(Geronimo) — The 2023 All-District 13-4A football teams have been released and as expected, the Navarro Panthers were well represented.
Named First Team All-District were senior running back Antwoin Mebane, senior tight end Mack Berry, senior linebackers Hayden Toliver, Jacob Arias, Nick Schwarzlose and Diego Chapa. Senior Gabriel Rangel was recognized twice as a defensive back and kick returner. Mebane and Berry were named first team in 2022 with Berry earning the nod on the offensive line.
Mebane rushed for over 110 yards per game for the Panthers in the 2023 season. Berry originally played on the offensive line due to injuries early in the season before sliding out to tight end. Arias, Toliver and Schwarzlose were the top three tacklers for the Navarro defense this season. Rangel had eight interceptions on the season and returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown against Cuero.
Panther second team selections on offense were senior quarterback Colton Schuelke, senior offensive linemen Houston Berry and Matt Richardson, junior offensive lineman Kade Pugh and junior center Craig Heiman. Senior defensive linemen Knox Gallini and Landun Taylor also earned second team accolades.
Several Panthers who played two-way earned honorable mentions on the other side of the ball. They included both Houston and Mack Berry at defensive line, Schwarzlose and Chapa at running back and Richardson on the defensive line. Also garnering honorable mentions for Navarro were senior offensive lineman Knox Gallini, sophomore defensive back Austin Davidson and senior kicker Sam Sneed.
29 Navarro student-athletes were named to the Academic All District team. Those honored included seniors Arias, Houston and Mack Berry, Chapa, Xavier Cropper, Knox Gallini, Thor Jensen, Mebane, Rangel, Richardson, Schuelke, Schwarzlose, Sneed, Ryan Tatom and Toliver. Juniors on the academic team were Robert Beltran, Ethan Borchardt, Montgomery Elder, Kaden Guerra, Corbin Hannibal, Heiman, Pugh, Yandel Ramon and Jesse James Waz. Academic team sophomores honored were Kohen Blount, Davidson, Max Stalnaker and Luke Vogel. And freshman Lane Black was also recognized on the all district academic team.
Earlier this month Toliver earned Academic All State First Team honors. Cropper was named to the Academic All State Second Team. Mack Berry, Chapa and Schwarzlose were recognized as Academic All State Honorable Mention.
The Panthers were lead by 6th-year head coach Rod Blount and advanced to the UIL Region IV Semifinals in the 2023 season. Navarro has reached the semifinal round in every year of Blount’s tenure.