Division 1
Austin Henderson, Neenah High School - 4.00 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Henderson has earned 11 letters in cross country, swimming and diving, and track and field. He helped the Rockets win a team cross country state and sectional championship, and won an individual cross country state championship his senior year.
Post-Graduation Plans
Henderson intends on attending UW-Madison.
Essay
I have always been one to set my standards high when it comes to achievement in academics and athletics. Over the course of my high school experiences that have now spanned nearly four years and across 12 sports seasons, I have learned through my failures and successes several lessons that I know will be necessary for success in the future. Being a three-sport athlete who also takes pride in academics, I have learned that in order to succeed in both, I must prioritize. While others may choose to sacrifice their schoolwork or training to make room for social time, I have prioritized my academics and athletics because in doing so, I know I will maximize my potential for success in both areas. Prioritization and making sacrifices play a part in another lesson I have learned; consistent effort and investment pay off. In setting what many would consider “lofty” goals throughout high school, I have learned that there is no way around the hard work that is required every single day. Many people are capable of practicing once in a while, but showing consistency and self-accountability every day is what has set me apart. This day in and day out mentality in my schoolwork and athletics would not have been achievable nor sustainable without the positive influences I have had around me. Whether it’s teammates, classmates, coaches, or family members, I have learned that without people supporting my efforts, none of what I have accomplished would be possible.
Mason King, Wauwautosa East High School - 4.00 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
King is a three-time individual conference champion in swimming and diving, earning Greater Metro all-conference honors. He received nine varsity letters: four in swimming and diving, four in soccer, and one in track and field.
Post-Graduation Plans
Undecided
Essay
As a young adult, I have thrived in chaos. Filling my schedule from top to bottom has always been normal and enjoyable for me. Yet, between multiple athletic endeavors and academic pursuits, my freshman year schedule was incredibly overloaded. Learning to find balance has helped me prioritize my personal well-being. Until freshman year, my primary athletic focus was gymnastics. To ease the transition to high school, I tried out for soccer in hopes of joining a peer group. Exceeding my expectations, I made the varsity team and needed to train in both soccer and gymnastics at a high level. Participating in athletics from 3:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily was brutal both mentally and physically especially as my academic responsibilities were beginning to ramp up. And unfortunately, my body learned to say no before my competitive drive could. Early that winter, I was diagnosed with Panner's disease and a stress fracture in my elbow, sidelining me from gymnastics indefinitely. I can now view this situation as a blessing in disguise, as it provided time to refocus on my academics and passions outside of sport. This experience taught me it's okay to slow down rather than continue pushing through every rough patch. I still love the madness, but I also recognize that moderation is necessary. Having too many obligations is unsustainable, and being able to recognize what is manageable will allow me to prioritize my well-being beyond high school, and for the rest of my life.
Nate Streveler, Stevens Point High School - 4.00 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Streveler has earned 10 varsity letters and was named to the Wisconsin Valley Conference first-team three times. He helped the Panthers win conference championships in soccer and basketball.
Post-Graduation Plans
Streveler intends on attending UW-La Crosse.
Essay
High school athletics has taught me several lessons with one of the most important being persistence. Persistence is a key factor in making the transition between high school and college. It means not giving up on myself and working hard for my goals no matter what life throws at me. Not giving up translates into the second lesson I’ve learned, which is setting goals. As a three sport athlete and eleven time varsity letter winner it could be easy to settle for less than my best, because I don’t have enough time. Especially when my free time is extremely limited during the school year with taking difficult college level classes and then finishing up the day on the court, field, or track. Setting goals to excel in and out of the classroom and not wanting to let my peers or myself down is what drives me to reach and attain these goals. I know every student athlete goes through lessons that build who they are as independent individuals. For me, being a highly motivated student athlete has taught me to not just learn from others, but also learn from my own mistakes. The last lesson that I have learned is to never be satisfied. Whether in a game, classroom or in my personal life. This lesson is the most important lesson that I learned throughout high school and is one that I plan on continuing well beyond high school.
Ryan Whynott, Kenosha Tremper High School - 3.93 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Whynott has earned seven varsity letters in soccer and tennis. He won two individual tennis sectional championships, and helped his team win a conference title. In soccer, he helped the Trojans win three conference championships and a sectional championship.
