Prep Football: Locals earn WSFCA All-State honors

Gridiron Gang — Kelso, Woodland, Naselle land players on Washington’s top team

Kelso senior Aden Mintnoye throws on the brakes to avoid would-be tacklers during a game against Prairie, Friday, Oct. 11, at Schroeder Field. Mintonye rushed for 301 yards and seven touchdowns in a 49-35 win, and was recently named to the WSFCA 3A All-State team.— Photo courtesy of Skyler Smith / Framed Photography

The Washington State Football Coaches Association recently announced their selections for the 2024 All-State high school football teams and more than a few familiar teams were included on the elite honorary lineups.

The WSFCA All-State teams are a relatively new wrinkle on an old tradition. This year Kelso landed both Aden Mintonye and Tucker Amrine on the state’s top team. Woodland’s Elijah Andersen was also appointed, while Naselle’s Jack Strange and William Anderson were both selected. Even BZM’s adopted football sons from Onalaska saw three players named to the elite hit and run squad.

“For many years, the Washington State Media members of the Associated Press would compile and release All-State teams for each level of high school football in our state,” read a press release from the WSFCA. “Unfortunately, the final installment of these teams concluded with the 2019 season. The Covid-19 Pandemic and the changing landscape of prep sports media coverage in Washington State left a void in recognizing the top players at each classification level.”

So, after a few years of wishing things were still like they used to be, the WSFCA decided to step in and pick up the slack. The teams are chosen via committee and broken up based on classification.

The lists below include the Players of the Year in each classification from The Blast Zone, along with players from around the region who were named to their respective WSFCA All-State teams. Plus graphics with the complete list of All-State players.