Dayton Team of the Year: Wayne

Heading into the 2015 season Wayne had plenty of questions that needed to be answered. The Warriors were coming off a Division I state runner-up appearance and were searching to fill a leadership void vacated by a talented senior class that had graduated. A group of transfers who were stars at other high schools enrolled to help bridge that gap. Putting those egos aside for the betterment of the team would need to be managed by head coach Jay Minton. He did so like a gifted maestro leading a beautiful symphony. Everyone was in tune and the season would end up being just as special as the previous one. The troops were harmonic for Minton and his staff as his program continued along its path as being one of the 21st century’s best in the Buckeye State.

Wayne Warriors – 2015 TSF Dayton Team of the Year (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Wayne cruised through an undefeated regular season as the defense held nine of its 10 opponents to 17 points or fewer. The offense was equally impressive scoring 35 points or more on eight occasions. The Warriors continued their role in the playoffs winning a second straight regional title and third in the last six years under Minton’s guidance.

Once again Wayne found itself in the state championship game against St. Edward. Unlike the previous season this Warriors squad was not in awe of the big stage. Down by 17 in the fourth quarter, Wayne scored 21 unanswered points in less than four minutes to take a 35-31 with 3:47 left in the contest. With the game within Wayne’s grasp the Eagles found a way to dig deep and score the game’s final two touchdowns in the last 1:19 of this affair. The Warriors fell just short of their goal ending the year at 14-1.

They accolades and honors came for many of the Wayne players. Senior DB Tobias Gilliam was named AP First Team All-Ohio, the Southwest District and GWOC Central Defensive Player of the Year. Classmate RB/LB Daryl McCleskey, junior OL Ben Jackson and sophomore DE Alex Reigelsperger were Honorable Mention All-Ohio and First Team All-Southwest District selections. Transfer QB Messiah DeWeaver made his only year as a Warrior a special one, earning Second Team All-Southwest District acclaim. The Michigan State-bound DeWeaver threw for 2,924 yards with 32 touchdown passes and only four interceptions.

Wayne DE Alex Reigelsperger (phot by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

First Team All-Greater Western Ohio Conference members also included DB Richard Carpenter, LB Donyell Denson, OL Sean Martin, WR L’Christian Smith-Cochran, DL Mikal Tolliver and DL Mazon Walker. Junior Matt Wilcox was a First Team All-GWOC North pick. Gilliam, McCleskey, Jackson, Reigelsperger and Smith Cochran were also named First Team All-TSF. DeWeaver and Wilcox were Second Team All-TSF selections.

Join us as we recognize Wayne, Team of the year winners from Indiana, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Player of the year finalist from all of those area, WCPO Player of the Week winners and all members of the 2015 Postseason All-TSF squad as they will be recognized at our upcoming TSF Year in Review Show on Wednesday, February 10th at The Holy Grail – Banks in downtown Cincinnati.

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