KFBCA Top 11: Broc Worcester and Holden Zigmant

The Kansas Football Coaches Association picked their All-State teams on December 4th and 5th, including the All-Class Top 11. Kansas Pregame is providing capsules for each of the Top 11 selections. Check out Mill Valley linebacker Broc Worcester and defensive back Holden Zigmant's capsule below, the 10th and 11th of the KFBCA Top 11 capsules for 2022.

Broc Worcester, LB, 6-0, 205, and Holden Zigmant, DB, 5-8, 175, Mill Valley

Since 2015 Mill Valley head coach Joel Applebee has led his program to six state titles, a stretch comparable with few in KSHSAA postseason history. That impressive championship tear includes four in the last four seasons and seniors Broc Worcester and Holden Zigmant were there for all of them.

Given the abundance of talent at Mill Valley, it wasn’t until their junior and senior seasons the duo saw significant time on the varsity field, but once they got their shots they didn’t squander them.

As a junior, Worcester recorded 94 tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, two pass deflections, and an interception in 11 games. Then, during his recently completed senior campaign, he put together a season with 109 tackles, eight tackle-for-loss, 1.5 sack, two hurry-ups, a pass deflection, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

“We saw some of the best inside linebackers in the state this past season,” Gardner-Edgerton head coach Jesse Owen said. “He was as good as any we played against. He’s athletic and tackles very well.”

Zigmant, meanwhile, totaled 77 tackles as a junior with two pass deflections and a fumble recovery in 12 games. As a senior he played one game less, but still recorded 62 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, four pass deflections, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. 

Besides his work at defensive back, Zigmant returned eight punts, three of them for TDs, with a 24-yard average return.

“He played very aggressive, yet he was rarely out of position within their scheme,” Owen said. “He was fast and aggressive.”

During those two seasons Mill Valley went 24-2 and won both state titles by identical 28-14 scores, both times against Maize High and one of the best offensive players in state history, Avery Johnson.

“Both were very vocal leaders for us,” Applebee said. “They made sure we were practicing and playing with a high sense of urgency each and every day.”

The two defensive standouts saw a number of accolades aside from their KFBCA Top 11 nods. Worcester was named the 5A Defensive Player of the Year by The Wichita Eagle, was selected All-State by multiple other outlets, and was All-Sunflower League.

Zigmant was a Sports in Kansas 5A Defensive Player of the Year finalist, also had numerous 5A All-State nods, and was All-Sunflower League at both defensive back and punt returner.

For Applebee, it was more about their game-by-game impact than the individual accolades, however.

“Broc’s preparation is second to none,” Applebee said. “He is a very smart player who plays extremely fast. He is a very physical football player. Holden is our quarterback of our defense.  He plays with great confidence due to his preparation. He gets our defense in all the necessary checks. He is also a very physical player who plays with great leverage.”

For Worcester, Zigmant provided the ultimate insurance if the offense somehow got past their front six.

“It was nice to know he was behind us in the rare chance they could run the ball past our D-line and Noah Coy and I at linebacker,” Worcester said. “He was a safety net for us mentally knowing if they got to the alley he would be there screaming downhill. Also in the pass game his reads and (his) IQ of the game allowed us to focus on pressure knowing he would be in great position in coverage.”

The two both have measurables that complement the quality of their résumés as well. 

At 6-foot, 205 pounds, Worcester runs a 4.69 40, has a 35-inch vertical, and cleans 345 pounds. He has yet to make his college choice but has offers from DII William Jewell and NAIA Benedictine College, along with interest from a number of others.

Zigmant is a powerfully built 5-8, 175 pounds with a 4.55 40 time and a 38.8 inch vertical. He also maintains a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. He is currently considering offers from Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State, or potentially walking on to a DI program.

Wherever the duo ends up, they are two key pieces of a group that won’t be easily replaced at Mill Valley.

“Leading a team with guys like Broc, Mikey (Bergeron), and Baruch (Hasabu) was incredible,” Zigmant said. “We all knew the goal that we wanted to accomplish and had the work ethic to go out and compete every day with each other. If someone was down at all there was always someone to pick them up. We all had each other's backs which allowed us to have such great team chemistry.”