Shanks 1^st team, Giesige 2^nd team

By Cort Reynolds

BLUFFTON–Three players from the Bluffton High School football team–Mason Shank, Tayte Giesige and Jackson Bowlus–earned Div. VI All-Ohio honors in recent voting by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association.

Mason Shank, a 6-2, 241-pound junior, was named to the first team as an offensive lineman. His blocking helped pave the way for the explosive Pirate offense to average a league-best 41.1 points per game.

Shank was also a first-team All-Northwest Conference pick as a two-way standout lineman on offense and defense.

Junior signal-caller Tayte Giesige was one of six quarterbacks named to the Div. VI second team all-state offense. He set the school record for touchdown passes in a season with 34 in 2025.

The versatile 6-2, 183-pound Giesige threw for over 2,500 yards and completed a program single-season record 68 percent of his passes in 2025. He also rushed for just over 700 yards and nine TDs.

Giesige was also the All-NWC first team quarterback, as well as a first team All-NWC defensive back, this fall.

Linebacker Jackson Bowlus, a 5-11, 181-pound senior, earned honorable mention all-state status. Bowlus also was voted first team All-NWC at linebacker.

The Pirates finished their season 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the NWC, good for third place in the eight-team league. 

Bluffton was upset in the first round of the Div. VI, Region 22 playoffs by Collins Western Reserve, 36-31.

Braxton Leeth of Convoy Crestview was voted Div. VI Co-Offensive Player of the Year in the state. The Knight running back rushed for 2,274 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2025.

Division VI

• Offensive Players of the Year: Austin Buescher, West Jefferson; Jake LaVerde, Kirtland; William Zeedyk, Sherwood Fairview; Braxton Leeth, Convoy Crestview
• Defensive Player of the Year: Payne DeGray, North Robinson Colonel Crawford
• Coach of the Year: Gary Quisno, Castalia Margaretta

First Team Offense

• QB: Jake LaVerde, Kirtland, 6-2, 210, sr.; Austin Buescher, West Jefferson, 6-4, 175, sr.; Blaine Ball, Centerburg, 5-9, 160, sr.; Jake Noling, Columbiana Crestview, 6-2, 185, sr.; Trey Sagester, New Madison Tri-Village, 6-3, 170, sr.; William Zeedyk, Sherwood Fairview, 5-10, 160, sr.
• RB: John Silvestro, Kirtland, 5-11, 190, sr.; Miles Marshall, Centerburg, 6-2, 170, jr.; Mason Haines, Smithville, 5-8, 195, sr.; Gavin Leake, Caldwell, 5-10, 175, sr.; Braxton Leeth, Convoy Crestview, 6-0, 185, sr.; Connor McMichael, North Robinson Colonel Crawford, 6-0, 210, sr.; Landon Rich, Elmore Woodmore, 6-0, 196, sr.
• WR/TE: Griff Richards, New Madison Tri-Village, 6-0, 175, jr.; Zebadiah Pleiman, Anna, 5-10, 160, sr.; Logan Olinger, Sherwood Fairview, 6-0, 170, jr.; Karter Goon, Ashland Crestview, 6-3, 200, sr.; Parker Weithman, North Robinson Colonel Crawford, 5-11, 165, jr.; Jordan Manz, Paulding, 6-2, 168, jr.
• OL: Lucci Cantini, Kirtland, 5-11, 225, jr.; Luke Walters, West Jefferson, 6-3, 240, so.; Daniel Medinger, Ironton Rock Hill, 6-5, 298, sr.; Dom Black, New Madison Tri-Village, 6-4, 280, jr.; Mason Shank, Bluffton, 6-2, 241, jr.; Miguel Martinez, Paulding, 5-9, 193, sr.; Will Taylor, Collins Western Reserve, 6-2, 215, sr.; Mason Holmer, Attica Seneca East, 6-6, 255, sr.; Joe Ewald, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon, 6-3, 220, jr.
• K: Marco Valentic, Kirtland, 5-10, 150, so.