Post-Graduation Plans
Whynott intends on attending UW-Madison
Essay
The greatest lessons I learned in my high school academic and athletic experiences center around setting challenging goals for yourself and using determination, hard work, and mental toughness to achieve them. Academically, I set goals for myself to complete AP courses each year and graduate near the top of my class. I have been able to achieve that by working hard to get good grades and staying focused. This was particularly challenging during the pandemic when school was virtual. It took a lot to stay on track during that time and I had to find ways to motivate myself. My athletic experiences have helped me develop the same skills, but have been particularly important with the mental toughness part. In tennis, I have been able to reach my goal of playing first singles and I have made it to State twice. To achieve those goals, I had to push myself to stay in some tough matches and be mentally stronger than my opponents. In soccer, I was a starting defender for three years and this year I was moved to an offensive position. At first, I didn’t have a lot of confidence, but as the season went on I realized that even though I may not have been as skilled at that position, I could succeed by being determined and using my mental toughness. I believe these skills–determination, hard work, and mental toughness can be applied in most situations in life and will be key in my future success.
Division 2
Simon Bauer, Durand High School - 4.00 G.P.A.
Athletics Snapshot
Simon has earned 12 letters in football, basketball, golf, and track and field. He is a six-time first team Dunn-St. Croix Conference honoree. He helped lead his golf team to a sectional championship and ranks first in his class.
Post-Graduation Plans
Simon intends on attending UW-Madison
Essay
Whether in my athletic experiences or in my academics at the high school and through the “Early College Credit Program” at UW-Eau Claire, I have learned that I have what it takes to succeed at high levels. Preparation, hard work, confidence, integrity, modesty, patience, and resilience have all been developed through the experiences in which I have participated. A huge lesson I have learned is not to take anything for granted. At the beginning of my senior year, our town lost a member of our football team to a death from natural causes. Our team and town rallied together to celebrate his life through working together and going deep into the football play-offs. I have learned that surrounding yourself with the right people, leading people to good choices, making good choices, and leading by example are all important in ensuring success in life. Finally, I have learned that family and community support and volunteering in the community bring hope and joy when things get tough. After learning these valuable lessons, I know that each person has the power to change the world one situation at a time.
Jake Engebritson, Rice Lake High School - 3.98 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Engebritson has earned eight letters in soccer and hockey. His team won a hockey sectional championship his sophomore year and a state championship his senior year. On the soccer field, he helped his team win two sectional championships.
Post-Graduation Plans
Engebritson intends on attending UW-Superior.
Essay
High school athletic and academic experiences have benefited me greatly. The relationships I have built over the years at RLHS have helped me overcome numerous obstacles. From teachers to teammates, I know I always have people supporting me every step of the way. Athletics has taught me to be selfless and put the team before myself. Hard work and determination are traits I have strengthened throughout my athletic career. The opportunity to be a captain on the varsity soccer team opened my eyes to an all-new perspective. Looking out for others, and being a positive role model is something I strived to be every day. This experience will help me to be a better co-worker and remain positive no matter the circumstance. I have had to learn the importance of time management and learning to put priorities first. When continuing my education at UW-Superior, I must be able to manage school and athletics. Although it is not easy, it is a skill that is vital to a student-athlete’s success. My high school athletics experience has also taught me that you cannot control the unexpected. I, unfortunately, battled multiple injuries, went up against higher caliber players than myself, and have had to persevere through it all. Students must find that thing, whatever it may be, that keeps them pushing through life's obstacles. I am honored to represent RLHS and hope to inspire others to reach their goals and not let adversity come out on top.
Rory Fox, Catholic Memorial High School - 4.00 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Fox is a member of a three-time state football championship team. He received six varsity letters in football and baseball, and helped his team win a baseball sectional championship. The three-time all- conference scholar athlete also ranks first in his class.
Post-Graduation Plans
Fox intends on attending the University of Notre Dame
Essay
The challenges I have faced during high school have reinforced the importance of determination and community. I learned the value of determination in fifth grade when my dad suffered a stroke. I witnessed him work tirelessly to recover over months of rehabilitation to ultimately return to his job. I have been able to model my work ethic from my dad’s example. Seeing his resilience has shaped the way I approach the academic and athletic challenges in high school Following my brother, Luke, as the quarterback at Catholic Memorial was a particular situation that required a certain amount of perseverance. Initially, I struggled to climb out of his shadow. But, I have been able to use this determination to find my own identity as a player and teammate. This work ethic has come to define me, inspiring me to have a purpose to succeed both academically and athletically. Additionally, high school has reinforced the significance of community. I walked with my football teammates in the Waukesha Christmas Parade to celebrate our recent State Championship. I sincerely believe that I am alive today because of the bond I share with my right tackle, Morgan McKnight. We dodged the speeding car by working together. The aftermath of that tragedy revealed how much I have come to appreciate the relationships I have established with fellow students and teachers as we helped each other recover from that unfortunate event. I was able to witness the values of our CMH community transcend the field and classroom.
