By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Southern Lakes Conference announced its all-conference awards last week. Badger High School was represented with 38 athletes including 13 football players, nine cross-country runners and eight tennis players selected for all-conference honors.
The Badger football team, which won the conference championship with an undefeated season, finished 12-1 overall and lost in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Level 4 playoff game for the second year in row. The SLC selected 13 Badgers for all-conference awards.
Two of Badger’s offensive linemen – Matt Szeszol and Andrew Glass – were named to the first-team offense. Szeszol also made first-team defense as a defensive lineman. Linebacker Ryan Sproul and defensive back Austin Flower also made first-team defense.
Mason DuMez, who was the driving force behind a run-oriented option offense, was named second-team offense only because of the great passing season turned in by Union Grove’s Matt Nelson. DuMez led the Badgers in rushing with 1,277 yards and also passed for 690 yards and 25 total touchdowns. Nelson led the Broncos with 1,861 yards passing and 574 yards rushing with 32 touchdowns. DuMez also received honorable mention as a punter.
Also making the second team were running back Patrick Watrous, offensive lineman Sarek Hoerth, defensive lineman Jose Garcia and linebacker John Bowen. Defensive lineman Alex Evans and defensive back Will Keller received honorable mention.
Nine Badger cross-country runners were recognized. The boys team finished second in the conference and fourth at the WIAA sectional. Gustavo Gordillo qualified for the state meet and was named first-team all-conference. Mario Gomez and Kaleb Opsal were also named first team. Amara Trent, who also qualified for the state meet, was named first team for the girls team. Logan Koehling, Cassidy Giese and Maureen Clifford were named to the second team. Jacob Dertz and Erin Wruk were given honorable mention.
The Badger tennis team finished first in the SLC and sent three players to the WIAA state competition. Alexis Wisdom and the doubles team of Joanne Walczinski and Olivia Stout made it to state. Wisdom, Walczinski and Ava Anderson were named to the first team. Elizabeth Ripkey and Olivia Stout were named second team. Hannah Gage, Sophie Engerman and Annabelle Alberts were given honorable mention.
The Badger soccer team finished third in the SLC. Payton Aranda, Will Hamilton and Jack Wright were named to the first team. Ian Schirtzinger was named to the second team, and Eduardo Cruz was given honorable mention.
The girls golf team made it to the WIAA sectional for the second year in a row and finished third in the SLC. Freshman Holly Murphy was named to the first team and Madison Whitehead was given honorable mention.
Emma Pezza also earned honorable mention for volleyball.
