MONROE — The Rock Valley recently announced its all-conference selections, and league champions Monroe had 16 positions recognized, including Defensive Player of the Year and Co-Lineman of the Year Aaron Benzschawel, Co-Back of the Year Cam  Newcomer and Head Coach of the Year Tom Witt.

Witt, named the Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022 and 2023, took over the program after the death of head coach Toby Golembiewski. Witt kept the Head Coach of the Year honors in Monroe, earning for the 2024 season.

Benzschawel was a two-way first-team all-conference player, earning the title of Defensive Player of the Year and Co-Lineman of the year with Brad Bartz from Evansville.

Benzschawel led the defense in tackles for loss (23), sacks (9.5) and three forced fumbles. He also had 33 tackles, a pick-6 and one fumble recovery. On the offensive side of the ball, he had six receptions for 130 yards with two touchdowns.

Newcomer was named the Co-Back of the Year with Delavan-Darien’s Broden Nichols. Newcomer led the Cheesemakers in the run game, with 739 yards on 78 carries with 10 touchdowns. He averaged 9.5 ypc and 82.1 ypg. 

Paving the path for Newcomer and the other Cheesemaker running backs were first-team all-conference selections Peyton Herbst and Owen Douglas. 

Other picks to the first-team defense were Joe Rufenacht, Nathan Fuchs, Noah Spotts and Seth Schmidt.

Rufenacht was second on the team with 85 tackles and 14 tackles for loss. He recorded two sacks, forced one fumble and hauled in one interception.

Fuchs tallied 51 tackles with four of them for a loss. He registered one fumble and one sack.

Spotts totaled 43 tackles with one of them for loss. He led the team with two interceptions.

Schmidt led the team with 95 total tackles. One of those were for a loss. He also tallied one interception.

Tony Wolf, Waylon Yoder and Will Keehn were also recognized by the conference.

Monroe posted another undefeated Rock Valley Conference season to claim the championship title. Overall, the team finished with a 7-3 record, losing its WIAA Division 2 Level 1 game to Elkhorn, 17-14.