The 2023 Brownstown football award winners are, front from left, Trey Sweany, Isiaah Engle, Chick Tiemeyer, Lane Zike and Bryce Peak, and back from left, Jairdyn Kiser, Keetan Burcham-Jones, Trent Lowery, Ryan Branaman and Carson Darlage.
Submitted Photo
BROWNSTOWN — Brownstown Central’s football team celebrated an eventful season at its annual awards program in the high school auditorium on Tuesday night.
Head coach Reed May emceed the event and handed out a slew of awards to a group of players who rebounded from a difficult 2022 season to post a 9-2 record and claim the Mid-Southern Conference title in 2023.
Ten seniors — Ryan Branaman, Keetan Burcham-Jones, Carson Darlage, Isiaah Engle, Hudson Fritz, Trent Lowery, Bryce Peak, Chick Tiemeyer, Landon Wilkins and Lane Zike — were tasked by BC’s coaches with leading the program back from its first five-loss season since 1992.
“We challenged the seniors all year, asking them, ‘What are you going to do to solve this, to get this corrected?’ And they responded. I’m proud of them for leading us back to the type of team that we’re used to,” May said.
As a group, the seniors ended their four-year run with a 32-11 record.
Three BC players earned all-state recognition from the Indiana Football Coaches Association. Branaman was selected to the Class 2A senior all-state team as a defensive lineman. Owen Wischmeier (linebacker) and Micah Sheffer (punter) were selected for inclusion on the Class 2A junior all-state team.
Four players earned academic all-state honors. Branaman, Burcham-Jones, Fritz and Zike were recognized by the IFCA for their performance on the field while maintaining a minimum 3.4 grade point average in the classroom.
Six players made the MSC all-conference teamm and three others were honorable mention selections. Branaman, Burcham-Jones, Engle, Lowery, Tiemeyer and Zike were recognized as all-MSC, while Darlage, Fritz and Peak were honorable mention.
Zike was chosen as the team’s most valuable player after leading the Braves in rushing and scoring. The senior, who bounced back from an injury-shortened junior season, ran for 826 yards and 13 touchdowns, both team highs. He added three more TDs as a receiver.
On the offensive side, Tiemeyer was named the team’s top offensive back, while Lowery took home the outstanding offensive lineman award. On the defensive side, Branaman claimed the defensive line/inside linebacker MVP, and Engle earned the outstanding defensive back/outside linebacker award.
Peak, the Braves’ reliable placekicker, won the special teams MVP award. Darlage, meanwhile, earned the mental attitude award.
Wischmeier ended his stellar season as the defensive points leader after leading the team with 120 total tackles. Lowery was given the black jersey award for leading the team in hard hits, which the senior earned through his pulling and trapping assignments as an offensive lineman.
Lineman award winners were Branaman, Burcham-Jones, Darlage, Jaden Disque, Isaac Hutchinson, Lowery, Joe Roberts, Drew Shelton and Cash Zumhingst.
Burcham-Jones added to his busy awards program by earning the Mason Watson Award, given for achievements in the classroom and on the field. The award is named for the former Brave standout who graduated in 2005 and perished at the age of 22 in a work-related accident in 2008.
“It’s the most rewarding award that I like to hand out because of who it is honoring,” May said. “It’s special for our program because of who Mason was.”
Throughout each season, BC coaches hand out PRIDE awards to players who excel in their effort during practice. The acronym stands for personal responsibility in daily effort.
“Every day, you are responsible for busting your tail,” May said, summarizing the award’s intent. “It’s something we really stress throughout the year.”
For the past season, PRIDE winners were Ryan Branaman, Burcham-Jones, Darlage, Engle, Fritz, Lowery, Peak, Sheffer, Tiemeyer, Wischmeier, Zike, Easton Branaman, Disque, Greg Hutcheson, Preston Garrison, Roberts, Shelton and Dalton Brazzell.
May commended two senior managers, Emily Reinbold and Rachel Louden, for their work with the team.
“They’re two great senior managers,” May said. “They were with us for four years. They did a great job organizing everything, especially our away games.”
Two freshman, Brazzell and Ernest Harrison, received the scout team player of the year award for their efforts in BC’s practices. Jairdyn Kiser was named the junior varsity most improved lineman, while Trey Sweany claimed the JV most improved back award.
May also thanked Drew Shoemaker, the Braves’ defensive line coach, who resigned his post to pursue new opportunities.
Tuesday’s event began with Lydia Benter recognizing the Braves’ cheer team. Justin Brewer followed to celebrate the junior varsity squad, which ended its season with a 7-0 record.