By Nick Henthorn
For the WVSWA
CHARLESTON — After leading his team on a dream run that culminated in a state championship, Morgantown High sophomore quarterback Maddox Twigg earned Class AAAA first-team All-State honors on Saturday. Twigg, a sophomore, passed for 2,239 yards and 26 touchdowns, as well as rushing for 1,084 yards and 18 touchdowns. Senior lineman Brayden Parks joined him on the first team offense.
Morgantown senior Ze’von Shipman racked up 62 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and five sacks to earn first-team defensive honors. He was joined by Keltin Blunt, who did his work at safety, and finished 2025 with 78 tackles, five tackles for loss, and an interception. Rounding out the first-team selections for Morgantown was senior Carter Cooper, chosen in a utility position. Cooper, who played most often in the defensive backfield, had 71 tackles, three interceptions, and three tackles for loss. MHS sophomore Brooks King was selected as the second-team defensive captain as a linebacker for the state’s best defense.
University placed three defenders on the Class AAAA first-team— senior linebacking duo Roman Konchesky and Marcos Kniska, and senior punter Jimmy Gregg.
Kniska and Konchesky were tackling machines for the Hawks. Kniska racked up 123 tackles and 15 tackles for loss, adding four sacks and three interceptions to a stellar season. Konchesky finished with 164 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and four sacks.
Gregg’s leg was a legitimate game-changer punting for the Hawks, averaging 45.8 yards per punt and nailing 25 inside the 20. His season-long punt was a 71-yard punt. Gregg didn’t punt for a touchback a single time in over 45 attempts.
A pair of Preston Knights were also selected to the All-State team. Senior Slaton Manko earned first-team honors after turning in a strong season, passing for 2,734 yards and 27 touchdowns against just three interceptions in 10 games. He also rushed for 690 yards and eight touchdowns. Fellow senior Aidan Schmidl was named second-team offensive captain as a wide receiver.
Amidst the biggest schools in the Mountain State, a 2,000-yard rusher and a defensive wrecking ball captain the Class AAAA All-State football squad, which is voted on by coaches and members of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association, and selected by the WVSWA.
Wheeling Park running back Brennan Wack and Spring Mills edge defender Xavier Anderson lead the way on the first-team offense and defense for this year’s list of the best of the best after spectacular seasons on the gridiron.
Wack, a two-time first-team selection as a running back, followed up a junior season that saw him shatter multiple school records and capture the Warner Award, didn’t let up in his senior campaign. Despite missing two games with an injury, Wack rushed for 2,079 yards and 26 touchdowns, averaging eight yards per carry, reeled in 21 passes for 171 yards, and even tossed a touchdown on a trick play. He set his school’s career rushing record and rushing touchdowns record this season, despite only taking over at tailback in his junior season.
Wack is joined in the first-team backfield by George Washington freshman sensation Jaden Black. Black rushed for 1,596 yards and 26 touchdowns this year for the Patriots, and picked up 158 more yards and three more touchdowns in the receiving game.
George Washington and Wheeling Park’s offensive lines were also recognized for the success of their rushing attacks, with George Washington junior James Payne and Wheeling Park senior Reuben Rouse earning spots on the first-team line.
A pair of juniors bring electricity to the first-team wide receivers spots as Martinsburg’s Boston Todd and University’s Hayden George were recognized for massive seasons as pass-catchers.
Todd, a part of the Bulldogs’ state runner-up efforts, was a playmaker in all aspects, as he caught 63 balls totalling 1,265 yards and 18 touchdowns, while rushing for 439 yards and six more scores. George racked up 93 catches for 1,323 yards and 11 touchdowns.
The two remaining offensive line spots on the first team were composed of Huntington’s Mason Ramsey and Martinsburg’s Kane Whipp.
Three all-around stars earned utility spots on the first team in Huntington’s Tayveon Wilson, Martinsburg’s Brian Dick, and Jefferson junior Tony Allen.
Wilson, a senior who is now a three-time all-stater, was a dual-threat quarterback for the Highlanders, passing for 1,471 yards and 20 touchdowns, and rushing for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Dick was likewise a dual-threat for his Bulldogs, running for two touchdowns in the state championship game and finishing his junior season with 2,069 passing yards and 26 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,233 yards and 18 touchdowns.
George Washington sophomore Teddy Smith earned his spot as the first-team kicker, making all nine of his field goal tries and going 30-27 on point-after tries.
On the defensive side, Xavier Anderson put up gaudy numbers for Spring Mills in his final go-round. Anderson was a game-wrecker off the edge, finishing with 41 tackles, an impressive 12 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries.
The rest of the first-team defensive line is formidable in their own right. Woodrow Wilson senior Ja’Marques Manns dominated on the d-line with 70 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and three sacks.
Martinsburg senior Jordan Kovacs was a key piece for the Bulldogs’ defense, finishing with 66 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.
