Baker’s Schleimer, Meridian’s Dritsas share All-NWC 1A MVP honors

One ran for more than 2,500 yards and 34 touchdowns. The other accounted for more than 1,800 yards of total offense and scored 23 TDs.

In the end, the Northwest Conference Class 1A football coaches couldn’t chose between the two, so they decided Mount Baker’s Jed Schleimer and Meridian’s Nick Dritsas would share Most Valuable Player honors.

Schleimer, a junior running back/linebacker, rushed for 2,511 yards and 34 scores on 220 attempts (11.4 average) and helped the Mountaineers reach the Class 1A State Quarterfinals for the fourth straight year.

Dritsas, meanwhile, rushed for 1,078 yards and 12 touchdowns on 178 carries (5.7 average) and caught led the Trojans with 42 receptions for 736 yards and 10 touchdowns in his senior season. He helped Meridian reach the first round of the Class 1A State Playoffs.

MVP honors weren’t all the Mountaineers and Trojans shared this fall, though. Mount Baker’s Ron Lepper and Meridian’s Bob Ames were selected co-Coaches of the Year, while Mount Baker’s Rob Brandland and Meridian’s Patrick Ames were selected co-Assistant Coaches of the Year.

The Mountaineers did separate themselves, as they led the league with 11 first-team selections: offensive linemen Chad Cohn and Kolton Zender, tight end T.J. Bass, receiver Thomas Barbo, quarterback Mason Bass, defensive linemen T.J. Bass and Cohn, Zender at linebacker, defensive back Mason Bass and Vadim Kotsyuba and kicker John Ehlers.

Meridian had six first-team selections: offensive linemen Brenten Fox and Jackson Day, and Daniel Young, defensive lineman Koby Smith and linebackers Manny Sabalza and Andrew Logan.

Lynden Christian also had six selections: offensive lineman John Mark Stromberg, running back David Bladies, receivers Nate Heilkema, Stromberg at defensive line, linebacker Gavin Mumford and defensive back Zach Roetciscender.

Nooksack Valley’s Kirk Veldman and offensive line, Kyle Veldman at receiver and linebacker, Evan Blankers at defensive line and Colton Kautz at punter rounded out the team.

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Baker’s Schleimer, Meridian’s Dritsas share All-NWC 1A MVP honors."