Cook Inlet conference names football all-conference picks

Kody Trombley, the offensive tackle who distinguished himself by advocating for his team in front of both the Anchorage School District and Alaska School Activities Association board of directors, was named the CIC's lineman of the year Thursday.

He joined Service quarterback Amu Aukusitino, Dimond linebacker Nathan Stephens and Eagle River receiver/return specialist Kelechi Madubuko as winners of the top four player awards, as voted by the conference's coaches.

East coach Jeff Trotter -- who in one season turned the Thunderbirds into a playoff team -- was named coach of the year and Service's Numi Ilalio was named assistant coach of the year.

Trombley has been in the news the last couple of weeks as the primary player spokesman for the Mustangs, who were stripped by ASAA of three victories for using an ineligible player. The school appealed the forfeits, an effort that landed Trombley in the spotlight at a recent school board meeting and at this week's ASAA board of directors meeting.

Of the four award-winning players, Aukusitino is the only one who will still be playing when the postseason begins this week.

The Service quarterback turned in a dazzling performance in the regular season. His 1,945 passing yards were the second-highest total in the CIC and his 578 rushing yards put him fourth on the list of runners.

The top passer in the CIC was West quarterback Conor Feckley, who shared first-team quarterback honors with Aukusitino after finishing with 2,098 passing yards. Feckley's top two targets, Marcel Dion and Lamarr Brown, were both named to the conference's first team as well. Dion and Brown each recorded more than 800 receiving yards and Brown led CIC receivers with 10 touchdowns.

Service's Alan Busey was the top receiver in the conference, gaining 869 yards and scoring nine times on 58 catches. Busey, Madubuko and East's Jarred Laws completed the list of first-team wide receivers. Madubuko and Laws each surpassed 500 receiving yards and averaged more than 20 yards per catch.

Madubuko did a lot more than just catch passes for Eagle River. His kick-return skills netted him four return touchdowns and caused opposing teams to kick or punt the ball anywhere but in his direction. Madubuko also took some snaps at quarterback, carried the ball on running plays and was one of the Wolves' top defenders.

The only running back to top 1,000 yards this season was Bartlett's Trent Anthony (1,072 yards). Dimond's Stephens finished second in rushing with 957 yards, joining Anthony as a first-team CIC running back.

Stephens also made the first team as a linebacker, making him the only CIC player to make all-conference on offense and defense.

Cook Inlet Conference football

Offensive Player of the Year -- Amu Aukusitino, Service junior. Defensive Player of the Year -- Nathan Stephens, Dimond senior. Lineman of the Year -- Kody Trombley, Chugiak senior. Utility Player of the Year -- Kelechi Madubuko, Eagle River senior.

Coach of the Year -- Jeff Trotter, East. Assistant Coach of the Year -- Numi Ilalio Jr., Service.

Quarterback

First team -- Amu Aukusitino, Service; Conor Feckley, West. Second team -- Zach Lujan, South.

Running back

First team -- Trent Anthony, Bartlett; Nathan Stephens, Dimond. Second team -- Justin Schneider, Chugiak; Austin Gardner, East.

Wide receiver

First team -- Kelechi Madubuko, Eagle River; Jarred Laws, East; Alan Busey, Service; Marcel Dion, West; Lamarr Brown, West. Second team -- Nik Butler, Service; William Krolick, South.

Tight end

First team -- Louis Page, South.

Offensive tackle

First team -- Kody Trombley, Chugiak; Jeff Overbaugh, Service; Justin Wilson, Service; Jacob Crews, West. Second team -- Drew Yeager, Bartlett.

Guard

First team -- Caleb Green, Bartlett. Second team -- O.J. Hall, Eagle River; Derrick Jones, East.

Outside guard

First team -- Jaramie Augafa, South. Second team -- Kieran Kuiper, West; Esene Tui, West.

Center

First team -- Henry Loia, Bartlett. Second team -- Prince Launiuvao, Dimond; Gabe Imlach, South.

Inside linebacker

First team -- Justin Moore, South; Stephan Ellis, Service; Dalton Sauder, South.

Linebacker

First team -- Wayde Snell, Chugiak; Nathan Stephens, Dimond; Damon Griffith, Dimond; Brody DeLoria, East; Luke Schnellbaecher, East; Lincoln Tulimasealii, West. Second team -- Jonah Silva, Bartlett.

Outside linebacker

First team -- Kendall Scott, Dimond; Hiapo McCandless, Service; Tommy Hopp, South. Second team -- Armani Tufaga, Dimond; Daniel Murakami, Service; Jonathan Jenkins, Service; Aaron Esplin, South.

Defensive back

First team -- Tyler Rowles, East; Matthew Ilalio, Service. Second team -- Trevor Williamson, Service.

Defensive line

First team -- Falema'o Tosi, East; Siaki Ameperosa, East. Second team -- Steven Puterbaugh, Chugiak; Jeremiah Ieremia, East.

Defensive tackle

First team -- Eric Pili, Service.

Cornerback

First team -- Dante Williams, South; Michael Wilson, South. Second team -- Desmond Corpuz, West.

Kicking specialist

First team -- Tom Troxel, West. Second team -- Taylor Bomar, Service.

Long snapper

First team -- Jeff Overbaugh, Service. Second team -- Nathan Stephens, Dimond; Ryan Arnold, Eagle River.

Punter

First team -- Griffin Toomey, South. Second team -- Ryden Hines, Dimond.

Return Specialist

First team -- Kelechi Madubuko, Eagle River. Second team -- Amu Aukusitino, Service.