Klabo named Warriors' MVP

Brainerd Warriors quarterback Chris Klabo continued to accrue awards and recognition at Monday's football banquet in the Brainerd High School cafeteria.

Klabo was named most valuable player and outstanding offensive player of a team that completed an unbeaten regular season, won the Central Lakes Conference, finished 10-1 and was ranked fifth in the final Class 5A poll. The senior accounted for 1,917 total yards and either scored or passed for 25 touchdowns.

"It's just a shock," Klabo said of receiving the MVP award. "To be honored by your teammates is nice but one person can't do it without a team. It was a team effort all season."

In addition, Klabo was named to the All-Central Lakes Conference and All-Section 8 teams and was selected a scholar all-conference (3.4 grade-point average) player. Last month, he earned all-state academic honors and made The Associated Press All-State second team as a punter, averaging 38.5 yards a boot with four punts exceeding 52 yards.

Linebacker Fred Weiss was another big winner at Monday's fete. He was named the team's outstanding defensive player with a team-high 191 tackles and made the all-conference and all-section teams. Earlier, Weiss was voted to The AP All-State second team and the St. Paul Pioneer Press All-State second team.

Additional varsity

award winners

Scholar all-conference -- Chris Miller, Alex Hondl, Darin Eller, Kevin Mertens, Jake Phillips.

Most improved senior -- Eller.

Most improved junior -- Nate Lucas.

Junior varsity player of the year -- Drew Herman.

All-section -- Luke Furda, Chad Weiss, Justin Mueller, Mertens.

Scout player of the year -- David Berndgen.

Special teams player of the year -- Sam Gervais.

Knockdown and hustle awards -- Hondl, Derek Franz.

Captains 2003 -- Gregg Day, Mueller, Shane Sullivan, Brandon Friehammer, Nate Weber.

Seniors -- Klabo, Brandon Kraemer, Mike Huesmann, Berndgen, Mertens, Pat Kiffmeyer, Zach Toms, Herman, Furda, Phillips, Tim Severson, Pickar, David Jones, Eller, Fred Weiss, Chad Weiss, Bruce Coonfield, Hondl, Steve McMullen, Miller, Scott Johnson.

All-Central Lakes Conference Football Team

Brainerd: Furda, Klabo, Fred Weiss, Chad Weiss, Mueller, Phillips, Hondl

Alexandria: Jeremy Tvrdik, Justin Walsh, Tom Steidl, Kyle Gearman, Ryan Emter, Adam Peterson

St. Cloud Tech: Jeff Richter, Mitch Braegelmann, Eric Hoffman, Travis Kragh, Parker Schendzielos

Rocori: Alex Kofoed, Mike Burtzel, Alan Terwey, Adam Blum

Sartell-St. Stephen: Pat Bottini, Marcus Oistad, Dan Sebastian, Trent Phelps

Sauk Rapids-Rice: Chris Tift, Christ Streit, Kevin Armbrust

Willmar: Phillip Hedlof, Mike Hannig, Dustin Carlson

Little Falls: Blake Smith, Bo Corrow

St. Cloud Apollo: Brad Scherer, Trent Merkling

Honorable mention all-conference

Brainerd -- Kraemer, Pickar, Kiffmeyer, Johnson, Miller, Eller, Mertens, Jones.

Sophomore award winners

Scout team players of the year -- Travis Miller, Nick Lesmeister.

Outstanding lineman -- Derek Olson.

Most improved -- Will Kassulker.

Outstanding defensive player -- Andrew Marshall.

Outstanding offensive players -- Mark Matich, Geoffrey Roberts.

Special teams player of the year -- Matich.