Six weeks after concluding their best season in nine years, California Pintos football came together one last time to celebrate the 2023 season.
The California Pintos ended the 2023 season on Nov. 10 in Odessa with a final record of 9-3 and a second place finish in the Class 3 District Tournament.
First-year head coach Kenny Grubb put together a presentation packet for the banquet and went through the season game by game.
As he went through his presentation, Grubb also highlighted each player of each class on the team. Several of Grubb's players were also honored for their season with multiple postseason awards.
Defensive tackle (DT) and offensive lineman (OL) Alexis Anguiano was named 1st Team All-Conference as DT and OL, 1st Team All-District as DT, 2nd Team Media All-District as DT and 2nd Team All-State as DT.
Linebacker Collin Althoff was named 1st Team All-Conference, 1st Team All-District, 1st Team Media All-District 2nd Team All-State. Althoff led all Pintos tacklers with 161 total tackles on the season.
Wide receiver and halfback (HB) Ayden Bryant was named 2nd Team All-Conference as DB and HB, All-Conference Honorable Mention as returner, 1st Team All-District as DB, 2nd Team Media All-District as DB and 3rd Team All-State as DB.
Defensive tackle, offensive lineman and kicker (K) Max Blecke-Ferreira was named an All-Conference Honorable Mention as DT and OL, 2nd team All-District as OL, 2nd team Media All-District as K and a member of the Academic All-State Team.
Tight end (TE) Chase Schlup was named an All-Conference Honorable Mention as TE and a member of the Academic All-State Team.
Fullback and linebacker Austin Suen was named a member of the Academic All-State Team.
Running back (RB) and defensive back was named 1st Team All-Conference as DB, All-Conference Honorable Mention as RB, 1st Team All-Distrcit as DB, 1st Team Media All-District, 2nd-Team All-State as DB and the Lake TV Spotlight Player of the Game (Week 8 at Eldon). Volkart also set a school record with nine interceptions on the season.
Running back and linebacker Tyler Oden was named 2nd Team All-Conference as RB, All-Conference Honorable Mention as LB, 2nd Team All-District as RB, 2nd Team Media All-District as RB and had the KOMU and KRCG Play of the Week (Week 9 at Hallsville).
Offensive lineman Owen Pringer was named All-Conference Honorable Mention as OL, 2nd team All-Distrct as OL and a member of the Academic All-State Team.
Linebacker Lance Clevenger was named 2nd team All-District as LB) and a member the Academic All-State Team.
Head coach Kenny Grubb was awarded the Missouri Scoop 2023 New Hire of the Year Award in Class 3.
Anguiano and 2022 California alumni Hunter Berendzen were awarded football scholarships.
During the offseason weeks before Thursday's banquet, Grubb had said he wants to continue to build on the success of the 2023 season and not go into what he called "a sophomore season slump."
At the end of the night, when he recognized the seniors, Grubb laid down his challenge to his remaining players in regards to the 2024 season next fall.
"To all of the incoming seniors and underclassmen, this is your challenge. As you look up here and see who we'll be missing this year, you'll see that we're missing half of our offense and half of our defense," Grubb said. "To the seniors, thank you for everything that you have done for us. To the juniors, you've got big shoes to fill. I need you to step up and be the leaders of this team. If you want any advice on how to lead a team, talk to our seniors, they will be glad to give you some advice. To the underclassman, it's up to you to fill the voids in our team that we need to fill. How will you help take your game and this program to the next level?"
(Democrat photo/Evan Holmes) California head coach Kenny Grubb goes through of the Pintos' awards and accolades during the California Football Banquet.
Democrat photo/Evan Holmes — The 2023 California Pintos football team went 9-3 and made the district championship game for the first time since 2014.