Brighton’s Heininger among Section V Large School All-State selections

by TYLER HATHAWAY

The NYSSWA announced its Big School Football All-State selections on Wednesday as well as the state Players of the Year. You can view the official release for Class AA here, and Class A here.

Brighton senior linebacker Matthew Heininger was named to the Class A Defensive First team. Heininger, who was the Section V Class A1 Co-Defensive Player of the Year, ended his season with 96 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, one interception, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. The University of Buffalo commit helped the Bruins reach the NYS Class A title game, their furthest run in program history. 

Victor senior defensive lineman Mason Naple, who shared the Section V Class A1 Defensive Player of the Year award with Heininger, was named to the Class A Defensive Second team. Joining him was Kalin Watkins, a junior linebacker from Webster Schroeder.

Senior defensive back Christian Freeman made the Class A Defensive third team from Irondequoit. Defensive lineman Zahmar Tookes, a junior from Brighton, was named to the Defensive Fourth team. His teammate, senior linebacker Amari Snowden, was a Defensive Fifth team selection. Junior defensive lineman Jamie Anderson, from East/World of Inquiry, joined Snowden on the Fifth team. Brighton junior offensive lineman Titus Nebbie was selected to the Offensive Sixth team.

MJ Wells (Webster Thomas), Justin Medina (Brighton), Zachary Rossignol (Brighton), AJ Amico (Webster Schroeder) and Taye Brown (East/World of Inquiry) were offensive honorable mentions, while Troy Caulkins (Eastridge) was a defensive honorable mention.

In Class AA, Aquinas senior offensive lineman Frankie Burgress was picked to be on the Offensive Second team. Defensive lineman Ronan Boyle, a senior from Penfield, was a Defensive Second team selection.  

University Prep junior quarterback Gavin White, who was the Section V Class AA Offensive Player of the Year, was the selected for the Offensive Third team.  His teammate, junior defensive lineman Cashmere Williams, was named to Defensive Fourth team.

Three players from Rush-Henrietta were named to the Sixth team. Junior running back Imani Wagstaff and junior wide receiver Noah Collins-Howard were Offensive selections. Senior linebacker Ronin Walker was chosen to the Defensive Sixth team.

Penfield had two honorable mention selections, being Zane Kropman on offense and Jake Maurer on defense.