2009 NOW All-Suburban Football Team

Menomonee Falls' Cole Myhra is this season's NOW All-Suburban Football Player of the Year. The workhorse running back led the Indians to the Division 1 championship game and rushed for more than 1,700 yards and 22 touchdowns.

PHOTO GALLERY: Images from Cole Myhra's 2009 season
Related story: Falls' Baker is coach of the year
RELATED STORY: See the entire All-Suburban Team

Clint's legacy: Brother's death molded player, program

Whitnall senior Scott Erickson has never forgotten the lessons taught to him by his older brother Clint. And he cherishes the Christmas present given to him when he was an eighth-grader beginning to show that he was something special on the football field.

Area players are the cream of the crop

Franklin matched Whitnall with four players on the All-Suburban team, landing player of the year runner-up Lance Baretz (left) Andy Wroblewski, Brady Oates and Brenden Butler. Oak Creek's Kyle Wey and Darrol Inniss also earned spots on the team as did Greendale's Jordan Campbell.

Nose to the grindstone

Brookfield Central's Bryce Gilbert was a force on the defensive line for the Lancers this season and earned his second consecutive selection to the NOW All-Suburban team.

Lions' main weapon leads local honors team

Ian McKechnie's versatility created match up problems for opponents and helped New Berlin Eisenhower reach the playoffs this season. That earned him a spot on the All-Suburban team, along with teammate Ryan Werner and Muskego's Kyle Costigan.

Falcons feature quartet

For the first time in school history, four Whitnall players have been named to the NOW All-Suburban Team, now in its 21st year. Joining Scott Erickson are Joel Stave (left), Dustin Devine and Sean Graham. West Allis Hale's Evan Rosa earned a spot on the team as did West Allis Central's Mike Westrich and Jon Green.

ALL-SUBURBAN COACH OF THE YEAR

Baker rises to the occasion

John Baker, in just his second season heading the Menomonee Falls football team, is the 2009 Coach of the Year.

VOICE OF THE FANS

This season was the first time fans could vote for the NOW All-Suburban Football Team. More than 1,000 took part, casting about 7,000 votes for who they felt were the area's top players. See the nominees.

NOW COACHES OF THE YEAR

The NOW All-Suburban Football Team is in its 22nd season. The following are the past coaches of the year:

2010: Tom Swittel, Brookfield East

2009: John Baker, Menomonee Falls

2008: Rob Leboeuf, Whitnall

2007: Tom Swittel, Wauwatosa East

2006: Doug Lange, Brookfield Central

2005: Scott Otto, West Allis Hale

2004: Rob Green, Brown Deer

2003: Ken Krause, West Allis Central

2002: Doug Sarver, St. Francis

2001: Rob Stoltz, Greendale

2000: John Sterner, Muskego

1999: Scott Zwirschitz, Franklin

1998: Brad Knoche, South Milwaukee

1997: Rick Synold, Brookfield Central

1996: Doug Sarver, St. Francis

1995: Jeff Setz, New Berlin Eisenhower

1994: Dennis Johnson, Muskego

1993: Carey Venne, Cudahy

1992: Stan Grove, Hamilton

1991: Greendale staff

1990: Phil Datka, Germantown

1989: Bob Collins, Nicolet

NOW PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

Here are the athletes who have been selected the NOW All-Suburban Football Player of the Year.

2010: Lance Baretz, Franklin

2009: Cole Myhra, Menomonee Falls

2008: Ben Ericksen, Greendale

2007: Mike Hennessy, Greendale

2006: Eric Brunner, Greendale

2005: Ryan Gorecki, Menomonee Falls

2004: Ben Hempel, Franklin

2003: Rhyan Anderson, Oak Creek

2002: Ben Strickland, Brookfield Central

2001: Pierre Rembert, Cudahy

2000: Brian Calhoun, Oak Creek

1999: Demetrus Johnson, Homestead

1998: Chris Mitacek, Cudahy; Mike Saddy, Muskego

1997: John Ray, St. Francis

1996: Jake Wolter, Wauwatosa East

1995: Matt Unertl, Hamilton

1994: Matt Unertl, Hamilton

1993: Matt Reischl, Greendale

1992: John Damato, Hamilton

1991: Troy King, Muskego

1990: Jason Herrick, Franklin

1989: Ed Nwagbaraocha, Nicolet