A pair of Warriors earn first team All-State honors

Walled Lake Western’s Gavin Noonan and Liam Vaughan were named first team All-State in Division 3 by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.

Noonan, who’s a senior, averaged an impressive 8.5 yards per carry this past season. He rushed for 1,734 yards, had 189 yards receiving, and 30 total touchdowns in 2023, as well as racked up 214 yards on kick returns. Noonan was also recognized as All-Conference and All-Region.

Junior Liam Vaughan put together an incredible season of his own. The two-way lineman didn’t allow a single sack, quarterback pressure, quarterback hit, and had 104 pancake blocks in 2023. On the defensive side of the ball, Vaughan finished the year with 12 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 tackles for loss and a blocked punt. Vaughan has earned first team All-Conference, All-Region, and has been named one of four finalists for the Michigan Anvil Award. The Michigan Anvil Award is given annually to the state’s top player who is either an offense lineman, defensive lineman or linebacker. Vaughan is the only finalist who’s a junior and offensive lineman.

Walled Lake Western head coach Kory Cioroch was also recognized as the Division 3, Region 4 Coach of the Year for the second-straight season after leading Walled Lake Western to back-to-back Lakes Valley Conference Championships and its first District Championship since 2019.