OTTUMWA – The best and the brightest were awarded with some of the highest achievements over the weekend after the selection of the Iowa Newspaper Association’s all-state prep football teams were announced.

Captains of this year’s six classes started with Class 4A, where Iowa City High quarterback A.J. Derby was named captain.

Derby, the Little Cyclones quarterback, led Iowa City to the state title and is a University of Iowa recruit. He passed for more than 1,800 yards and rushed for 750 yards.

Two more Iowa recruits filled out Class 3A and Class 2A’s captains.

Harlan linebacker Matt Hoch also claimed a state title in 3A was named that class’ captain. Hoch also starred at fullback for the Little Cyclones and will play for head coach Kirk Ferentz’s Hawkeyes.

James Morris of Solon is committed to play at Iowa and was tabbed Class 2A’s captain. Morris helped the Spartans to the 2A title as he scored four times and rushed for over 200 yards in the championship game. Morris also starred at linebacker and was last year’s Iowa Gatorade Player of the Year.

Class 1A and Class A’s captains also led their teams to state titles.

Quarterback Jake Waters of Council Bluffs St. Albert was named 1A captain and finished on the first team for three-consecutive years. He led St. Albert to two state titles in that span.

Matthew Schleisman of Southern Cal was selected as the A captain. He was a valuable two-way starter for Southern Cal.

Alex Whigham of Stanton was the Eight-Player captain. He was the first player in Iowa to rush for over 4,000 yards and accumulate 3,000 yards receiving in any class.

As far as area prep standouts were concerned, Ottumwa senior Michael Wetrich was the lone selection in the large-school class.

Wetrich was named first-team all-state in Class 4A at defensive back. He ended his stellar prep career with 20 career interceptions, tied for second all-time in the state.

Ottumwa was also represented at offensive line in another all-state team. Although senior tackle Ben Ryder did not crack the INA all-state list, he was selected to the Des Moines Register’s Elite Team.

Centerville senior running back Tanner Susin led his Big Reds to a school-record 11 wins and one game within the UNI-Dome this season. His school-record totals of 2,157 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns was good for a first-team selection in Class 3A.

Big Red teammate Mike England was selected on the second team. England engineered a team-leading 130 tackles.