Division 1
Cayden Brandenburg, Janesville Parker High School - 3.61 GPA
Brandenburg has earned nine letters in football, wrestling and track and field. He is a three-time sectional champion in wrestling, earning the Vikings'
team MVP award his sophomore, junior and senior years. He was the conference wrestler of the year award his senior year. As a junior, he also won sectional championships in the 200 and 400 dashes as well as the 1,600 relay, breaking his school record in the 400 dash. In football, Brandenburg was voted first team all-conference as a senior. In his essay, he writes, “High school sports are some of the most challenging, competitive, fun, and physical tasks one can participate in. It’s not only physical, but also mental. I have learned many different lessons playing sports but that will greatly benefit me after high school. First and foremost is teamwork/accountability. Second is discipline.” Brandenburg is planning to attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to study Kinesiology.
Aloysius Franzen, Stevens Point Area Senior High, 4.0 GPA
Franzen is a combined seven-time letterwinner in track and cross country. He helped the Panther’s cross county team win back-to-back state cross country championships as a junior and senior, In
track, he was a member of the State champion 3200 relay his junior season. His efforts earned him the conference cross country MVP award as a senior as well as five all-conference honors across the two sports. Franzen stated, “At the beginning of freshman year, I had a few lofty goals for cross country and I was quickly humbled when during that season I passed out multiple times during races due to undiagnosed exercise induced asthma. I realized during this time that it is better to set goals that are attainable rather than those that one may run themselves into the ground to achieve." Franzen plans to attend the University of Minnesota to study nutrition and food science while competing in cross country and track & field.
Connor O’Donnell, South Milwaukee High School, 4.0 GPA
O'Donnell is the first in his class academically, and he has earned 11 varsity letters across the sports of football, soccer and wrestling. He is a four-time
individual sectional champion and State qualifier in wrestling. He also received his team MVP award in wrestling four times as well as the conference MVP award his junior year. In soccer, he was voted team MVP as a junior and senior. O'Connell received all-conference honors his senior season in football. Reflecting on lessons learned, O'Donnell shares, “The most important lesson I have learned is how to bounce back when faced with adversity. The ability to confront a problem, accept failure, and then focus on the next task is important when looking forward in life. As many of my coaches say, coaching is not necessarily to make the best athletes, but to make each athlete the best person they can be. This mentality shows the true beauty and power behind sports.” O'Donnell will attend Brown University and study pre-med and sport medicine while participating in wrestling.
Ben Wozniak, Milwaukee King High School, 4.0 GPA
Wozniak is a combined six-time letterwinner in baseball and swimming & diving, and he first in his class academically. He qualified for the State swimming and diving meet in the
200 and 500 free styles three consecutive seasons. He is a five-time conference team champion, including three times in baseball and twice in swimming & diving. He also received his conference MVP award during his sophomore, junior and senior year of swimming & diving. Wozniak writes, “Swimming and baseball have always been instrumental points in my life, orchestrating a symphony of relationships, competitiveness, and stability for me. My high school experience in Milwaukee highlighted the systematic sufferings of some friends and classmates. Playing sports and recognizing these inequities solidified my desire to give back to urban communities through healthcare.” Wozniak plans to attend college to study nursing.
Division 2
Mason Lane, Lodi High School - 3.75 GPA
Lane is a 10-time letterwinner, participating in baseball, football and wrestling. His leadership propelled the Blue Devils to a State football championship
his senior year while also earning both team and conference player of the year awards. Beyond the gridiron, Lane qualified for the State Individual Wresting Tournament his junior and senior years, and he also received the conference player of the year award in wrestling as a senior. In addition, he received all-conference honors in baseball as a junior. Reflecting, Lane writes, “One of the most valuable lessons I learned, is that even if you do everything right, things may not go as planned. I spent years training to be a wrestling state champion, and I fell just short of that goal my senior year. What I have realized is it’s not only about the end result, but about the entire journey and process that allowed me to compete at that level.” Lane intends to attend the University of Wisconsin and study business as a football preferred walk-on.