Josh Terrian, Pewaukee High School - 3.93 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Terrian has earned eight varsity letters in soccer and basketball and is a five-time Woodland all- conference selection. He is a two-time state basketball champion, and on the soccer field, he helped lead the Pirates to three regional championships.
Post-Graduation Plans
Terrian intends to attend Michigan Tech University
Essay
The phrase “Student-Athlete” is commonly used throughout high schools and college universities yet the part that gets overlooked just about every time is the “Student” part. Too often people focus on the athletic side of schooling when we know the school side should come first. I’ve been blessed to have the wonderful opportunity to play Varsity Soccer and Basketball all four years of my high school career. Throughout the ups and downs of each season, I’ve learned some very valuable lessons in and out of the classroom; perseverance, time management, and being prepared. In life, things aren’t always going to go our way. We will be hit with roadblocks and come across many obstacles. How we respond to adversity defines our true character in life. Are you going to just fold to the challenges? Or are you going to step up and face those challenges head-on, persevere, and reach your ultimate goal? Throughout my high school career, I’ve had to preserve numerous times. Especially this year in my senior year as I have been taking harder “AP” classes. There have been times when our class was learning new content and it was just so confusing and frustrating right from the start. I had to work hard, “dig deep”, focus, and persevere right to the end. Similarly, on the basketball court and soccer field things aren’t going to go your way. Perhaps, the officials are biased toward the other team, you're having a poor shooting night, you get injured, so many challenges can come up. In life, we need to “control the controllables,” such as our effort, attitude, and interactions with people. Control what you can, press on, and persevere through all obstacles. Time management is another important life skill that I have definitely learned since entering high school as a freshman. As a student-athlete many of my evenings consisted of having a two-hour practice, coming home to complete homework, and studying, sometimes for hours. Learning to manage my time wisely, meet deadlines, be organized, plan ahead as well as find time for myself were all essential skills I learned and helped me to be successful in a classroom as well as on an athletic stage. The last lesson that I’ve learned throughout high school is to be prepared. During the basketball season, we would spend weeks preparing for important conference, sectional, and even state final games. This included spending time studying film on our opponents, running scout teams in practice, preparing and training our bodies for competition, strategizing, and preparing our minds mentally before walking on the court. Having good study habits has helped me be prepared in the classroom on a daily basis. In life, being prepared is a non-negotiable. As a future business major, I will need to be prepared for important meetings, huge presentations, and monthly budgets. Knowing how to be prepared will help me to make wise decisions and adjust when necessary. As I reflect on the time I have spent in high school as a student-athlete I am so thankful for the skills and lessons learned from so many special teachers, coaches, and mentors. These lifelong skills are embedded in my everyday life as I move into the next chapter of my life as a college student-athlete at Michigan Tech University.
Division 3
Karson Casper, Coleman High School - 4.00 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Casper ranks first in his class and has earned 13 letters in cross country, wrestling, golf, and baseball. He won two individual state wrestling championships, a team wrestling state championship, and helped his team win a sectional baseball championship.
Post-Graduation Plans
Casper intends to attend Augsburg University
Essay
There are many vital lessons that I have learned over the past four years. These are life lessons that will be applicable to me the rest of my life. These consist of dedication, focus, time management, and sacrifice. Dedication is something that can be seen in the classroom and extracurriculars. I am willing to dedicate my time to master any task that is at hand. People will also find me focusing to great detail at whatever task is before me. This could be as simple as running the bases correctly in a baseball game or as complicated as dissecting a cat in anatomy. These fine details come with a great deal of time. I have been fortunate enough to discover the importance of time management skills. In the winter, an individual will find me running on the treadmill and studying material that I have learned from the day before. In fact, many people can’t believe I do this every morning since they just roll out of bed and go to school. For me, it is just a great way to make use of my time. Lastly, sacrifice is something that I do on a daily basis. I am willing to sacrifice anything to better my classmates and myself, whether it be in the classroom or sports. For instance, I will help another student with material they are struggling to master. These lessons, learned from academics and athletics, I will be able to apply the rest of my life.
