Five Fox Valley Lutheran players pick up first-team honors on 2025 All-Bay Conference Football Team

By Paul Lecker
AppletonSportsPage.com

Five Fox Valley Lutheran players earned first-team honors at six positions on the 2025 All-Bay Conference Football Team.

Senior Gabe Heiges was a first-team selection at both offensive flex and defensive back, and was joined on the first team by teammates Jacoby Dobberstein at wide receiver, Austin Kufner at offensive line, Blessings Kapande at running back and Braden Heiges at inside linebacker.

Gabe Heiges was FVL’s starting quarterback for the majority of the season and threw for 1,558 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for another 413 yards and nine scores. On defense he had 27 tackles and three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown.

Kapande was the Foxes’ leading rushing, totaling 704 yards and eight touchdowns, and Dobberstein led FVL in receiving with 45 catches for 886 yards and 10 TDs.

Braden Heiges was FVL’s top tackler with 88, including 10 for loss and 4½ sacks.

Xavier sophomore offensive lineman Derek Seidler, senior defensive end Jake Meyer and junior defensive back Osaze Fourmiller, along with Fox Valley Lutheran senior defensive lineman Dusitn Heyn, senior inside linebacker Jack Schlueter, and Kufner at outside linebacker were among the second-team picks.

Winneconne quarterback Brody Schaffer was named Offensive Player of the Year and Seymour outside linebacker Xavier Salzman was the Defensive Players of the Year for the Bay Conference.

In 13 games this season heading into the WIAA Division 4 state championship game, Schaffer has thrown for 1,734 yards and 18 touchdowns, and ran for 1,075 yards and 22 TDs for Winneconne.

Salzman was a game-wrecker for Seymour, finishing the year with 66 tackles, including 32 for loss and 13½ sacks, four forced fumbles and an interception which he returned for a touchdown.

2025 All-Bay Conference Football Team
(*denotes unanimous selection)
First Team
Offense
Tight end: Jordan Nettekovain, sr., Winneconne.
Wide receiver: Jacoby Dobberstein, jr., Fox Valley Lutheran; *Carson Staffeldt, sr., Seymour; *Ryan Quigley, jr., Winneconne.
Line: Austin Kufner, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Preston Krueger, jr., New London; *Tristan Drath, sr., Seymour; Justin Olson, sr., Waupaca; *Hudson Samolinski, sr., Winneconne.
Quarterback: Brody Schaffer, sr., Winneconne.
Running back: Blessings Kapande, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran; *Xavier Salzman, sr., Seymour; *Bryce Jones, sr., Winneconne.
Kicker: Andrew Dorn, so., Winneconne.
Flex: Gabe Heiges, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran.
Defense
Line: Isaac Feske, jr., Seymour; Justin Olson, sr., Waupaca; *Hudson Samolinski, sr., Winneconne.
End: *Reid Oberstadt, sr., New London; *Jesse Michaud, sr., Winneconne.
inside linebacker: Braden Heiges, jr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Jordan Thompson, sr., Seymour; *Trey Zemke, sr., Winneconne.
Outside linebacker: *Xavier Salzman, sr., Seymour; Jovan Zeller, sr., Winneconne.
Defensive back: *Gabe Heiges, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Carter Gessay, sr., Seymour; Carsen Staffeldt, sr., Seymour; *Brody Schaffer, sr., Winneconne.
Punter: *Austin Heling, jr., Shawano.
Second Team
Offense
Tight end: Braden Heiges, jr., Fox Valley Lutheran.
Wide receiver: Austin Heling, jr., Shawano; Westen Lauritzen, jr., Waupaca; Karter Hawthorne, sr., Winneconne.
Line: Reid Oberstadt, sr., New London; Isaac Feske, jr., Seymour; Dallas Walker, sr., Winneconne; Jesse Michaud, sr., Winneconne; Derek Seidler, so., Xavier.
Quarterback: Cayden Staffeldt, sr., Seymour.
Running back: Logan Ten Haken, sr., New London; Marcus Brezgel, so., Shawano; Mason Mathe, jr., Winneconne.
Kicker: Austin Heling, jr., Shawano.
Flex: Austin Adamczak, sr., Waupaca.
Defense
Line: Dustin Heyn, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Preston Krueger, jr., New London; Dallas Walker, sr., Winneconne.
End: Charlie Gilbertson, sr., Seymour; Jake Meyer, sr., Xavier.
Inside linebacker: Jack Schlueter, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Phoenix Fletcher, sr., New London; Ayden Bystol, sr., Shawano.
Outside linebacker: Austin Kufner, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Andon Lang, sr., Winneconne.
Defensive back: Logan Ten Haken, sr., New London; Ryder Vergauwen, sr., Waupaca; Karter Hawthorne, sr., Winneconne; Osaze Fourmiller, jr., Xavier.
Punter: Reed Rogers, jr., Waupaca; Hudson Samolinski, sr., Winneconne.
Honorable Mention
Offense
Tight end/fullback: Charlie Gilbertson, jr., Seymour.
Wide receiver: Brett Marquardt, sr., New London; Erik Harms, jr., Waupaca.
Line: Dusitn Heyn, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Jordan Thompson, sr., Seymour; Joey Doperalski, sr., Shawano; Hugh Sleeman, sr., Winneconne; Baylor VanBommel, so., Winneconne.
Kicker: Levi Hermann, so., Fox Valley Lutheran.
Defense
Line: Sam Micolicaek, sr., Seymour; Tristan Drath, sr., Seymour; Zane Trice, jr., Waupaca.
End: Chase Katchenago, sr., Shawano; Dylan Johnson, jr., Waupaca.
Inside linebacker: Scott Sassman, sr., Seymour; Wyatt Buenning, so., Waupaca; Ethan Duel, jr., Winneconne.
Outside linebacker: Marcus Brezgel, so., Shawano.
Defensive back: Ian Holmes, sr., Fox Valley Lutheran; Brett Marquart, sr., New London; Aiden Rasmussen, sr., Shawano; Westen Lauritzen, jr., Waupaca.
Individual Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Brody Schaffer, QB, Winneconne.
Wide Receiver of the Year: Carson Staffeldt, Seymour.
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Hudson Samoliinski, Winneconne.
Back of the Year: Xavier Salzman, RB, Seymour.
Defensive Player of the Year: Xavier Salzman, OLB, Seymour.
Defensive Lineman of the Year: Hudson Samolinski, Winneconne.
Linebacker of the Year: Xavier Salzman, Seymour.
Defensive Back of the Year: Brody Schaeffer, Winneconne.