Novak Nabs Section Coach of the Year Award; Team Collects Numerous Accolades

By Ethan Miller ‘23

Coach Gerad Novak was given the Section 2 Coach of the Year honor by Lancaster Newspaper (LNP), which he shares with Warwick’s Bob Locker. Novak led the team to a 6-2 record under his veteran leadership, a year after the team went 2-8 overall in 2019. The team finished third in the section, their best finish in Section 2 since the 2010 season. Record-wise, fans have to go back even farther to find a comparable winning percentage–the last winning record for the team goes all the way back to 2009. 

The team, by virtue of their solid record, had many players who received an award for their outstanding play on the field- and performance in the classroom as well. Some players even received multiple accolades for their sectional awards. 

WR/Defensive Back Zach Fisher received numerous lofty awards for his performance this season. He was named to First Team Offense as a WR, First Team Defense as a DB, and Honorable Mention Defense as a long snapper (for field goals and punts). On top of that, he was awarded an academic award for having a GPA over 3.50, which brings him to 4 total awards for a stellar season. 

Star RB Booper Johnson received a First Team Offense award as well, as the other player to receive such an award on the offense. WR Jaiyell Plowden got 2 Second Team Offense Awards, one as a WR and one as a kick returner. Offensive linemen Carter May and Simeon Teklu both received a Second Team Offense award, as did Nate Heck, the kicker. 

On defense, 4 Buckskins received First Team Defense awards, one of which was the aforementioned Zach Fisher. Interior lineman Charles Janvrin snagged an accolade, as did inside linebacker Kaden Martin. Two defensive backs received recognition as well, one being Fisher and the other being Cooper McCloud. Josue Marente, a defensive end, got an Honorable Mention Defense award as well as Nate Heck, this time as a punter. The defense was impressive this season, especially during the Buckskins late-season surge, holding opponents to a combined 24 points across their last 4 games, all wins for Conestoga Valley. 

Charles Janvrin received a First Team academic award for his high GPA, while Kaden Martin, Simeon Teklu, Nick Tran, and Zach Fisher all received Second Team nods. Honorable mentions went to Zac Phy, Frank Koch, and Noah Admassu. 

A total of 12 Buckskins received awards this season for their outstanding play, and deservedly so, as the team posted their first winning record in 11 years. The Bucks have a bright future ahead of them in future seasons.