NORMAL -- Bloomington High School's Class 6A state
runner-up football squad has landed 10 players on the
all-Big 12 Conference first team, which was chosen by
league coaches, who could not vote for their own
players.
Normal Community had eight first-team picks and
Normal West one.
University of Illinois recruit Justin Harrison of
BHS, who was a first team pick last year as a defensive
back, was a unanimous choice at both linebacker and
running back.
Teammate Rod Castillo was a repeat and unanimous
selection as a defensive lineman. Purple Raider Dan
Pettie was a unanimous pick on the defensive line, a
unit which included teammate Matt Logsdon.
Other BHS unanimous picks were Donald Brown at
defensive back, Brandon Hughes at receiver, placekicker
Jeremy Peden and Mikey Kelch on the offensive line.
BHS running back James Wade was a repeat first team
pick. Rounding out the first-team selections for the
Raiders was tight end Tim McAvoy.
The six unanimous first-team picks for NCHS included
defensive lineman Israel Brown, linebacker Matt Lynch,
defensive back Eric Scott, punter Erik Phillips and
offensive linemen Brock Weigelmann and Jon Frantz.
Weigelmann was a repeat selection.
Other Ironmen on the first team were defensive
lineman Andrew Oman and defensive back Shannon Cobb.
Representing Normal West on the first team was
defensive lineman Brent Bowen.
Decatur MacArthur's Akeem Topps was a repeat and
unanimous pick at running back while Decatur
Eisenhower's Brett Miller made the first team at
quarterback and linebacker.
Rounding out the first team were MacArthur defensive
lineman Earl Taylor and offensive linemen Jacob Maple
and Brandon Moore and Eisenhower defensive back Dustin
Sloan. Maple and Moore were unanimous picks.
Earning honorable mention for NCHS were linebacker
Scott Charlton, tight end Alex Meier,
quarterback/placekicker Jake Hopper and running backs
Antoine Kennedy and Scott.
Normal West players earning honorable mention were
defensive back Andrew Childs and punter Josh Lacombe.