Brennen Dvorachek, Reedsville High School - 3.87 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Dvorachek has earned 11 letters across three sports including football, basketball, and track and field. He won an individual State championship in track and field and helped his team win a football State championship. He is also a seven-time all-conference honoree.
Post-Graduation Plans
Dvorachek intends to attend Fox Valley Technical College.
Essay
Through my experience in athletics during high school I have learned many important lessons. Two of the most important lessons that I would like to emphasize in this essay that I learned during my time in athletics are humility and the ability to persevere through struggle. The lesson of humility has become prominent in my life this year as I have been a part of lots of success on both our football and basketball teams. As a result of our success, I’ve had experiences with elementary and middle school aged youth that have given me a larger sense of humility. After our games, students came to me seeking my autograph on their shoes. For others this may have inflated their ego, while to me I felt a sense of pressure to become the best example I could, both on the court and off, knowing that these children were watching and learning from me. The second lesson that is prominent in my life is the lesson of perseverance through struggle. Shortly after my first year of track and field a close friend of mine that was in the same event group passed away in a car accident. Losing her was devastating to me as she made my first year of track so memorable. However, through athletics I found ways to honor her memory rather than dwell on it, such as wearing her number “4” throughout the rest of my football career, ending with our championship in Camp Randall this past season.
Tanner Gerber, Cameron High School - 4.00 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Gerber has earned 11 letters in wrestling, track and field, and cross country. The four-time individual state wrestling champion also earned the Lakeland North Conference wrestling MVP award his sophomore, junior, and senior year, and ranks first in his class with a 4.0.
Post-Graduation Plans
Gerber intends to attend North Dakota State University
Essay
My athletic involvement, particularly my wrestling career, has provided some of the most significant opportunities for personal growth - shaping my character in numerous and invaluable ways. At a young age, I set a goal to win the state tournament. As I practiced and competed through the years, I suffered the agony of defeat, the pain of injury, and the joy of victory. In winning, I recognized that hard work does pay off, but an even more significant transition in my mindset came from this. I realized I could do big things, not just on the wrestling mat but also in life. I realized it was important to set goals but equally important to enjoy and humbly appreciate the journey. I learned to be courageous, resilient, determined, and disciplined through my defeats. These competitions forced me to practice humility, taught me how to navigate through disappointments in life, and showed me where I needed to grow. Throughout my preparations, I additionally learned: teamwork, yet also independence; some days you have to work hard, even when you don’t want to; sometimes you want to work hard, but your body doesn’t follow; life is challenging and unpredictable; there’s always a bigger picture - and every piece and person in that picture is valuable and important; and lastly if you are passionate about something, there’s no limit to how far you can go. Everything I’ve learned through athletics has made me a better individual and will influence my success in college and throughout life.
Sam Heicher, Lake Country Lutheran High School - 3.97 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Heicher has earned eight varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball, and is a two-time Midwest Classic all conference honoree. His team won a state football championship his sophomore year and a State basketball championship his senior year.
Post-Graduation Plans
Undecided
Essay
I cannot describe how much high school, including academics and sports, has changed my life. From providing friendships that I will always have to teaching me countless lessons, I will always be grateful for the ways God has used high school to make a difference in my life. Throughout the whole journey, that went way too quickly, I have learned things such as sacrifice and dedication. My faith has definitely grown because of high school experiences as well. Along with these extremely important lessons and countless others, perseverance is one of the greatest lessons I have learned through high school. Between juggling schoolwork, on late nights when I did not feel like doing it, to facing injuries and missing big games in my athletic career, I learned to push through the most difficult times and find joy in the fact that God always has a plan. The losses in important games, and the days when I did not quite get the grade that I wanted taught me to keep fighting, even when it seemed like I had no energy left. I learned to never keep my head down, find ways to get better, and always work hard. These lessons will certainly help me as I enter the next stage in my life. High school athletics and academics have taught me that life will not always be easy, but even in the hardest of times, not to quit. I should keep pushing through, and maybe my battles can help someone else.
Division 4
Mike Brown, Butternut High School - 3.99 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Brown has earned 10 varsity letters in cross country, basketball, baseball, and track and field. He is a four-time Indianhead all-conference selection in cross country, and won an individual track and field conference championship. Brown also ranks first in his class.
Post-Graduation Plans
Brown intends to attend UW-Stevens Point.