Second Team Offense

• QB: Zach Shafer, Cuyahoga Heights, 6-3, 224, jr.; Conley Bogard, Mechanicsburg, 6-2, 215, sr.; Frankie Hirsch, Chillicothe Huntington, 6-1, 165, jr.; Lucas Cannady, St. Bernard St. Bernard-Elmwood Place, 6-1, 210, jr.; Tayte Giesige, Bluffton, 6-2, 183, jr.; Colt Hunt, Paulding, 6-1, 182, sr.
• RB: Wyatt Denney, Cardington, 5-10, 200, sr.; Carson Barnum, Mount Gilead, 6-1, 215, sr.; Damien Reuting, Rootstown, 5-10, 175, sr.; Anthony Bishop, Portsmouth West, 5-8, 196, jr.; Dom Singer, Newcomerstown, 5-6, 155, sr.; Landyn Wiegel, Collins Western Reserve, 5-9, 195, jr. 
• WR/TE: Khyell Moreland, Richmond Heights, 5-10, 170, sr.; Ryan Caimi, Kirtland, 5-10, 165, sr.; Austin Haynes, Mechanicsburg, 5-11, 145, sr.; Jackson Beatty, West Jefferson, 6-1, 185, sr.; Isaiah Lee, Smithville, 5-11, 165, so.; Jack Colatruglio, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon, 6-1, 175, sr.
• OL: A.J. Lamb, Columbia Station Columbia, 6-2, 295, jr.; Jack Turk, Kirtland, 6-2, 300, jr.; Aiden Flynn, Cuyahoga Heights, 6-0, 275, sr.; Zach Freeburg, Kirtland, 6-3, 230, sr.; Garrett Lowry, Marion Elgin, 6-2, 220, sr.; Christopher Kinsey, Cardington, 6-0, 195, sr.; Braden Wright, Rootstown, 6-4, 285, sr.; Matt Marcum, Reedsville Eastern, 6-3, 307, sr.; Montgomery Cline, Ashland Crestview, 6-0, 240, jr.
• K: Blake Mullaly, Rootstown, 6-2, 180, jr.

Honorable mention

• LB: Nick Oboczky, Wickliffe, 5-11, 205, jr.; Garrett Deisch, Galion Northmor, 5-11, 195, sr.; Dylan Finefrock, Berne Union, 5-9, 180, sr.; Danny Mangiarelli, Columbiana, 5-10, 187, jr.; Dom Jones, New Middletown Springfield, 6-0, 218, jr.; Aaron Workman, Ironton Rock Hill, 6-1, 205, jr.; Yaden Bailey, Ironton Rock Hill, 6-0, 225, jr.; Tilton Rapp, Portsmouth West, 5-10, 192, jr.; Josh Harvey, Newcomerstown, 5-7, 195, sr.; Tytan Waller, Beverly Fort Frye, 6-2, 195, jr.; Jett Kaiser, Woodsfield Monroe Central, 5-9, 190, fr.; RJ Welshans, Martins Ferry, 5-10, 175, jr.; Thomas Grimm, Sugarcreek Garaway, 5-11, 200, sr.; Jonah Moracco, Caldwell, 5-9, 175, sr.; Cole VanFossen, Sarahsville Shenandoah, 5-7, 138, sr.; Cody Houseman, South Vienna Northeastern, 6-0, 184, sr.; Jackson Jones, South Vienna Northeastern, 5-10, 166, sr.; Cory Kidd, Blanchester, 5-10, 205, so.; Landen Moore, New Madison Tri-Village, 6-2, 210, sr.; Sam Reder, Cincinnati Summit Country Day, 6-0, 215, sr.; Akevian Kryder, Hamler Patrick Henry, 5-9, 190, sr.; Brett Miller, Castalia Margaretta, 6-0, 196, sr.; Jackson Bowlus, Bluffton, 5-11, 181, sr.; Josh Lieb, Defiance Tinora, 6-2, 200, jr.