Brock Massey, Mauston High School, 4.0 GPA
Massey has earned a combined 10 letters in football, basketball and
baseball. The 4.0 student is a three-time South Central Conference selection in both basketball and baseball and was a part of the conference champion basketball team his junior year. The Golden Eagle is a three-time conference player of the year, receiving the honor during his junior year of basketball and baseball, and his senior year of football. Reflecting on an important lesson he has learned, Brock shares, “In high school sports, you are met with adversity all the time. Whether it is if you are losing in a game, someone gets hurt, the weather doesn’t play to your favor; you have to overcome it through being resilient and almost care-free. Having a care-free attitude is about thinking no matter what happens, I am going to try my hardest and be my best.” Massey intends to study astrophysics in college.
Sean Nicholas, Catholic Memorial High School - 4.0 GPA
Nicholas has earned 12 varsity letters across five sports, including track & field, cross country, soccer, football and basketball. A 4.0 student, the
Crusader is a three-time State team participant, qualifying in football, cross-country and track & field, including a second-place finish in the 3,200 meter relay his freshman year. Nicholas helped the football team earn a sectional championship his junior year and was awarded the team MVP in soccer as a senior. He also helped his football team win conference championships in football as a junior and senior. Reflecting, Sean writes, “I can fully appreciate all my teachers and coaches that imparted wisdom and encouragement to push me to my full potential. Their continual support helped me persevere and manage a heavy workload in the classroom and in athletic endeavors.” Nicholas will attend Marquette University to study business.
Owen Plate, Plymouth High School - 3.99 GPA
Plate has earned 10 varsity letters across the sports of soccer, tennis and football. A three-time State qualifier and all-
conference performer in tennis, the Panther earned both team and the conference MVP honors his sophomore year. On the soccer field, he was a member of the State runner-up team his senior year, and he is a three-time all conference kicker in football. He has also earned first team all-state kicking honors his junior and senior seasons. Owen shared, “Through sports, I have learned to take failures, overcome them, use them to fuel questions and push myself to not make the same mistakes in the future. This ability to quickly bounce back from adversity will continue to benefit me in the future to not let impediments divert my course. Through failure, I was immediately shown that there is a better way to do things than my current strategies.” Plate plans to attend the University of Wisconsin to study environmental science.
Division 3
David Malin, Aquinas High School, 4.0 GPA
Malin is an 11-time letterwinner. He captured back-to-back State wrestling championships his junior and senior year, and he is a four-time all-conference
selection in the sport. On the football field, Malin helped the Blugolds make history by winning three State championships. In track & field, he helped set the Blugolds' school record in the 400 meter relay and contributed to a team State track and field championship as a freshman. Malin reflects, “The most important skill I learned through my academic and athletic career is trusting the process. A student athlete goes through many highs and lows. If you consistently show up everyday with a great attitude and willingness to work, you will get better, even if the results do not feel that you are.” Malin plans to attend the University of Wisconsin to study Biology and participate in wrestling.
Eli Prokop, St. Croix Falls High School - 3.75 GPA
Prokop has earned 11 varsity letters across football, wrestling and baseball. He helped the Saints earn a trip to State in
baseball his sophomore year and to a State championship his junior year. He was an individual and team State qualifier in wrestling his sophomore year, and a State runner-up in team wrestling his senior season. Prokop was the captain of the Saints' regional champion football team his senior year. Prokop writes, "Through high school athletics, I have learned that hard work, grit, and perseverance are extremely important and if you put in the work you will reap the rewards. I held myself to high standards both in the classroom and athletically because both are equally important. I have also learned to be selfless and that everyone has their own unique skill sets and abilities and if combined selflessly, amazing things can be created.” Prokop plans to attend Western Wisconsin Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to study cardiac sonography.
Teegan Streit, Edgar High School, 4.0 GPA
Streit is first in his class academically, and he has earned nine varsity letters across the sports of football, basketball and track & field. As a junior, he was
a three-time medalist at the State Track & Field Meet and was also voted the conference track & field most valuable player that same year. As a senior, he helped lead the Wildcats to a football State championship. He was also named the team MVP in basketball as a senior. Streit shared, “Of all the lessons I have learned from my teachers, coaches, and parents, the two most important are time management and leadership. I lead by example and vocally when needed. Leading by example is a value that is understated and undervalued in today's society. Integrity is the truest form of leadership. People can see it, they know it, and they appreciate it.” Steit will attend the University of Wisconsin La Crosse to study elementary/middle education.