Essay
I have learned countless lessons throughout my high school academic and athletic career that will help me later in life. Time management was a lesson that I quickly learned while balancing time with school, sports, friends, and family. There have been multiple times where I have had to figure out how to study for an important test while having an away game on the same day. Learning how to manage my time efficiently will be crucial when I have adult responsibilities in the future. I have always wanted to have the most success I can achieve both academically and athletically. Never being satisfied and always striving for more has taught me self-discipline. Developing this strong sense of self-discipline has allowed me to hold myself accountable and develop good habits, which have brought me success in the classroom and during competition. One of the most powerful life lessons that I have learned throughout high school is the importance of wellness. High school academics and athletics have taught me how important it is to be aware of your physical and mental health and how these two things are critical in everyday life. Knowing the importance of wellness and having a high level of physical activity and mental acuity will stay with me for the rest of my life. Control what you can control, become a student of the game, never give up, always have fun, and never forget the people who have helped your journey are all lessons that I have learned.
Thomas Derleth, Lourdes Academy - 4.00 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Derleth has earned eight letters, four of them in football where he helped the Knights earn four Trailways Conference championships. His basketball team won a state championship his junior year.
Post-Graduation Plans
Derleth intends to attend UW-Madison.
Essay
Throughout my high school career, I have learned countless lessons from both coaches and teachers alike. The ones that stick with me the most, however, pertain to perseverance, hard work, and grit. Perseverance was a common quality that I had to adhere to this past semester. Between playing football, and taking multiple college-level courses, there were times when I felt overwhelmed, but I knew I had to continue to work hard and do my best to make it through. I remember a particular week where I had to take a Calculus test on a Wednesday and play one of our conference rivals that Friday in football. It was a week filled with practices and studying and it was certainly taxing on my mental and physical health, but at the end of it all, I came out stronger than I was before. Grit is a quality that I believe to be a combination of both perseverance and hard work. It is a word that I have heard countless times over my athletic career in regards to winning games, specifically comeback wins. My basketball coach helped me to realize what an important quality grit can be in life. As I go through college, there will be times when I will get knocked down time and time again, and although it's cliché, it's how I get back up that matters. I will have to keep fighting and persevere, and I will come out stronger in the end.
Evan Guenther, Monticello High School - 3.99 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
A 10-time varsity letter winner in cross country, track and field, and basketball earned six all-conference selection honors. Guenther helped the Ponies win three conference championships in cross country and basketball. He is also first in his class.
Post-Graduation Plans
Guenther intends to attend UW-Eau Claire.
Essay
As I stood upon the podium for the 1,600-meter race at the State Track Meet, I was filled with pure bliss. While that moment felt surreal to me, I also learned to recognize the preparation, hardship, and struggle that got me to that point in my athletic career. Regardless of how any adversity affected my high school athletics, the greatest lessons I learned was the importance of self-discipline and goal setting, formed over the past years. I set goals to have a top-six finish in the 1600 and 800-meter races at the state meet. Not only this, but I set goals relating to conference, sectionals, and state within my years of cross country and similar type goals of conference and regional champions in basketball. Such goals call for a type of commitment and discipline that is only obtained through countless failures and successes, which over my high school career I have endured athletically and academically. I believe that goals are always stepping stones. When I reach them, whether in academics or athletics, I know that I prepared myself in every way possible. While I can’t describe the feeling of absolute accomplishment from the 1,600, I learn more about my character from trials and tribulations than I could from any other achieved goal. Failure allows me to reflect on weaknesses, and that growth from goal setting is the singular most important lesson that I can carry into my future.
Taedon Nichols, Siren High School - 3.57 GPA
Athletics Snapshot
Nichols has earned seven varsity letters in wrestling and football. He is a four-time Lakeland all conference selection in wrestling, and won an individual sectional championship as a freshman and senior.
Post-Graduation Plans
Nichols intends to attend Ridgewater College.
Essay
The greatest lesson that I have learned in my academic and athletic career is how to fail. I think there are far greater lessons to be learned from failing than there are from success. There are so many ways that a person can handle failing in areas such as sports, school, or during everyday life. In sports I can relate to failing in many ways. There have been many times where I have missed a block in football or made one wrong move and ended up losing a match in wrestling. Frustration from those failed blocks and wrong moves become the fuel to the fire of my determination with the next. This carries over into the classroom where I may not do so great of a test or project, but I learn from the failures and continue to strive to be better on the next. Life is made up of series of failures. Those failures and how you respond to them, is what brings success. For me, failure had not only driven me to many successes, it has also brought out my determination, accountability, focus, resilience, and my drive to push forward. Ever since I was little, there has been a sign that hangs above my that reads,"Never, never ever give up." This is what I use in every aspect of life.