Lineman leads Grafton football honors

Entering a new conference for football didn’t bother Grafton High School senior J.P. Benzschawel. The earth-moving offensive lineman was going to dominate whoever was in front of him.

Benzschawel’s efforts at left tackle in the Parkland Conference this season earned him one of the league’s two Lineman of the Year awards and landed him on the Parkland first team and the Wisconsin Coaches

Association All-Region team. He also received the Joe Thomas Award for the best lineman in the state from www.wissports.com as voted on by media and fans.

Grafton coach Jim Norris said he remembers Benzschawel’s first start against Homestead four years ago and the rapid speed of his growth.

“Just to see his overall development through the four years as a player was exceptional,” he said.

Norris, a former offensive lineman himself who played at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, said line isn’t easy to play in high school. There are no stats or much recognition.

“For a kid to really buy in to the technique, the coaching, the drive and overall mentality it takes to play that position, he’s done it all,” Norris said.

Grafton often ran behind Benzschawel, and he didn’t allow a sack or a pressure in the passing game.

Norris, who is also Benzschawel’s brother-in-law, said he learned as much from his star lineman as he taught him.

Benzschawel committed to play at UW-Madison as a sophomore, following in the footsteps of his older brothers Beau and Luke, father Scott and uncle Eric.

Benzschawel also made the Parkland first team at defensive end. He made 16 tackles, had four sacks, forced a fumble and recovered one.

Teams usually ran away from him, Norris said.

“When they ran at him, he disrupted the play or made the tackle,” he said.

Benzschawel represented two of 16 all-conference selections for the Black Hawks.

He helped open holes for the league’s leading rusher, Canon Pfaff, who Norris said had a “breakout year” with 868 yards and eight touchdowns on 168 carries in six games. Pfaff, who made the first team, filled the shoes of Joey Giorgi, the state’s leading rusher last season.

“We knew internally what he could do and what kind of back he could be. I don’t think he knew,” Norris said.

Pfaff chipped away for 5.2 yards per carry as a bruising back, always falling forward and requiring multiple players to tackle him.

“He’s just a very smart kid, very athletically savvy. He understands his body, what type of running back he was going to be,” Norris said.

Senior Dominic Voiland made the first team at wide receiver. He had 62 catches for 521 yards and eight touchdowns, some on jet sweeps that count as passes since the quarterback flipped the ball forward as Voiland sprinted along. This was the second straight season making a conference first team after earning the same recognition last year in the North Shore Conference.

But Voiland, who also made the all-region team, wasn’t worried about stats or awards.

“He’s as blue collar as they get,” Norris said. “He knew if he worked for it, those stats would come.”

Offensive lineman Nathan Skebba also made the first team, the only junior to receive the honor in the Parkland. He was honorable mention last year in the NSC.

“He lives in the weight room. He wrestles, does everything I ask of him,” Norris said. “He doesn’t just do it, he does it to the greatest degree and it’s paid off.”

Senior inside linebacker Kenny Likins made the first team and got honorable mention as a running back. He made 22 tackles in six games and was a lead blocker.

The anchor and heart of the defense, Norris said, served as a captain with Benzschawel and Voiland. He dove into learning defensive systems under three different coordinators in four years.

“His football knowledge and understanding of defense was unreal this year. In my mind he’s the quarterback of the defense,” Norris said. “And defense was the pillar of this team.”

Senior Daniel Fandler made the first team as defensive back in what Norris said was an “absolute breakout year.”

Norris said he couldn’t get Fandler and Likins away from his defensive coordinator. Fandler was always asking intelligent, next-level questions.

On the field, Fandler made 18 tackles, recovered a fumble and forced one. If runners got to the secondary, “he came down and absolutely stuck some kids,” Norris said.

Junior Silvio Lanza made the first team as punter and honorable mention as kicker. He went 6-for-6 on field goals, with a long of 40 yards, and 15-for-16 on extra points. He punted 26 times and averaged 39.1 yards per boot. In addition, Lanza was part of several fakes that took opponents by surprise and earned the Hawks first downs.

Norris said he remembers after practice during a summer rainstorm seeing Lanza on the field kicking and punting.

“He’s extremely dedicated. He’s going to be one of our leaders next year,” he said.

Sophomore lineman Josh Lee-O’Bryant earned honorable mention on offense and defense. He played guard and tackle on offense and on defense made seven tackles and recovered a fumble.

“He was just really a dominant player at times,” Norris said.

Junior guard Brock Jasinski also received honorable mention. After a few starts last season, Jasinski greatly increased his speed and strength.

“He did a very good job. He is very good at pulling and at moving people,” Norris said.

Senior Andrew Ovsepyan earned honorable mention at inside linebacker. He led the Hawks with 33 tackles, had two sacks and recovered two fumbles.

Norris said Ovsepyan is a “physical specimen who always seems to find a way to be around the ball.”

In film sessions, tackling the ball carrier scenes are paused and coaches count how many Hawks are around the ball. Ovsepyan was often directly involved in the play, Norris said.

Senior Andrew Ribecky earned honorable mention at outside linebacker. He made eight tackles, had two sacks and recovered a fumble.

In his first year as a starter, junior outside linebacker Preston Bonk, also earned honorable mention. He had 17 tackles.

“He did a phenomenal job,” Norris said.  “He had to beat out a couple of seniors to get to that spot. He’s a blue-collar guy and established himself as a leader of this team.”

The Parkland was the Hawks’ second new conference. After leaving the NSC, they were to join the Woodland, but that league decided to play spring football, as allowed by the WIAA. Grafton played in fall and joined the Parkland, a conference with such quality teams that Norris called every week a playoff game.

 The Hawks finished 5-2, losing 7-3 at West De Pere in the first playoff game. The senior class helped turn the program around under third-year coach Norris. The Hawks went 3-6 two years ago and 7-4 last season.

“It’s just absolutely exceptional what this senior class has done. You talk about building a tradition, setting a foundation. These guys did it,” Norris said.