Sixteen senior girls and 16 senior boys from St. Croix Falls to Racine have been selected as finalists to receive the prestigious 2024 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s (WIAA) Statewide Scholar Athlete Award, presented by We Energies Foundation and Wisconsin Public Service Foundation. More than 1,213 Scholar Athlete finalists have been recognized since the program began in 1984.
Athletes from the area include:
BOYS SCHOLAR-ATHLETES
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.
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.
GIRLS SCHOLAR-ATHLETES
Alexa Kinas, Kaukauna High School – 3.93 GPA
A four-sport athlete, Kinas has earned 14 varsity letters across the sports of golf, basketball, cross country and track & field. She was part of the Ghosts’ first-ever cross country State championship team her freshman year. In track & field, Kinas set the school record in the 400-meter dash and is a three-time State qualifier, two-time team MVP. She earned all-conference honors three years in a row. She writes, “My golf coach always said that playing under pressure is a privilege. I am very grateful for the opportunities I have been given to constantly be the best athlete and teammate I can be. I have learned to never take anything for granted which I have discovered through injury and times of defeat. All of these experiences and lessons are essential for success in various aspects of my life.” Kinas plans to attend Loyola University (Ill.) to study and play basketball.
Sara Mlodik, D.C. Everest High School – 4.0 GPA
Mlodik is first in her class academically and has earned a combined seven varsity letters in cross country and track & field. She led the Evergreens to a team State track & field championship her freshman season and followed with a Division 1 individual State cross county championship title as a junior. Mlodik is a four-time conference cross country champion and has received all-state track and field honors in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs her junior year. Mlodik writes, “While taking academically rigorous courses, I learned that taking on a challenge and not being afraid to make mistakes leads to a stronger understanding of the curriculum. In distance running, racing has taught me that success comes not only from physical endurance but also from mental perseverance.” Mlodik will compete in cross country and track & field while studying materials science and engineering at the University of Wisconsin.
Lilie Fouts, Xavier High School – 4.0 GPA
Fouts is a combined seven-time letterwinner in cross country and track & field. During her junior and senior cross country seasons, she led the Hawks to back-to-back team State championships. She is a three-time team MVP in track & field and a two-time team MVP in cross country, Fouts received the conference cross country MVP honors her senior season, and she is a two-time state runner-up in the 3,200-meter run and is a three-time individual sectional champion in cross country. In her essay, she shares, “I learned success comes to those who are resilient and willing to make sacrifices. From long workouts and prioritizing recovery to studying hard even when unmotivated, cross country, track and field, and academics made me the assiduous worker I am today. When I am given a task, I will not give up until I have completed it to the best of my ability.” Fouts is intending to study songwriting/music business and participate in cross country and track & field at Belmont University.
Nora Gremban, Northland Pines High School – 3.65 GPA
Gremban has lettered eight times across three sports, including cross country, track & field and basketball. She brought home an individual State crosscountry championship her senior year while also receiving the conference most valuable runner honor that season. Gremban is also a five-time State champion in track & field, running both the 800-meter and 1,600-meter races. She was named her conference’s runner of the year five times and also earned six conference selection honors in track & field and cross country combined. Reflecting, Gremban shares, “Determination builds focus and holds students accountable. This empowers student-athletes to continue to put their best foot forward, realizing that athletics do not define you. Many can get caught up in the whirlwind of homework and competition, yet learning to put your wellness first is crucial. Becoming your best, authentic self will ensure success in all other aspects of life.” Gremban intends to attend the University of Wisconsin to study psychology and participate in cross country and track & field.
Hailee Thompson, Bonduel High School – 3.86 GPA
Thompson has earned 11 letters in the sports of basketball, volleyball and softball. She is a six-time all-conference selection. She was a part of the regional champion volleyball team her junior year and is a three-time team MVP. The three-time volleyball all-conference selection was named conference player of the year her senior year while also achieving 2,000 career assists. On the softball field, three-time all-conference and team MVP selection was chosen the conference most valuable player award her junior year. Thompson was also the Bears’ team MVP in basketball her senior year. She shared, “I have grown to learn that family and the support behind me is one of my biggest blessings. Having supportive people in both my academic and athletic careers has helped me recognize that no matter what the circumstance is, if I put my mind to it, I can accomplish it.” Thompson plans to double major in sports marketing and leadership, and play softball and volley ball at Lakeland University.
Sophia Bablitch, Rosholt High School – 3.72 GPA
Bablitch has earned a combined eight varsity letters in cross country, basketball and track & field. A three-time State track & field qualifier, she won the State championship in the 3,200-meter run her junior year. Bablitch was also a two-time State runner-up in the 1,600 meter race her sophomore and junior seasons. She possesses the Hornet track & field school records in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 runs. Bablitch won three conference track & field titles She is a four-time State qualifier in cross country. Bablitch shares, “If I have learned anything throughout my high school career, as I balance my life as a student-athlete with a chronic medical condition, it would be resilience and mental strength. The connections and friendships I made along the way with competitors and teammates also taught me that I am never alone in my struggles.” Bablitch plans to attend the University of Minnesota to study journalism and communications, and compete in cross country and track & field.
To determine the top 32 finalists, four boys and four girls were selected (based on both athletic and academic achievement) from each of the four WIAA divisions. “Each of these remarkable student athletes has excelled in academics and athletics,” said Tom Shafranski, Assistant Director of the WIAA. “17 of this year’s 32 WIAA Scholar Athlete finalists have a grade point average of 4.0 to date. When you combine all 32 scholar athlete GPAs, the average is 3.9. This year’s honorees have already earned a total of 323 varsity letters during their first 3-1/2 years of high school. That’s an average of ten letters per athlete, and we have not yet completed our spring sports season.”
This year more than 836 seniors were nominated for the award by 422 high schools throughout the state.
The 2024 WIAA Scholar Athlete Finalists will be recognized at an awards ceremony Sunday, May 5 at SentryWorld in Stevens Point. Keynote speaker will be Joe Delagrave, a two-time Paralympic medalist and current head coach of the U.S. Wheelchair Rugby Team.
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