Gladbrook-Reinbeck's Emma McClintock (3) earned Class 1A second team all-state honors as well as being named to the NICL all-conference first team. The sophomore setter led Class 1A with 895 assists this season. She will be one of the team's five projected starters to return next year after helping her team to Class 1A championship match in 2020. McClintock is pictured celebrating with her teammates after a point was scored on Sept. 1 during G-R's road contest with North Mahaska. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Though it was an unusual season to say the least, Gladbrook-Reinbeck student-athletes excelled throughout the fall sports seasons, several earning all-state honors at the conclusion of their seasons.

Two seniors on the state-qualifying Rebels football team were named to the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association All-State teams earlier this week.

Senior quarterback Keagan Giesking, a second team all-state selection, finished the year as one of the top rushers in the state of Iowa with 2,179 total rushing yards. Fellow senior Auston Wittgreve was named to the all-state third team as an offensive lineman.

The Gladbrook-Reinbeck volleyball team nearly reached new heights this past season, and the Rebels’ top performers are receiving the accolades to prove it.

G-R senior outside hitter Saari Kuehl was named first-team Class 1A all-state by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association and head coach Paula Kelley was honored as the 1A Coach of the Year, the IGCA announced last week.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck head volleyball coach Paula Kelly (right) and assistant coach Chris Kuehl chat with community members during the team's celebration at Elmwood Park in Reinbeck on Nov. 6. Kelly was named the Class 1A Coach of the Year by the Iowa Girl's Coaches Association. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Gladbrook-Reinbeck sophomore setter Emma McClintock was tabbed to the 1A all-state second team, while Rebel sophomore middle hitter Megan Cooley was selected for the third team.

Kuehl, who was a second-team all-state selection last fall, was named to the IGCA’s Senior All-Star list as well as three-peating on the 1A all-Northeast District team. Kuehl led 1A and finished fifth in the state with 436 kills this season and was one of nine local players selected to the Northeast District squad.

Kuehl, a Southwest Minnesota State University recruit who was named the NICL West Division’s Outstanding Player, averaged 4.6 kills per set with a .320 hitting efficiency. She also led the Rebels and ranked fourth in 1A with 404 digs while also earning IGCA Academic All-State honors.

McClintock finished first in 1A and ninth in the state in both assists (895) and assists per set (9.3) for Gladbrook-Reinbeck, who reached the state championship match before falling in four sets to Burlington-Notre Dame.

Cooley came away with 198 kills and 51 blocks this season, ranking second in both statistical categories for the Rebels.

The Class 1A Runner-Up Gladbrook-Reinbeck Rebels posed with their trophy and state banner on Nov. 6 during an outdoor community celebration following their playoff run. The volleyball team brought in a sizable post-season awards haul with three players qualifying to Class 1A all-state teams, coach Paula Kelly named the Class 1A Coach of the Year, and four players named to the NICL all-conference teams. The Rebels finished their season with a 34-3 record and will be the defending Class 1A state runner-up next fall. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Kuehl, McClintock and Kuehl were each honored with selection to the 1A Northeast District team, along with sophomore right-side hitter Ava Wyatt.

Seven Rebels players qualified for the all-conference academic team including Kuehl, Maia McLean, Paige Creswell, Stephanie Kehoe, Mahayla Olson, Katie Clark and RiLynn Bergmann. Three of those seven, McLean, Kuehl and Creswell, also qualified for the the All-State Academic team. As a squad, Gladbrook-Reinbeck finished their season with a combined team GPA of 3.76.

First team NICL all-conference honors went to Kuehl and McClintock. Second team members included Cooley and Alyssa Morgan and Wyatt was named as a honorable mention.

Following their state tournament run where the Rebels swept Springville and St. Albert before falling to Burlington Notre Dame in the championship match, Kuehl and Wyatt were named to the Class 1A All-Tournament Team alongside a bevy of parochial school players and Janesville senior Gaby Gergen.

Gladbrook-Reinbeck graduates six seniors of their 2020 rosters and will look to replace starters Kuehl at the outside hitter position and Morgan at libero as well as Kehoe who rotated in each game as a defensive specialist.

G-R quarterback and running back Keagan Giesking (11) received second team all-state honors by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association after rushing for 2,178 yards and 32 touchdowns this season. Giesking was one of the top rushers in the state of Iowa this season and claimed 11 different individual school records. Giesking is pictured breaking through the Baxter defense during their playoff game on Oct. 23. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Gladbrook-Reinbeck senior Auston Wittgreve (56) was named to the Class 8 all-state third team by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association as an offensive lineman. Wittgreve also earned all-district first team honor, was named as the all-district MVL and earned the District Citizenship Award after helping to anchor the Rebels' elite run game. G-R head football coach John Olson was also named as the Class 8 District 5 Coach of the Year. The Rebels finished the season 9-1 and are the only team in school history win nine consecutive games in a season. Wittgreve is pictured on the defensive line during the Rebels game at HLV on Oct. 2. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Sophomore middle hitter Megan Cooley was named to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Class 1A all-state third team. Cooley finished the year with 198 kills to go along with 41 aces for the Gladbrook-Reinbeck offense. She also earned second team NICL all-conference honors along with libero Alyssa Morgan. The Rebels look to return Cooley, Katie Clark and Mahayla Olson to their front line next season. Cooley is pictured during the Rebels home game against East Marshall on Sept. 3. -- Photo by Darvin Graham

Gladbrook-Reinbeck senior and Southwest Minnesota State recruit Saari Kuehl was named to the Iowa Girls Coaches Association Class 1A all-state first team this season after leading Class 1A with 436 kills. Kuehl and sophomore Ava Wyatt were also named to the Class 1A all-tournament team after the Rebels swept Springville and St. Albert before falling 3-1 to Burlington Notre Dame in the championship match. Kuehl is pictured serving during the Rebels road match at North Mahaska on Sept. 1. -- Photo by Darvin Graham