Tegan Werner, Crivitz High School - 3.95 GPA
Werner, has earned a combined 11 varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball. He helped his basketball team win 
conference championships the past three seasons. As a junior, Werner received both conference and team MVP honors. He also achieved the 1,000-point milestone his junior year of basketball. On the baseball field, Werner received all-state honorable mention as a freshman while also being voted the Wolverines' team MVP his freshman and junior seasons. He was a three-time all-conference selection in football. Werner writes, “Perseverance is the biggest lesson I have learned. Life is not easy. School gets hard, certain subjects may be a challenge, injuries may happen in sports, no matter what it is. I know that in order to be successful you cannot shy away from these things, rather push through and try your best to overcome the obstacles.” Werner plans to attend college and study civil engineering.
Division 4
Jared Kaufman, Three Lakes High School, 4.0 GPA
Kaufman is first in his class academically, and he has earned a combined 11 varsity letters in 8-player football, basketball and baseball. He helped his
baseball team earn two conference championships as a freshman and sophomore. He also earned first team all-conference honors as well as Bluejay team MVP honors his junior year. That same year, he helped his team earn a regional championship in both basketball and baseball. As a senior, he earned both team and conference MVP honors in 8-player football. Kaufman writes, "One of the main lessons that I learned during my high school student-athlete experience is that the little things are sometimes the most important. These so-called “little things” may seem insignificant by themselves, but in reality, they can make or break a situation.” He intends to attend Brigham Young University to study accounting.
Tanner Lamb, Almond-Bancroft High School - 3.61 GPA
Lamb has earned a combined nine letters across football, basketball and baseball. As a senior, he led the Eagles to their first-
ever State Basketball Tournament appearance. Lamb tied the Division 5 State Tournament record for steals in a game. He was voted the the co-conference basketball player of the year as a senior. In addition, he is a three-time team conference champion in basketball, three-time team basketball MVP. Lamb was also chosen as the offensive conference player of the year in football as a senior, and two-time baseball team most valuable player. Lamb shares, “I am responsible for my own actions. As a student athlete I know I am held to a higher standard than others, and I make sure to stay away from bad distractions. As a student athlete, I am a role model to other students; so I try to set a good example, be respectable in the classroom to my teachers and other classmates.” Lamb will attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to study sports management.
Ben Matczak, Gillett High School, 4.0 GPA
Matczak has earned 11 varsity letters across the sports of cross country, basketball, 8-player football and track & field. He is a three-time State qualifier
in track & field on his team’s 3,200 relay. Matczak is a three-time all conference performer in track & field, and he was welcomed into the Tigers' 1,000-point club in basketball. He also received team basketball MVP honors as a sophomore and senior. He was selected as the team MVP in 8-player football his junior season. Reflecting on high school, Ben writes, “l learned the importance of perseverance. Overcoming hurdles has taught me that with dedication and hard work, I could tackle any obstacle. Secondly, l learned about the power of teamwork. Working within a team environment,
whether in the classroom or on the field, taught me not only to communicate effectively, but also listen to others' ideas and support my teammates.” He plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to study finance.
Kevin Ross, Flambeau High School - 3.52 GPA
Ross is a combined nine-time letterwinner in golf, 8-player football and basketball. He is a three-time team most valuable
player in golf and was named the conference golf co-player of the year as a freshman. During his junior season, he earned a trip to the State golf tournament while also helping his team earn a conference championship. In basketball, Ross helped his team win a conference championship his sophomore season. In addition, he was the Falcons' 8-player football team MVP his senior year. Reflecting on a lesson learned, Kevin shares, “During golf my sophomore year at sectionals, I had the worst round of golf ever. I decided to work really hard in the off-season. When my junior year came around, I was able to shoot my lowest round at sectionals and advance to State. I have learned through sports the importance of never giving up, to persevere.” He intends to compete in golf and study elementary special education at Viterbo University.