Muncy wrestling champ runs away with Class 1A Player of the Year
2024 Berks football coverage presented by
Utilities Employees Credit Union
Muncy running back Austin Johnson, a PIAA wrestling champ, earned his third straight spot on the Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 1A All-State team, this time as Player of the Year after a season which saw him rush for 3,015 yards and 48 touchdowns.
Justin Bienkowski, who led his Port Allegany team to 14 wins and a spot in the PIAA championship game, is Coach of the Year.
PIAA champ Bishop Guilfoyle is represented by six players on the 41-player team, selected by sportswriters across the state. Guilfoyle defeated Port Allegany 41-22 in the championship game.
All-State teams for Class 3A and 5A will be announced later today. Teams in Class 2A, 4A, and 6A will be announced Saturday. No Berks teams play at the Class 1A or 2A levels.
District 6 champ Bishop Guilfoyle, which finished 15-1, is represented on the team by quarterback Chase Kissell, wide receiver Hamilton Gates, tight end Jake Kissell, offensive lineman Joe Eckenrode, linebacker Taurean Consiglio, and defensive back Tyson Lestochi.
Chase Kissell threw for 3,358 yards and 39 touchdowns, including 301 yards in a state playoff win over Westinghouse, which was ranked No. 1 in the state at the time. Gates pulled in 93 of those passes, for 1,705 yards and 19 TDs. Consiglio recorded 187 tackles, 21 for loss.
Johnson is one of five All-State selections for Muncy. Clairton, Lackawanna Trailed and Line Mountain each had four.
Johnson averaged 12.7 yards per carry and topped 100 yards in his last 14 games. He ran for 1,189 yards and 17 touchdowns in the playoffs while helping Muncy reach the state semifinals for the first time.
He ran for 332 yards and six TDs in a state quarterfinal win over Delone Catholic and 284 yards and four TDs in a first-round win over Lackawanna Trail.
Johnson closed his high school career with 6,534 yards and 108 touchdowns while averaging 9.9 yards per carry. He helped Muncy win 42 games in four years as well as four league titles. He will wrestle at Oklahoma State after winning a state title.
CLASS 1A ALL-STATE
Player of the Year: Austin Johnson, Muncy
Coach of the Year: Justin Bienkowski, Port Allegany
OFFENSE
Quarterback
Chase Kissell, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy β 6-2, 190 senior
Braylon Wagner, Redbank Valley β 6-1, 171 junior
Matt Sieg, Fort Cherry β 6-0, 185 junior
Ty Dumm, Northern Cambria β 6-1, 175 senior
Kaiden Maurer, Line Mountain β 6-3, 180 junior
Running Back
Austin Johnson, Muncy β 6-0, 220 senior
Aiden Bliss, Port Allegany β 6-1, 210 junior
Raymond Holman, Morrisville β 6-1, 170 senior
Isaac Ryon, Lackawanna Trail β 5-10, 180 junior
Ian Bates, Line Mountain β 5-7, 165 senior
Wide Receiver
Hamilton Gates, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy β 6-0, 187 senior
Lloys Penn, Westinghouse β 5-10, 180 senior
Noah Dolbin, Nativity β 5-10, 220 senior
Tight End
Jake Kissell, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy β 6-2, 208 junior
Michael Gelatko, Marian Catholic β 6-4, 230 senior
Offensive Line
Ken Hampe, Muncy β 6-4, 295 senior
Joe Eckenrode, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy β 6-2, 273 senior
Carson Neely, Port Allegany β 6-0, 270 senior
Lucas Evans, Lackawanna Trail β 6-3, 265 junior
Jake Coulter, Wilmington β 6-3, 280 junior
Athlete
Drahcir Jones, Clairton β 5-11, 185 senior
Landyn Wommer, Muncy β 5-10, 175 senior
DEFENSE
Defensive Line
Max Johnson, Line Mountain β 6-4, 210 junior
Landen McGarvey, Glendale β 6-1, 220 senior
Kahlil Patterson-Williams, Clairton β 5-8, 248 senior
Tahvez Armstrong, Clairton β 6-2, 193 junior
Braiden Sudor, Bishop Canevin β 5-10, 220 senior
Henry Barbisch, Bishop Canevin β 6-5, 245 senior
Linebacker
Brandon Murphy, Clairton β 6-1, 170 freshman
Taurean Consiglio, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy β 5-10, 186 junior
Gavin Lovell, Moshannon Valley β 6-0, 195 sophomore
Noah Ringes, Line Mountain β 5-9, 190 sophomore
Demetrius Douglas, Lackawanna Trail β 5-10, 185 senior
Lucas Oleksa, Windber β 6-1, 205 senior
Defensive Back
Justin Schell, Greenville β 5-11, 170 sophomore
Max Kimmel, Lackawanna Trail β 6-3, 185 senior
Stiles Eyer, Muncy β 6-2, 185 senior
Tyson Lestochi, Bishop Guilfoyle Academy β 6-0, 162 junior
Nick Wilfong, Port Allegany β 5-9, 160 junior
Athlete
Aaron Bowers, Northern Bedford β 6-3, 190 senior
Specialist
Alexis McRoberts, Canton β 5-8, 165 junior