches for getting these guys ready. Both he and Taurean had such a huge impact on our team, and in small schools, you have to get your best kids to play. These kids were able to come out and help us win a state championship."