Parkersburg South had a pair of first-teamers in senior linebacker Kamero Jackson and senior defensive back Channing Barrett.
Jackson ended his season with 77 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and an interception. Barrett was a ball-hawk, plucking six interceptions on the season and finishing with 30 tackles.
The star-studded linebacker corps is completed with Huntington junior Ilias King and Wheeling Park senior Nolan Yanchak.
King collected 121 tackles with 12 tackles for loss and recovered three fumbles. Yanchak racked up 145 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and an interception.
The final defensive back on the first team is Woodrow Wilson senior AJ Thomas.
Thomas’ defensive prowess resulted in 75 tackles and an interception.
There were two players selected as utility options for the first-team defense— George Washington senior Clyde May and Morgantown’s Cooper. May, who played all around the Patriot front-seven, had 88 tackles, two interceptions, forced four fumbles, and finished with two defensive touchdowns.
Wooden plaques in the shape of West Virginia that include the high school name, player’s name, licensed WVSWA logo, and year of the honoree are available to all-state first team, second team, and honorable mentions and can be purchased from the Bear Wood Company through WVSWA.org or Bearwoodcompany.com.
Class AAAA All-State Football team as voted on by coaches and selected by the WVSWA.
First-team:
Offense
QB: Maddox Twigg, Morgantown
QB: Slaton Manko, Preston
RB: Brennan Wack, Wheeling Park (Captain)
RB: Jaden Black, George Washington
WR: Boston Todd, Martinsburg
WR: Hayden George, University
OL: James Payne, George Washington
OL: Mason Ramsey, Huntington
OL: Ruben Rouse, Wheeling Park
OL: Kane Whipp, Martinsburg
OL: Brayden Parks, Morgantown
UTL: Tayveon Wilson, Huntington
UTL: Brian Dick, Martinsburg
UTL: Tony Allen, Jefferson
K: Teddy Smith, George Washington
Defense:
DL: Xavier Anderson, Spring Mills (captain)
DL: Ze’von Shipman, Morgantown
DL: Ja’Marques Manns, Woodrow Wilson
DL: Jordan Kovacs, Martinsburg
LB: Marcos Kniska, University
LB: Ilias King, Huntington
LB: Kamero Jackson, Parkersburg South
LB: Nolan Yanchak, Wheeling Park
LB: Roman Konchesky, University
DB: Keltin Blunt, Morgantown
DB: AJ Thomas, Woodrow Wilson
DB: Channing Barrett, Parkersburg South
UTL: Clyde May, George Washington
UTL: Carter Cooper, Morgantown
P: Jimmy Gregg, University
Second Team:
Offense
QB: Harrison Helbig, University
RB: MayShawn Okonkwo, Huntington
RB: Gage Burdette, Woodrow Wilson
WR: Donte Newsome, Huntington
WR: Aiden Schmidl, Preston (captain)
WR: Jayden Smalls, Morgantown
OL: Drey Grinter, Parkersburg
OL: Brayden Edwards, George Washington
OL: Kayden Fortney, Wheeling Park
OL: Aryn McPherson, Huntington
OL: Noah Hockman, Jefferson
UTL: Dawson Tinney, Buckhannon-Upshur
UTL: Blake Sanders, Spring Mills
UTL: Samaje Wesley, George Washington
K: Aidan Petsko, Morgantown
Defense
DL: Caden Baisden, Buckhannon-Upshur
DL: Chase Travis, Morgantown
DL: Josh Armentrout, Musselman
DL: Cameron Dietrich, Wheeling Park
LB: Carson Treadway, Oak Hill
LB: Brooks King, Morgantown (captain)
LB: Devin Widman, Parkersburg
LB: Eli Thompson, Cabell Midland
DB: Isaac Sands, Wheeling Park
DB: Takiem Drake, Jefferson
DB: Mason Whaley, Martinsburg
DB: Isaiah Wang, Spring Mills
UTL: Tavion Woods, Riverside
UTL: Preston Clary, Woodrow Wilson
P: Emilio Perez-Diggs, Washington
Honorable Mention:
Cade Compton, Oak Hill; Nate Lasure, Musselman; Brody Faircloth, Hedgesville; Rhys Wells, Morgantown; Chris Williams, Hedgesville; Logan Tudor, Riverside; Cy Persinger, George Washington; Phillip Shields, Washington; Luke Braham, University; Ty Ricketts, Martinsburg; Seth Casto, Hurricane; Zaiiden Lockett, Morgantown; Zach Turner, Hurricane; Malachi Hope, Riverside; Jack Byrer, University; James Ludwig, Oak Hill; Sylas Cheuvront, Parkersburg; Hope Bokwe, Spring Mills; Deshawn Lewis, Musselman; Keian Shelton, Cabell Midland; ; Blake Bluffington, Morgantown; Glenn Brown, University.
