Port football hauls in all-conference honors

Another impressive season for the Port Washington High School football team yielded a host of high honors from East Central Conference.

Senior Garett Kawczynski was named Defensive Lineman of the Year, junior Kade Kintop was Receiver of the Year and Zac Moeller was named Assistant Coach of the Year.

Five Pirates earned all-region honors, including Kawczynski, Kintop, quarterback Jack Bunyan, outside linebacker Kiya Sullivan and punter Max Tartarek.

The Pirates landed a total of 10 first-teamers in the ECC.

“It was a good year. We didn’t get to where we wanted to go, but it was a good year,” coach John Bunyan said.

Port went 6-1 in the ECC and finished in second place to Plymouth. The Pirates went 7-4 overall and lost a second-level playoff game in the final seconds to Whitefish Bay, 17-15.

Kintop didn’t even start the season at wide receiver. He was the team’s quarterback for a couple of games before being moved to where he played the year before. He made 33 catches for 392 yards and six touchdowns, in addition to rushing 15 times for 52 yards and a score. As quarterback, he went 21-for-42 passing for 198 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“He’s a super athletic kid,” Bunyan said. “Credit to him to keep working and keep contributing.”

Kawczynski, a state champion wrestler, was named to the first team at nose guard for the third straight year. He made 60 tackles, including 10 for loss, and had two sacks. He also forced and recovered a fumble.

“He’s so explosive. He upped his game this year. Four years of having Garett in the middle has been amazing,” Bunyan said. “Anybody that says wrestling and football don’t correlate is crazy. That aggressiveness, tackling ability and single-leg takedown.”

Defensive linemen usually have a certain gap responsibility, but Bunyan let his star choose.

“I just told Garett go do what you want to do,” he said.

Bunyan’s son John took over at quarterback and was named to the first team. He went 107-for-178 (60%) passing for 1,750 yards with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. He also broke school records for yards and touchdowns in a game and single-season passing yards and touchdowns.

“He came in there, handled some pressure. He didn’t take sacks and he didn’t make bad decisions,” coach Bunyan said. “He read the defense well and took charge.”

Senior O’Neil Wright was named to the first team at running back after piling up 1,166 yards and 15 touchdowns on 202 carries. He caught 11 balls for 240 yards and two scores.

“He definitely was a kid you couldn’t arm tackle for sure. He was physical at the point of attack,” Bunyan said.

Wright ran behind first-team right tackle and three-year starter Logan Walker, a team co-captain who plans to play at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon. He earned honorable mention last year and was named to the second team in 2023.

“Credit to him for having a great senior year. He was the leader on the offensive line,” Bunyan said.

Port had two offensive players named to the second team.

Senior tight end/fullback Aiden Mitchell caught 16 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns, and his teammates voted him as the team’s most valuable player. It was a sweet return after Mitchell fractured his collarbone and missed most of last year.

“He came back strong, explosive. He blocked really well, caught the ball really well,” Bunyan said.

Lineman Jackson Hatfield was named to the second team.

Senior wideout Da’Vion Igess earned honorable mention after catching 14 balls for 298 yards and three touchdowns, and he was named the team’s most improved player.

“He did some really good things catching the ball,” Bunyan said.

Besides Kawczynski on the defensive side, Port had four first-teamers.

Mitchell had 55 tackles, including 11 for loss and 4.5 sacks at defensive end. He forced three fumbles and recovered one.

Senior co-captain Izaiah Scheftgen had 52 tackles, including eight for loss, and recovered two fumbles, at inside linebacker in earning his second straight first team spot. He plans to play at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Scheftgen continues the legacy of Port’s standouts at middle linebacker.

“He had a great year. He’s aggressive and physical,” Bunyan said.

Sophomore outside linebacker Kiya Sullivan made 49 tackles, including eight for loss and 1.5 sacks. He forced and recovered a fumble and made an interception.

“I love to bring him from the edge and rush the passer or cover (receivers). He’s really explosive,” Bunyan said.

Senior defensive back and co-captain Colton Struckman was named to the first team after earning honorable mention last year and a spot on the second team in 2023. He made 36 tackles, forced two fumbles, recovered one and picked off a pass.

“He’s really aggressive, plays downhill, can fill the alley and make great tackles,” Bunyan said.

Junior outside linebacker Eyob Sullivan made 59 tackles and forced a fumble.

Bunyan is happy to get him back for another year.

“We’re excited about that. He’s going to be a kid who can get better,” he said.

Junior defensive end ThiLar Goodman made 60 tackles, including six for loss and had two sacks. He forced two fumbles.

“He had a good year. He’s really athletic,” Bunyan said.

Senior defensive back Ashton Steinert was named honorable mention for the second straight season. He led the team with 96 tackles, including 12 for loss and 2.5 sacks. He forced one fumble and recovered three.

“He is really physical. He played with a lot of passion and emotion. He’s a true team leader,” Bunyan said.

Tartarek, a junior, was named to the first team as punter, averaging 31.5 yards on 22 kicks.

“He’s worked real hard. He put in a lot of summer hours,” Bunyan said.

Moeller earned his honor as the Pirates’ offensive coordinator. The Port alumnus has coached youth, junior varsity and varsity levels.

“He’s just a guy who’s been dedicated completely to our program,” Bunyan said.

“He’s extremely organized and detailed in his approach. He gets the most out of our players.”

East Central Conference final standings were: Plymouth, 7-0; Port Washington, 6-1; Beaver Dam, 3-4; Kettle Moraine Lutheran, 2-5; Kewaskum, 1-6; Watertown, 0-7.

Next year, Port will join the Glacier Trails Conference and compete against Grafton, Plymouth, Kewaskum, West Bend East, West Bend West, Kettle Moraine Lutheran and Nicolet.